There are many different car rental companies on the market. One of the largest in the world is Hertz. Learn in my encyclopedia article what the car rental provider is, how you rent a car there, how the payment methods, the deposit, and the cancellation work, and more!
What is Hertz?
Hertz is the world’s largest car rental company. The rental car company was founded in 1917 by Walter L. Jacobs in Chicago. There are more than 7900 Hertz locations in around 150 countries worldwide. The car rental company records around 30 million reservations annually.
The Hertz vehicle fleet – these rental cars are offered
The car rental company has its own fleet of vehicles. It includes the environmentally friendly Green Collection, the Fun Collection and convertibles, the exclusive Prestige Collection, and the spacious Family Collection cars. There are also cars and sedans, station wagons, minivans with all-wheel drive and SUVs, vans and trucks, and the Dream Collection with selected luxury models. Under the category “Special” you can see special offers. You can choose between the car rental classes as you wish.
How to rent a car with Hertz?
Once you are on the home page, you can enter the location of the rental for your desired car in the search mask. If you type the first letters of your desired city into the search field, you will immediately receive suggestions. If there are several Hertz locations in a city, all available stations will be suggested and you can click on your desired station. If you want to return the rental car to a different location than where you picked it up, you have to put a checkmark in the corresponding field. Immediately a new search field will open where you can enter the return location. Furthermore, you enter the date of rental and return the times, and your age. 18 years is the minimum age for car rental. In most countries, drivers younger than 25 have to pay a young driver surcharge. Depending on the vehicle and rental location, the minimum age requirement varies.
If you are looking for a specific vehicle, you can click on a specific group of cars. This way you will only see the desired car types. If you do not have a special request, you can display all vehicle groups. If you have a coupon code, you can select the appropriate field and enter it there. You can also redeem your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points if you collect them. Once you have entered all the search criteria, you can proceed to the booking – either as a member or as a guest.
In the next booking step, you will see all the vehicles that come into question for you. Click on “Details” for more information about a rental car. Among other things, it lists what your rate includes and which additional options you can add in the next step. Once you have decided on a vehicle, you can save money by making an advance payment online. The provider shows you two prices for a rental car: The price for later payment and the price for an advance payment.
Once you have decided on a payment method, you can add additional equipment for an additional charge in the third booking step. Depending on the car model, you can choose between different elements. These include, for example, child and baby seats or a navigation system. On the right side, you can see all the selected criteria during the entire process. You can change them up to the time of payment. In the fourth step, “Book vehicle”, you enter your personal details and select the payment method. By clicking on the button “Book now for payment” your rental car is reserved.
Important note!
The total price you see during the booking process is an estimated total price. It is based on the information available at the time of booking. Additional products purchased at the Hertz station counter are not included in the booking process.
In addition to the option shown, you have other options to get to the booking process and rent a car at Hertz. You can browse around the site and see the different vehicles in the fleet. From there you can also access the booking process.
What are the payment methods with Hertz?
You have the option to pay for your rental car during the booking process or when you pick up the car at the Hertz station. If you choose to pay in advance, you will save money. You can see how much you can save when you select a vehicle. You can pay in advance by credit card or debit card. Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, and American Express are available. When you pick up the vehicle, the amount of the estimated rental cost plus a flat fee of $200 will be blocked on your credit card. The amount of this flat fee is based on one tank of fuel and your chosen additional options. If your credit card does not cover these costs, the car rental company will not be able to provide you with a rental car.
If you choose to pay later, it will be more expensive, but you will have several payment options to choose from. These are: Visa, One Trip Travel Order, Master Card, Hertz Charge Card, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, American Express, American Exp Purchasing Card, AirPlus, and Air Travel Card. When you pick up the vehicle, a set amount will be blocked on your credit card. This is $200 over the anticipated rental cost. If your card does not have enough credit to cover this cost, you will not be able to rent a car. When renting a vehicle, you must present an identification card or passport, a driver’s license, and a valid means of payment in the form of a credit card.
For renters younger than 25 years, a young driver fee may apply.
How much is the deposit with Hertz? To pick up the rental car
When you pick up your car at the rental station, you must present the credit card you used to make the reservation. If you make the car reservation with a debit card, you must present both the debit card and a valid credit card at the time of pickup. Both cards must have your name on them. Only the person who rents the car is allowed to pick it up. When you pick up the car, you will have to prove your identity with an ID card or passport and your driver’s license. Furthermore, you will have to pay the deposit for the rental car. This is done for rentals in Austria both in cash and by credit or debit card. The credit card to be charged must be registered in the name of the main driver. In case of cash payment, you have to pay a minimum deposit of $150. If the deposit is higher, it will be rounded up to the nearest $100. At stations with an EC cash terminal, the car rental company will charge your EC card with the rental price plus the deposit. Please note that at the different stations in the different countries different deposit rules apply. You can see these on the homepage.
Cancellation and no-show fees at Hertz
If you have prepaid, you can cancel your rental car free of charge within seven days of booking. You will receive a full refund. If you cancel your booking seven days after the original reservation, you will be charged a $45 handling fee (or the equivalent in local currency). If you have prepaid your reservation but have not canceled it before the pickup date and do not show up at the pickup location, a no-show fee of $95 will apply. This fee does not apply if you can prove that you are not responsible for the damage. The same applies if you can prove that no damage was caused or that the damage caused is less than the fee. In this case, if you request a refund within 90 days of the pick-up date, you will receive the advance payment minus the loss of the rental fee. To request a refund, you must provide a copy of your reservation confirmation. If you pay at the station, do not cancel before the pick-up date, and do not pick up the vehicle, you will incur a $65 no-show fee. The credit card you enter in the booking process will be charged with this amount. If you can prove that you are not responsible for the damage, that no damage occurred, or that the damage is less than the fee, no fee will be charged.
Hertz car rental – Conclusion
At Hertz, you can book different car rental classes. The car rental company is represented worldwide so that you can rent a car in Austria as well as for your vacation in different places. Thanks to own car rental fleet, you can choose between different car types. I wish you a great trip!
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