In December 2022, Hertz announced a $168 million settlement covering 364 people it had falsely accused of stealing rental cars; the company said this represented more than 95% of such claims. NPR reported that accusations led some customers to arrests, charges and jail time, and described errors involving rental extensions, records and theft reports.
Over a span of years, Hertz falsely accused more than 360 people of stealing rental cars, leading to arrests and jail time for innocent customers. Now, the company will pay $168 million in a settlement. Cindy Ord/Getty Images hide caption
Hertz said its file-transfer vendor Cleo was breached in October and December 2024, exposing customer information that may have included contact, payment, driver’s license and workers’ compensation details. Hertz reported completing its analysis on April 2, 2025, and said a very small number may have had government ID or passport data affected; it knew of no misuse at the time.
Hertz confirmed that Cleo “took to steps to investigate the event and address the identified vulnerabilities.” The proper authorities were notified as well, and — as far as Hertz currently knows — none of the data stolen has been misused.
Hertz said hackers obtained customer data through vulnerabilities in file-transfer vendor Cleo during attacks in October–December 2024. The exposed information could include payment and driver’s license details, with government ID or passport data affected for a very small number. Hertz said its own network showed no evidence of impact, and offered two years of identity-theft protection; more than 3,400 Maine residents were affected.
Hertz is offering its customers two years of identity-theft protection with Kroll and included a phone number to contact for information on the breach, 866-408-8964.
Hertz said it has reported the incident to law enforcement and was in the process of notifying relevant regulatory authorities. Hertz is a publicly traded company, but it is not immediately clear whether a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been made or is necessary.
Hertz’s AI vehicle scanner automatically identified damage and billed customers. Customer Adam Foley said he received a $350 bill, struggled to reach a human and had the fees waived after seven weeks and media inquiries. Hertz defended the system as more efficient, said fewer than 3% of scanned vehicles were billed, and said it planned to add human contact through its app.
Hertz deployed an AI vehicle scanner. Then came the CX meltdown.
The SEC said Hertz’s former CEO Mark Frissora and former controller Jatindar Kapur contributed to inaccurate financial reporting, which Hertz restated in 2015, reducing previously reported pretax income by $235 million. Both settled without admitting or denying the allegations or findings. Frissora’s settlement required repayment and a penalty; Kapur’s required payments and an accounting suspension.
According to the SEC's order, from at least February 2012 through March 2014, Hertz Global made accounting errors that were incorporated in public filings over multiple reporting periods and that resulted in the overstatement of pretax income by $235 million. The SEC's order finds that the accounting errors included misstatements concerning Hertz's expenses related to wrecked vehicles, incorrect amortization of vehicle licenses and registrations, and an allowance for uncollectible receivables. The SEC's order further finds that Kapur approved accounting methodology changes in these areas, which contributed to errors that overstated pretax income by approximately $21 million. In addition, the order finds that Kapur sold Hertz Global stock during the relevant period.
The SEC's complaint alleges that as Hertz's financial results fell short of its forecasts throughout 2013, Frissora pressured subordinates to "find money," principally by re-analyzing reserve accounts, causing Hertz's staff to make accounting changes that rendered the company's financial reports materially inaccurate. According to the complaint, Frissora also led Hertz to hold rental cars in its fleet for longer periods and thus lower its depreciation expenses, without properly disclosing the change - and the risks of relying on older vehicles - to investors. In addition, the complaint alleges that Frissora approved Hertz's reaffirming its earnings guidance in November 2013, despite Hertz's internal calculations that projected lower earnings per share figures. Hertz revised its financial results in 2014 and restated them in July 2015, reducing its previously reported pretax income by $235 million.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged former Hertz CEO and Chairman Mark Frissora with aiding and abetting the company in its filing of inaccurate financial statements and disclosures. Frissora has agreed to settle the charges and repay Hertz nearly $2 million in incentive-based compensation.
Hertz Global and its subsidiary, The Hertz Corp., agreed to pay $16 million to settle SEC charges over inaccurate filings and accounting errors from 2012 to 2014. The SEC said the errors overstated pretax income by $235 million and found Hertz inadequately disclosed extending rental-car holding periods. Hertz settled without admitting or denying the findings.
February 1, 2019 - Hertz Global Holdings Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary The Hertz Corp. agreed to pay $16 million to settle fraud and other charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission stemming from multiple company filings containing inaccurate financial statements and disclosures.
San Francisco’s City Attorney alleged Hertz and business partner ATS misled Golden Gate Bridge customers about PlatePass toll fees and how to opt out. The companies agreed to pay $3.65 million, which will fund future consumer-protection enforcement, and changed their fees to apply only on days customers use PlatePass.
