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Is Hertz legit?

Big airport brand; Gold Plus Rewards lets you skip the line, but damage and add-on charges are the most common complaints.

Lowest under-25 fee at HNL, OGG, JFK
Rental car companySince 1918Owned by Hertz Global Holdings (also owns Dollar and Thrifty)hertz.comChecked October 16, 2026 by Nurullah GökdoğanHow we check
1 · Is it a real company that delivers?
Yes, it’s legit

Hertz is a long-running national rental company founded in 1918 and rated A+ by the BBB, but it is not accredited. Complaint volume is high: 6,354 BBB complaints in 3 years, mostly about service, repairs and damage, and billing.

2 · Will you pay what you were quoted?
Often not

Reviewers often report final bills above the quoted price, including cleaning fees and extra days. The PlatePass toll programme adds a daily fee for every day you go through a toll.

How fair is Hertz?

Five checks, 1–5 each. 3 is average for rental cars.

Price honestyIs the final bill close to the quote?Reviewers often report final bills above the quoted price, including cleaning fees and extra days. The PlatePass toll programme adds a daily fee for every day you go through a toll.Sources:consumeraffairs.comtrustpilot.comupgradedpoints.com
2/5
Claims and refundsDo damage and cleaning bills arrive after return?Damage bills after return are a recurring theme. ConsumerAffairs reviewers describe damage bills of about $500 and a $400 smoke-cleaning fee. Service and repair issues make up 3,315 of 6,354 BBB complaints.Sources:consumeraffairs.combbb.orgelliott.org
2/5
Pick-up and deliveryHow quick is pick-up, and can you skip the counter?Gold Plus Rewards members can skip the line. We found no reliable data on counter speed for non-members.Sources:hertz.com
3/5
Fine printDeposits, debit cards, age rules and fuel termsDebit cards are accepted at airports with proof of a return flight, two IDs, a credit check and a hold of up to $500. The $19/day under-25 fee is below many rivals, and the minimum age is 20 at most US locations.Sources:yourmileagemayvary.comhertz.com
3/5
SupportHow do disputes end?Complaint volume is high and review scores are very low (ConsumerAffairs 1.3). Elliott Advocacy logs cases of overbilling and pre-existing damage disputes, and rates Hertz 3/5 for responsiveness.Sources:consumeraffairs.comelliott.org
2/5

Fees to expect

Toll programme (PlatePass)As reported in Oct 2024. Check the rental counter, because the fee varies by region.Source:upgradedpoints.com
Toll at cash rate plus $9.99 for each day a toll is used
Under-25 (young renter) feeMinimum age 20 at most US locations; 18 in MI and NY; 19 in AL and NE.Source:hertz.com
$19 per day
Deposit holdDebit funds can take 10–14 days to come back after release.Source:blog.autoslash.com
$200 on a credit card; up to $500 on a debit card, plus the estimated rental charges

Rules that cost renters money

Debit cards
Accepted for Compact to Fullsize at airports with proof of a return flight and two IDs; a credit check is usually run; not accepted for Premium and above or for prepaid (PayNow) rentals
Drivers under 25
$19 per day; minimum age 20 at most US locations
Deposit hold
$200 (credit) or up to $500 (debit) on top of the estimated rental
Skip the counter
Gold Plus Rewards: skip the line

Common problems, and how to avoid them

1
Damage or cleaning charges after returnCommonAvoid it: Film a walk-around and the interior at pick-up and drop-off, and get a closing receipt.Source:consumeraffairs.com
2
Final bill higher than the quote (extra days, add-ons)CommonAvoid it: Check the contract at the counter, decline add-ons you don't need, and check the final receipt before you leave.Source:trustpilot.com
3
Daily toll feesSometimesAvoid it: Bring your own transponder where allowed, or pay tolls directly online.Source:upgradedpoints.com

What customers say

“got an email about being charged almost $500 for damages that I never caused”
Luberth (Elkins, WV) · ConsumerAffairs · 2025
“they added $400 to my bill for “cleaning fee” because the “sensor detected smoke”.”
Filipp (Brooklyn, NY) · ConsumerAffairs · 2025
“I was charged $25 more than the initial commited amount - $233 vs 209 when I returned to Buffalo Airport.”
Dan Plunkett · Trustpilot (Buffalo location) · 2026

Short excerpts from public reviews, chosen because they describe the patterns above. They are examples, not a sample.

Alternatives worth comparing

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Highest J.D. Power score of the big rental brands; fees are standard, but damage-claim disputes are the recurring complaint.

#4 of 13 · 55/100National Car Rental

Business-traveller favourite: Emerald Club members pick any car in the Emerald Aisle and skip the counter.

#1 of 13 · 63/100Best overall

Questions people ask about Hertz

Is Hertz legit?

Yes. Hertz has operated since 1918 and has a BBB A+ rating, though it is not accredited. It also has a high complaint volume: 6,354 BBB complaints in 3 years, mostly about service, repairs and billing.

Does Hertz charge for tolls?

Yes. If you use a toll road, PlatePass bills the toll plus a fee for each day you use a toll ($9.99 per day in Oct 2024 reporting).

Can I rent from Hertz with a debit card?

At airports, yes, for Compact to Fullsize cars. You need proof of a return flight and two IDs, a credit check is usually run, and Hertz holds up to $500 on top of the rental cost.

How much is the Hertz under-25 fee?

$19 per day, according to Hertz's own young-renter page.

Sources

Last checked October 16, 2026. Fees and policies change, so confirm on hertz.com before you book. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it in the open. We are not affiliated with Hertz and earn nothing from it.