Hertz UK Review 2026: Is Hertz Worth It for Car Hire? Pricing, Membership & What to Expect

Whether you're picking up a car at Heathrow after a long-haul flight, hiring something reliable for a weekend away in the Cotswolds, or need a van for a house move across town, choosing the right car hire company can make or break the experience. With so many options on comparison sites, from budget operators to premium brands, it's worth knowing exactly what you're getting before you book.

Hertz is one of the most recognised names in car rental worldwide, with a long-standing presence across the UK's airports, train stations, and city centres. But is it actually the right choice for your trip, or are you better off elsewhere?

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: how Hertz UK works, what the Gold Plus Rewards programme offers, the fleet on offer, pricing considerations, and who gets the most value out of booking with them.

What Is Hertz?

Hertz is a global car rental company with locations across the UK, including major airports, city centres, and regional towns. The brand offers everything from compact city cars to executive vehicles, vans, and estate cars, making it suitable for business travellers, holidaymakers, and anyone needing short or long-term hire.

In the UK specifically, Hertz has built a reputation around convenience, with rental desks at nearly every major airport, meaning you can often step off a flight and drive away within minutes of collecting your keys.

Where Can You Hire a Hertz Car in the UK?

One of Hertz's biggest advantages is sheer coverage. Locations across the UK include:

• Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and other major airports
• Central London branches
• Regional city centres including Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Bristol
• Train stations in several major cities
• Smaller town and suburban branches

This wide footprint makes Hertz a practical choice if you're flying in and need a car immediately, or if you want to collect and drop off in different locations without limiting yourself to a handful of city-centre branches.

The Hertz Fleet: What Can You Actually Rent?

Hertz UK offers a broad vehicle range to suit different needs and budgets. Categories typically include:

Economy & Compact Cars

Ideal for city driving, tight parking, and keeping fuel costs down. A popular choice for solo travellers or couples.

Family & Estate Cars

More boot space and rear legroom, well suited to family holidays or longer road trips with luggage.

SUVs & 4x4s

A strong option for winter driving, countryside trips, or anyone wanting a higher driving position and extra ground clearance.

Premium & Executive Vehicles

For business travel or special occasions, Hertz's premium tier includes higher-spec saloons and executive models.

Vans & Light Commercial Vehicles

Useful for house moves, deliveries, or transporting larger items, with a range of sizes typically available.

Electric & Hybrid Options

As EV adoption grows across the UK, Hertz has expanded its electric and hybrid offering, giving eco-conscious renters more choice without needing to own a vehicle themselves.

Understanding Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Frequent renters can join Hertz's loyalty programme, Gold Plus Rewards, which is free to sign up for and designed to speed up the rental process while unlocking additional perks over time.

What Gold Plus Rewards Typically Offers

• Skip-the-counter pickup at many locations, go straight to your car
• Choice of vehicle within your booked category at participating branches
• Faster checkout when returning your vehicle
• Points or rewards toward future rentals, depending on tier
• Tiered benefits that improve the more you rent

For anyone who hires cars regularly, whether for business travel or frequent personal trips, joining costs nothing and can meaningfully cut down time spent at the rental desk.

How Does Hertz Pricing Work?

Hertz pricing is influenced by several factors, and understanding them can help you avoid surprises at pickup:

• Vehicle category selected
• Rental duration
• Pickup and drop-off location (airport locations often carry additional fees)
• Time of year and demand at your chosen location
• Additional extras such as GPS, child seats, or additional drivers
• Insurance and excess waiver options selected at booking

Booking in advance, particularly for peak travel periods like summer holidays or bank holiday weekends, generally secures better rates than last-minute bookings. Comparing prepay versus pay-later options is also worth doing, prepay rates are often cheaper but typically non-refundable.

Insurance and Excess: What You Need to Know

This is one of the most important, and most overlooked, parts of booking any car hire. Hertz rentals include basic coverage as standard, but the excess (the amount you're liable for in the event of damage) can be significant unless you take additional protection.

Your Main Options

• Standard excess: Included by default, but leaves you liable for a larger sum if something happens
• Excess reduction/waiver at the counter: Lowers or removes your liability, at an additional daily cost
• Independent excess insurance: Third-party policies bought separately, often cheaper over a full rental period

It's worth comparing the cost of Hertz's own waiver against independent excess insurance before you travel, the savings over a week-long rental can be substantial.

Tips to Get the Best Hertz Rental Experience

1. Book Early

Prices tend to rise closer to your travel date, especially for popular vehicle categories and airport locations.

2. Join Gold Plus Rewards Before You Book

It's free, takes a few minutes, and can save time at pickup on your very first rental.

3. Photograph the Car Before Driving Off

Standard practice with any rental company, take clear photos or video of the vehicle's condition, including wheels and roof, before leaving the lot.

4. Check Fuel Policy Carefully

Understand whether you need to return the car full, or whether a prepaid fuel option applies, mixing this up is one of the most common sources of unexpected charges.

5. Compare Excess Waiver Costs in Advance

Don't wait until you're at the counter to decide, price it out before you travel so you're not making a rushed decision after a long flight.

Who Is Hertz Best For?

Hertz tends to suit certain types of renters particularly well:

• Airport travellers who want a rental desk right at arrivals with minimal walking or shuttle time
• Business travellers who value Gold Plus Rewards' skip-the-counter convenience
• Frequent renters who benefit from loyalty perks building up over time
• Anyone wanting a wide vehicle range , from economy to premium to vans, under one brand
• Drivers wanting EV or hybrid options without committing to ownership

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Extensive UK coverage across airports, cities, and towns
• Wide vehicle range, from economy to premium to vans
• Free loyalty programme with genuinely useful time-saving perks
• Growing electric and hybrid fleet options
• Well-established, globally recognised brand with consistent service standards

Cons

• Airport pickup locations can carry additional surcharges
• Standard included excess can be high without an added waiver
• Prices rise noticeably during peak travel periods
• Prepay rates are cheaper but generally non-refundable

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a credit card to hire from Hertz?

Most Hertz UK locations require a credit card in the main driver's name for the security deposit. Debit card policies vary by location, so it's worth checking the specific branch requirements before booking.

Can I add an additional driver?

Yes, additional drivers can usually be added for a daily fee, though Gold Plus Rewards members may receive this perk included depending on membership tier and location.

What happens if I return the car late?

Late returns typically incur additional hourly or daily charges, so it's worth building in extra time when planning your return, especially around traffic-heavy periods.

Is one-way hire available?

Yes, Hertz allows one-way rentals between many UK locations, though a one-way fee often applies depending on the specific pickup and drop-off branches.

The Bottom Line

Hertz remains one of the most convenient and widely available car hire options across the UK, particularly for airport pickups and anyone who values a globally recognised brand with consistent standards. The free Gold Plus Rewards programme adds real value for frequent renters, and the broad fleet range means you can find anything from a compact runaround to a van or premium saloon under one roof.

The key to a smooth experience comes down to preparation, booking ahead, understanding the excess and insurance options, and joining the loyalty programme before your first pickup.

Ready to compare rates and availability? Check current Hertz UK deals here before your next trip.