Hertz is the oldest and one of the most recognized car rental brands in the world, founded in 1918 in Chicago. Operating at over 10,000 locations across 160 countries, Hertz sets the benchmark for airport car rental and has built a reputation around fleet quality, technology, and a loyalty program that rewards frequent renters with genuine skip-the-counter convenience.
✓ Pros
- Largest global airport network
- Gold Plus Rewards with skip-the-counter
- Strong EV and Tesla fleet
- Prestige and Dream Car collections
- Reliable international availability
✗ Cons
- Higher base rates than value competitors
- Points expire after 12 months inactive
- Upselling at counter can be aggressive
- Not always cheapest even for status holders
Hertz Car Rental Review
Over a century after it started renting Ford Model Ts out of a Chicago garage, Hertz remains the default choice for travelers who want a known quantity at an airport. That is both its greatest strength and its defining limitation. Hertz is everywhere, it is consistent, and it costs more than most of its competitors. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends entirely on what you value in a rental.
Fleet: Where Hertz Genuinely Leads
No other major rental company has invested as aggressively in the modern fleet as Hertz. The EV push has put Tesla Model 3s, Polestar 2s, and Chevy Bolts at a growing number of airports, making Hertz the most reliable place to book an electric rental in the US and parts of Europe. For travelers who want to try an EV on a trip without the commitment of ownership, this is a real and useful differentiator.
At the premium end, the Hertz Dream Car collection offers Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Corvettes, and Porsches at select locations. The Prestige Collection covers more practical luxury, with BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-class, and Cadillac Escalade options available at major airports. If the vehicle itself matters to you, Hertz gives you more to choose from than any competitor.
Gold Plus Rewards: The Skip-the-Counter Benefit
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is the program that most frequent renters use as their primary reason to stay loyal. Gold members bypass the counter entirely at most major airports and go directly to their designated car. The Gold Choice tier, unlocked after five rentals, allows members to pick any vehicle from a designated row rather than accepting the pre-assigned car.
Points earn at one point per dollar spent and redeem for free days starting at 400 points. The weakness is the twelve-month expiration policy on inactive accounts, which catches occasional renters off guard. Five Star status, earned at 20 rentals per year, upgrades the experience further with confirmed upgrades and dedicated support.
Pricing: Premium That Is Not Always Justified
Hertz regularly comes in above Enterprise, Budget, and its own siblings at the same locations. The premium is defensible for loyalty holders who use skip-the-counter and receive upgrades, but for a traveler with no status booking a standard compact, the price difference rarely reflects a proportional improvement in experience.
The best Hertz rates tend to appear for last-minute airport bookings, when inventory management works in the customer's favor, and through corporate discount codes and AAA membership rates that can close the gap with competitors significantly.
Who Hertz Is Best For
- Frequent business travelers who can build Gold or Five Star status and use skip-the-counter regularly
- EV enthusiasts who want a Tesla or Polestar for a trip and value reliable availability
- Premium and specialty vehicle renters using the Dream Car or Prestige collections
- International travelers who need a consistent global network with familiar loyalty benefits
Where Hertz Falls Short
For occasional renters without status, the price premium is hard to justify against Enterprise or even Budget on identical vehicles. Customer service at busy airport locations can be inconsistent, particularly during peak travel periods when inventory is tight and counter staff are under pressure. The loyalty program's expiration policy penalizes anyone who does not rent frequently enough to maintain active status.