Best Credit Card for National Car Rental in 2026
National Car Rental is classified under MCC 7512 (Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below)). The best card for National Car Rental purchases is the Hilton Honors Aspire ($550/yr annual fee), earning 7x on car rental companies ( not listed below) — an effective return of 3.50%.
Car rental companies like National are a goldmine for credit card rewards, especially if you travel frequently. Many premium cards offer bonus points here.
Always use your rewards card for car rentals and consider booking through third-party travel sites that often offer additional points or cash back.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 monthly at National Car Rental with the Hilton Honors Aspire card (7x), you earn $168 yearly compared to just $24 on a standard 1% cash back card.
National Car Rental purchases are classified under MCC 7512 (Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below)).
MCC Details for National Car Rental
Best Credit Cards for National Car Rental (2026)
How National Car Rental Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at National Car Rental at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 7512 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a car rental companies ( not listed below) merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "car rental companies ( not listed below)" purchases, National Car Rental transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not National Car Rental specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any National Car Rental transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 7512 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — National Car Rental
About MCC 7512: Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below)
Merchant Category Code 7512 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below) industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 7512, all qualifying card programs that include car rental companies ( not listed below) as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Car Rental industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below) merchants: ACE Rent A Car, Advantage Rent A Car, Alamo Rent A Car.
What You Could Earn at National Car Rental
Spending $200/month at National Car Rental with the Hilton Honors Aspire (7x on car rental companies ( not listed below)) earns approximately $168/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. After the $550 annual fee, that is $-382 more per year.