Hertz is generally the worst of the big three. When possible avoid them.

Used over the holidays in California, non-airport location. Didn’t buy their insurance. No issues or surprise charges.

Used them a few months ago. No problem.

We rented at MCO recently with the scanner and it ended up ok in that sense. However checkout was horrible and took over an hour despite being Hertz Gold Plus, having provided all info online ahead of time, and there being plenty of cars on the lot. It was a total cluster.

I’m honestly pretty done with Hertz and Budget who assign you a specific car/parking space. I’ve had multiple issues with both with my car not being ready/there despite plenty of available cars. My preferred company is Alamo who lets you choose any car in the row for the category you paid for. That seems to work the most seamlessly.

Anonymous wrote:I rented with Hertz this weekend in Atlanta and just noticed they charged me a $40 fueling fee even though I filled it up. they seem to know they are scamming people as they sent an email saying, please send receipts from your gas purchase if you feel you have been charged a fueling fee in error. No one ever told me I had to keep a receipt to prove that the gas tank was full, when it was full when I returned. I should have taken a picture of the tank level.

This has been a thing for a while with a bunch of the companies if you drive less than 75 miles- I always keep my receipt for this situation, and show it to the person checking in or have it ready to send if I get charged.

I rented with Hertz this weekend in Atlanta and just noticed they charged me a $40 fueling fee even though I filled it up. they seem to know they are scamming people as they sent an email saying, please send receipts from your gas purchase if you feel you have been charged a fueling fee in error. No one ever told me I had to keep a receipt to prove that the gas tank was full, when it was full when I returned. I should have taken a picture of the tank level.

Never had a problem. I just reserve online, get to the rental location, find my name on the board that tells me where my car is, get in the car, drive through the gate to check out, get on my way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will be renting from a small location and Hertz was the only available company. I’m seeing reviews online that leave me feeling a little afraid. At the same time, in researching other companies, it seems people do love to post negative reviews across the board—people are less compelled to post rave reviews.

If you’ve recently rented from Hertz, what was your experience? Thanks!

At a small location you will be fine. Hertz is installing these ridiculous automated scanners at their big airport locations that are throwing off ridiculous bills- definitely avoid those.

https://viewfromthewing.com/hertz-turns-ai-loose-on-renters-billing-5x-more-customers-for-minor-nicks-and-scrapes-and-its-spreading-fast/

Hard part is it's hard to find an updated list of which locations they have been installed.

I’m actually renting from an airport, driving to a small location, and dropping the vehicle. I have confirmed that the small location does not have cameras installed yet, and Google reviews for the location are generally positive, but of course I’m still worried.

Anonymous wrote:I will be renting from a small location and Hertz was the only available company. I’m seeing reviews online that leave me feeling a little afraid. At the same time, in researching other companies, it seems people do love to post negative reviews across the board—people are less compelled to post rave reviews.

If you’ve recently rented from Hertz, what was your experience? Thanks!

At a small location you will be fine. Hertz is installing these ridiculous automated scanners at their big airport locations that are throwing off ridiculous bills- definitely avoid those.

https://viewfromthewing.com/hertz-turns-ai-loose-on-renters-billing-5x-more-customers-for-minor-nicks-and-scrapes-and-its-spreading-fast/

Hard part is it's hard to find an updated list of which locations they have been installed.

Anonymous wrote:You should also take video and pics of car when dropping off. Take a pic of dashboard showing mileage (and full gas if you were to return full) too.

+1, we do this for all rental cars from all vendors. Haven't had a problem yet!

Anonymous wrote:My experience over the past couple of years is that if you buy their insurance, it ends up being fine, and if you don’t, they try to go after you for damage. If you don’t buy the insurance, take a video of the car from every angle when you pick it up so you have proof. They claimed we had hail damage this summer … but it didn’t hail the whole time we had the car and luckily my husband had done the video thing.

This is what I surmised from reading. To be sure I understand, if I pay the $46 for the insurance, and they “find” damage, then I do nothing, correct, because their insurance covers it? (Hence, they won’t find anything worthwhile to fix.)

You should also take video and pics of car when dropping off. Take a pic of dashboard showing mileage (and full gas if you were to return full) too.

My experience over the past couple of years is that if you buy their insurance, it ends up being fine, and if you don’t, they try to go after you for damage. If you don’t buy the insurance, take a video of the car from every angle when you pick it up so you have proof. They claimed we had hail damage this summer … but it didn’t hail the whole time we had the car and luckily my husband had done the video thing.

I will be renting from a small location and Hertz was the only available company. I’m seeing reviews online that leave me feeling a little afraid. At the same time, in researching other companies, it seems people do love to post negative reviews across the board—people are less compelled to post rave reviews.

If you’ve recently rented from Hertz, what was your experience? Thanks!