Open a used-car listing today and you’ll see it: Hertz electric car sales splashed across ads, especially for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. After loudly betting on EVs a few years ago, Hertz has spent 2024 and 2025 unwinding that strategy and unloading tens of thousands of electric rentals into the used market, often at eye‑catching prices.
Quick Take
Hertz is in the middle of a multi‑year effort to sell a large share of its electric fleet, initially about 20,000 EVs and later expanded to roughly 30,000. Most are Teslas, and many are priced well below comparable new models, which is helping push used EV prices down across the market.
Why Hertz Electric Car Sales Are Suddenly Everywhere
Hertz went from EV poster child to EV liquidator in just a couple of years. After announcing splashy deals in 2021–2022 to buy 100,000 Teslas plus additional EVs from Polestar, Volvo and General Motors, the company discovered that running a large electric fleet was more complicated and expensive than expected. By early 2024, Hertz said it would sell about 20,000 EVs, or roughly a third of its electric fleet, and later moved to cut even more as repair costs and depreciation piled up.
Those cars now feed directly into Hertz Car Sales lots, its Rent2Buy program, and, more recently, a partnership with Amazon Autos and a fully digital Hertz Car Sales platform. For shoppers, that means more late‑model EVs, especially Teslas, showing up online at what look like aggressive “no‑haggle” prices.
Context Matters
Cheaper doesn’t automatically mean better. Hertz EVs often have higher mileage and harder use than a one‑owner car. The deals can be real, but you need to understand why the discount exists and how to protect yourself, especially around battery health.
How Hertz’s Big EV Bet Turned Into a Sell-Off
Hertz’s EV Strategy by the Numbers
Several forces pushed Hertz to reverse course. Repair costs for EVs, especially Teslas, came in higher than expected, and the company reported that collision and damage expenses were eating into profits. At the same time, Tesla’s repeated new‑car price cuts pushed residual values down, forcing Hertz to take a substantial depreciation charge when those cars hit the resale market.
Demand was another issue. A meaningful share of rental customers still prefer gas vehicles, particularly in markets where public fast charging is thin or unreliable. That left Hertz with EVs that cost more to repair and depreciated faster, but didn’t always command higher rental rates. Selling them and reinvesting into gas cars, and, longer term, more balanced fleets, is Hertz’s attempt to reset the economics.
What Hertz Is Actually Selling: Models, Mileage & Pricing
The Typical Hertz Electric Car Inventory
Heavily Tesla, with a supporting cast of other brands
Tesla Model 3 & Model Y
The backbone of Hertz electric car sales. Most units are 2022–2023 cars with features like Autopilot, fast DC charging capability, and ranges that originally spanned roughly 260–350 miles when new.
Other EV Brands
Smaller volumes of Chevrolet Bolt, Polestar 2, Volvo XC40/C40 Recharge, Kia and others show up periodically. They tend to move quickly when priced aggressively.
Mileage & Use Patterns
These are high‑utilization rentals. It’s common to see 30,000–60,000 miles on a 2–3‑year‑old car, with a mix of city, highway and airport‑rental driving.
Pricing moves around with market conditions, but recent waves of Hertz EV listings have included Model 3s advertised in the high‑teens to mid‑$20,000s and Model Ys commonly in the mid‑$20,000s to low‑$30,000s, depending on mileage and trim. That undercuts many comparable new EVs and has put real pressure on the broader used‑EV market.
Watch the Total Cost, Not Just the Sticker
A low advertised price is only part of the story. Factor in financing, fees, battery condition, tire and brake wear, and any needed charging equipment when comparing a Hertz EV to other used options.
How Hertz Electric Car Sales Work Online and In Person
Hertz has been steadily modernizing how it disposes of vehicles. For EVs, that means you can shop in several ways: through Hertz Car Sales locations, its Rent2Buy program, a new fully online Hertz Car Sales platform, and, in select regions, via Amazon Autos.
1. Hertz Car Sales lots
You’ll find most Hertz EVs at dedicated Hertz Car Sales stores. These locations typically offer:
- No‑haggle pricing
- 115‑point inspection and basic limited warranty
- On‑site financing and trade‑ins
- Optional service contracts
2. Online & Amazon channels
Hertz has rolled out a start‑to‑finish digital buying flow, including:
- Browsing EV inventory by model, price, and location
- Applying for financing and valuing your trade‑in online
- Scheduling pickup or paid home delivery in select areas
- In some markets, shopping Hertz cars via Amazon’s automotive storefront
What Is Rent2Buy?
In select states, Hertz’s Rent2Buy program lets you rent an active‑fleet car, often for up to three days, and if you decide to buy, your rental fees can be waived. It’s essentially an extended test drive that doubles as a sales channel for Hertz EVs.
Pros and Cons of Buying a Used EV from Hertz
Advantages
- Aggressive pricing: Hertz is motivated to move EVs and has advertised nationally competitive prices, especially on Teslas.
- Late‑model inventory: Many units are just 2–3 years old, with modern safety tech and fast‑charging capability.
- Transparent process: No‑haggle pricing, online shopping and standardized inspections can simplify the experience compared with some traditional dealers.
- Warranty & return policies: Limited powertrain warranties and short return windows can add peace of mind versus a purely private‑party purchase.
Drawbacks
- High mileage & hard use: Rental cars see a wide range of driving styles and conditions. Expect more cosmetic wear and potentially more stress on components.
- Unknown charging habits: You won’t know how often the car fast‑charged or sat at a high state of charge, both factors in long‑term battery health.
- Limited negotiation: No‑haggle means you’re trading flexibility on price for simplicity.
