The "international drop fee" is present because European rental cars work differently than in the US. Hertz, for example, has several corporate locations in France, but Hertz France is a separate operation from Hertz Germany.

European Union rental car law within a country is similar to the rental car law within Florida- you can not be charged a higher daily rate that takes into account mileage when doing a one-way between two cities within the same jurisdiction: in other words within Florida or within the same European country.

European Union law requires that Hertz France allow their cars to be driven into Germany, and vice versa. But, because Hertz France and Hertz Germany are separate, they can not keep cars returned to them belonging to the other. Hence, they have to pay an employee to drive the car back to the owning nation.

Based on this information, I suggest calling the pickup location to ask if they have any cars that need to go "home" and will they take away the drop charge.

Note, however, that this will usually not work in the US, because Hertz California is the same operation as Hertz New York, for instance. It's still the same country. Hertz Canada, on the other hand, is a different operation with slightly different rules.

I told Hertz California that I've seen they have a lot of cars from the Northeast, and can they remove the drop charge if I take one "home." The answer: A resounding no: "It doesn't matter where the car came from." So I might get a car registered in CA, registered in AZ, or even registered in NJ- it wouldn't matter, I'd still pay the higher daily rate for the transcontinental drive that takes into account the high average daily mileage.