Hertz - Value of ZE1 Points - cash 'em out or pay cash?

I've got about 4500 ZE1 points in my account right now. I believe they'll be expiring December 31, 2010.

I was traveling weekly for work & am currently a Presidents Circle member and I stopped traveling due do a job change in October 2008.

Since I'm no longer a regular renter, I'm now not as brand loyal when it comes to renting cars - on my own dime, I'm price sensitive and will generally only use Avis, Hertz, National, and on occassion Budget.

For an upcoming 4 day rental, I can do a paid rental from Budget for $189 all-in for an economy car. Or, I can cash out 2600 ZE1 points from Hertz and pay $42 in taxes for a full-size car (which will likely be lower at checkout as that's what seems to happens with Hertz).

I'm basically driving the car from the airport to a hotel for an overnight & then to Bonnaroo (camping/music festival) where I won't drive it again until I leave (so it'll just sit for 3 days) - unfortunately, public transportation isn't an option for my needs - although I wish it was.

So...cash out 2600 points or spend $189? I won't be earning them easily & I will have opportunity in the future to cash them out - this seems like a good usage, but I'm not 100% sure...

I would save the points and play with the rate/coupons a bit more. Perhaps bid on PL.
Points may came in handy for one way rentals or smth like weekend of fun category (4 days for 3000 pts)

You can always redeem points for airline or hotel points....

So...cash out 2600 points or spend $189? I won't be earning them easily & I will have opportunity in the future to cash them out - this seems like a good usage, but I'm not 100% sure...Well, it depends on where you typically rent from Hertz. I live in Manhattan and don't own a car, like many people here. Daily rental car rates are typically in the range of $80-110 (for mid/full size) per weekend day, depending on season/holidays. So I value 500 points at roughly $100. When a paid rental is in the $80-90/day range, I pay cash. When it's >$100 I use points. Your 2,600 points is worth ~$500 to me. I have a feeling this is an extreme. But at least it provides you a framework for how to evaluate the value of the points to you.

YMMV, but I would use them for the rental if you are about to lose them to expiration or dont have another upcoming trip in a more expensive city.
I know it may not be the maximum usage of points to save $140, but if your new job doesn't require travel and you do not use Hertz anymore, you might as well use them before redemption levels increase or they expire. I know you said you beleive they expire in 2010, but you should make sure as this might make the desicion easier for you.

Expiration is irrelevant. Just make an award reservation, cancel and the points get redeposited with new 2 yr expiration.

I ended up getting a last minute deal with a 2010 Mustang for 90 bucks with Hertz in BNA - it pays to reshop your reservations to see if they drop in pricing.

Regarding Expiration - I thought that the way Hertz worked, some points expired before others? I remember seeing in my profile in years past something like:

5000 points
2000 points expiring on December 31, 2009
3000 points expiring on December 31, 2010

Didn't they tier out when points expired based on when you earned them? Has that changed? Am I crazy!? :p

Is it possible to earn both ZE1 points + FF miles?

If so, how does one configure one's account to do this?

One or the other...not both.

One or the other...not both.Thanks - that is what I thought...luckily I didn't switch to ZE1's!