Hertz #1Club Gold also has its inconsistencies — at least, when I was renting from Hertz more often.

For the exact same rate at the exact same location (Logan Airport in Boston), I remember one week getting a massive upgrade — a Ford Expedition. The very next week, I received a “downgrade” — a subcompact Japanese car in which someone had definitely smoked. It could not be exchanged because Hertz was just about depleted of their supply of cars. I wrote a letter and received $10.00 in coupons in the mail a few weeks later off my next rental.

In my experience, Hertz has many times been more expensive than the rates of other car rental companies. The $10.00 coupon wound up going to waste as I was able to get better rates with National, Avis and Thrifty (whom I would only recommend if saving money is the top priority, and that can be somewhat inconsistent as well), which was before the Coupon Connection forum on FlyerTalk).

Don’t get me wrong — along with my perception of more expensive rates, that was my only negative experience with Hertz. However, one is almost guaranteed a courtesy shuttle bus with Hertz to be waiting when arriving to rent a car.

I still occasionally rent from Hertz. In fact, one of my most recent rentals with Hertz was in Malta, as documented in my trip report, and I was completed satisfied with them.

I prefer the Emerald Aisle at National Car Rental, but if you decide to go with Hertz as the primary place to rent cars, I do not think you will go wrong.

One additional note: if you own your own business and you do decide to use Hertz as your primary car rental company, join their Business Account Program. Membership is free. You can earn free days of rental car certificates by accumulating points if you rent a car using your company’s CDP# and PIN code, provided to you when you first join. A 90-day bonus is included where one can rapidly accumulate points towards a free car rental.