- EV‑specific learning curve: If this is your first EV, you’ll also be budgeting for home charging and learning a new ownership routine.
What Hertz’s EV Sell-Off Means for Used EV Prices
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Market Signals from Hertz Electric Car Sales
Dumping thousands of cars into the used market doesn’t happen quietly. Hertz’s decision to offload EVs at scale has pulled used EV prices down across the board, particularly for Tesla. For shoppers, this creates opportunities, but also underscores why you can’t use three‑year‑old residual assumptions in today’s EV market.
Good News for Used EV Buyers
If you’re shopping used, Hertz’s sell‑off, along with broader EV price cuts, means you can often get more range and tech for the money than you could just a couple of years ago. The key is verifying battery health and total cost of ownership.
How to Evaluate a Hertz EV vs Other Used Electric Cars
Whether you’re eyeing a de‑fleeted Hertz Tesla or a used EV from another source, the fundamentals are the same: battery health, charging capability, and total cost matter more than leather seats or a panoramic roof.
Key Checks Before You Buy a Hertz EV
Use the same discipline you’d apply to any used electric car
1. Battery health
Ask for any available battery data, then verify it independently. A healthy pack should still deliver the majority of its original usable range. Large unexplained drops in range are a red flag.
2. Charging performance
Confirm that DC fast charging works properly and that the car has the ports you need for local networks. Take a fast‑charge session during your test period if possible.
3. Wear and tear
Rental cars can show more interior wear, curb rash and small dings. That’s not a deal‑breaker, but it should be priced in. Look closely at tires, brakes and suspension.
Why Battery Checks Matter So Much
Replacing a high‑voltage battery can cost thousands of dollars. Don’t buy any used EV, Hertz or otherwise, without some form of objective battery assessment, strong warranty coverage, or both.
This is where a dedicated EV marketplace like Recharged differs from a general used‑car outlet. Every car listed on Recharged includes a Recharged Score Report, with verified battery health data, fair‑market pricing and an EV‑focused inspection, helping you compare a Hertz‑style de‑fleeted car against off‑lease and one‑owner EVs on a level playing field.
Step-by-Step Checklist for Shopping Hertz EVs
Practical Checklist Before You Commit
1. Decide if rental history is a deal‑breaker
Be honest about your risk tolerance. If you’re uneasy with hard‑used vehicles, focus instead on one‑owner or off‑lease EVs from marketplaces like Recharged.
2. Cross‑shop pricing with the broader market
Compare any Hertz listing against similar cars on other platforms. Make sure the discount is real once you include mileage, options and reconditioning needs.
3. Budget for home charging
Plan how you’ll charge at home, standard outlet vs. Level 2, and factor in the cost of hardware and any electrician work. If you’re unsure, read a dedicated <a href="/articles/home-ev-charging-guide">home EV charging guide</a>.
4. Use extended test drives wisely
If Rent2Buy is available, treat it like a three‑day inspection. Drive your normal routes, try public charging and test every feature you care about.
5. Get an independent inspection
Even with Hertz’s own inspection, a third‑party EV‑savvy mechanic, or a service that specializes in battery diagnostics, can catch issues others miss.
6. Compare with non‑rental used EVs
Before signing, look at a few non‑rental alternatives. On Recharged, you can filter by model, range, price and Recharged Score to see whether a fleet car truly offers the best value.
Alternatives to Hertz: Other Ways to Buy Used EVs
Hertz isn’t the only game in town. Its sell‑off is a big story for the industry, but as a shopper you should keep it in perspective and cross‑shop broadly.
Where to Shop Used EVs (and How They Compare)
How Hertz stacks up against other used‑EV channels.
| Channel | Typical Vehicles | Pros | Watch Outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz Car Sales | High‑mileage late‑model rentals, heavy on Tesla | Aggressive pricing, digital tools, nationwide footprint | Rental use, limited battery visibility |
| Franchise & independent dealers | Mix of trade‑ins and off‑lease EVs | Local support, financing, potential CPO warranties | EV expertise varies widely |
| Online car retailers | Wide national selection of EVs | Home delivery, online buying experience | Service/warranty support can be uneven |
| Recharged marketplace | Curated used EVs with verified battery health | Recharged Score Report, EV‑specialist support, financing and trade‑in options | Inventory may be more focused on EVs than gas cars, by design |
Always compare price, battery transparency and total experience, not just the logo on the lot.
Use Hertz as a Benchmark
Even if you never buy from Hertz, its listings are a useful market barometer. Use them to sanity‑check prices on similar EVs elsewhere, and to understand how rapidly EV depreciation is evolving.
Hertz Electric Car Sales: Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Hertz Electric Car Sales
Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Hertz EV?
Hertz electric car sales are one of the clearest signs that the EV market is maturing in real time. A few years ago, Teslas carried a premium halo on the used market; today, de‑fleeted rentals and rapid new‑car price cuts have turned them into some of the most aggressively priced used vehicles you can buy.
For the right buyer, someone comfortable with higher mileage, willing to dig into battery health and charging history, and focused on value over perfection, a Hertz EV can be a smart, budget‑friendly way into electric ownership. For others, especially first‑time EV owners who’d rather avoid rental‑fleet unknowns, a curated used EV from a specialist marketplace like Recharged may be a better fit.
Either way, the homework is the same: compare prices across multiple channels, insist on transparency around battery condition, and model your charging setup before you sign. If you’d rather skip the guesswork, you can start by browsing Recharged’s verified used EV inventory, each backed by a Recharged Score Report, EV‑savvy support, flexible financing and nationwide delivery, so you get the upside of today’s buyer‑friendly EV prices without flying blind.
