Just out of curiosity ("Why?") more than anything else: I somewhat recently rented from a Hertz licensee location at a Montana airport. Nothing was mentioned at the counter and when I got the "contract" via email -- well after I had left the airport I noticed the first line of the fine print was
Vehicles are not allowed to enter the states of LA, AR, MO, IA, or MN (west of the Mississippi River). A mileage penalty of .32 per mile will apply for all miles driven if the vehicle cross [sic] state lines into any of these states.
Now there was absolutely no risk (or chance) of me winding up near let alone in any of these states on this rental but I can't remember ever seeing that in another Hertz corporate or licensee rental agreement (and pretty sure it wasn't disclosed at the time of reservation, so not doing that until after I've left the lot feels a little shady... but that's not why I'm posting here.
Does anyone know the "Why?" for this -- it seems like a random collection of states that most rentals from this licensee are unlikely to ever come near -- except for maybe Minnesota and in that case what makes Minnesota East of the Mississippi River more desirable than Minnesota West of the Mississippi? (how much of Minnesota is actually East of the Mississippi anyway?)