National Car Rental

Specialties

National Car Rental is a premium, internationally recognized brand serving the daily rental needs of the frequent airport traveler throughout the world. With National, time-​sensitive customers in the United States are able to quickly choose their own vehicle, based upon their advance reservation and requested car class, and then simply drive away from the airport. National — which launched the car rental industry’s first comprehensive frequent-​renter program — further expedites the rental process for Emerald Club members by offering counter bypass as well as access to National’s «Emerald Aisle,» an exclusive section of the lot where members can select any vehicle as long as they reserve a mid-​sized car. In addition, Emerald Club members can choose to receive EmeraldAlertsSM — emailed communications that include Arrival and Return Alerts, and Drop & GoSM service with convenient eReceipts.

History

Established in 1947.

National Car Rental was founded in 1947 by a group of 24 independent car rental operators with 800 vehicles and 60 locations. In 1954, National was the first in the car rental industry to offer one-​way rentals for customers wishing to rent cars in one town and leave them in another, and in 1966, National became the first in car rental industry to bring computers into daily reservation operations. In 1987, National introduced «Emerald Club,» the industry’s first comprehensive frequent-​renter program focused on making business travelers more efficient when they’re on the road by offering its members speed, choice and control. In 2007, the Taylor family — who had already owned and operated Enterprise Rent-​A-​Car for 50 years — acquired the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. In 2009, the Taylor family of companies adopted the Enterprise Holdings name as the parent company of National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car and Enterprise Rent-​A-​Car.