When did you work for Hertz, and was this in the US? A lot of recent ex-rental agents have posted in the rental car forums that such policies have changed, at least in the US.

I do a lot of one-ways in the US. I noticed that it's often with an out of state car, even if I'm taking it in the "wrong" direction. When I asked about if the car needs to go back, the clerk always chuckled and said, "The plates don't matter. They go all over the place."