Over the past two years, students in the San Francisco Affirmative Litigation Project (SFALP) at Yale Law School helped the City Attorney litigate against Hertz and ATS for defrauding tens of thousands of consumers who crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. Although the bridge moved entirely to cashless, electronic tolling in 2013, the companies continued to falsely advertise and charge for “PlatePass,” a service billed as allowing drivers to bypass cash toll lanes.
Hertz Global Holdings agreed to a proposed $10 million settlement of an investor lawsuit alleging it misrepresented demand for electric vehicles. The proposed class covers investors who acquired Hertz stock from Jan. 6, 2023, through April 24, 2024. A lead investor sought preliminary approval in May 2026; court approval was still pending in the supplied account.
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. agreed to fork over $10 million to investors to resolve allegations the rental car company misrepresented demand for its electric vehicles.
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. plans to sell a third of its U.S. electric vehicle fleet and reinvest in gas-powered cars due to weak demand for the battery-powered options.
By Gina Kim ( May 15, 2026, 7:49 PM EDT) -- A Hertz investor asked a Florida federal judge Friday to preliminarily approve a $10 million settlement to resolve claims the car rental company overhyped the demand for electric cars, only later to announce a $200 million earnings hit as it sought to offload the vehicles, causing stock prices to fall. . . .
On October 29, 2025, Hertz urged the Delaware Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that freed insurers from covering $170 million in false-arrest settlements. Hertz argued the settlements arose from a faulty theft-reporting system and should trigger only one self-insured retention; the appeal’s outcome is not provided.
By Jarek Rutz ( October 29, 2025, 6:50 PM EDT) -- Hertz Corp. urged the Delaware Supreme Court Wednesday to overturn a lower court's ruling that freed the car rental giant's insurers from covering $170 million in false-arrest settlements, arguing the settlements all stemmed from a faulty theft-reporting system and trigger just one self-insured retention. . . .
In January 2003, Hertz Corporation agreed to a $125,000 settlement with the Los Angeles County District Attorney and California Air Resources Board. The agencies said Hertz rented or offered non-California-certified vehicles in the state, including cars repeatedly rented in California after being returned from out of state. The settlement included $13,500 for ARB investigative costs.
In January 2003, the Los Angeles County District Attorney (LADA) and the Air Resources Board (ARB) entered into a $125,000 settlement with the Hertz Corporation. In violation of Health and Safety Code sections 43151 and Business and Professions Code Section 17200, the Hertz Corporation rented or offered for rent non-California certified vehicles in the State. Investigation by ARB staff revealed than on multiple occasions, vehicles that had been rented in other states and dropped off in California, were repeatedly rented in-state prior to being sent to out-of-state destinations. The $125K settlement included $13,500 to reimburse the ARB for investigative costs. Enforcement actions of this nature are important, ensuring that businesses in California are provided with a level playing field. Additionally, these enforcement actions help obtain the full benefit of California's emission standards.
The FTC said Hertz Global agreed to sell its Advantage Rent A Car business and rights to operate 29 Dollar Thrifty airport locations to settle allegations that its $2.3 billion Dollar Thrifty acquisition would harm competition in 72 U.S. airport markets. The commission later approved related asset sales.
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. agreed to sell its Advantage Rent A Car business, as well as the rights to operate 29 Dollar Thrifty on-airport locations around the country, to settle charges that Hertz’s $2.3 billion acquisition of Dollar Thrifty would have been harmed competition in 72 airport markets throughout the United States.
On February 23, 2018, Hertz announced it was ending the NRA rental-car discount program, following the Florida school shooting that killed 17 people. Hertz notified the NRA, according to a contemporaneous report. Another account questioned whether corporate breaks with the NRA were costly or substantive; it did not specifically assess Hertz’s decision.
Morality is easy when it costs nothing. That is a good principle to keep in mind as more than a dozen companies bathe in the glow of public approval after noisily abandoning their ties to the National Rifle Association this past week. Delta, Hertz, Avis, Budget, LifeLock, MetLife — these and other brands renounced their relationships with the NRA; Dick’s Sporting Goods promised to stop selling assault weapons and jumped into political advocacy with a slate of gun-control measures it urged lawmakers to adopt. On Facebook and Twitter, grateful activists encouraged people to reward the companies for their brave stances: Rent cars, buy airplane tickets, take out insurance policies. The mayor of Portland, Ore., praised Dick’s and called on other companies to follow suit. “Support retailers that do the right thing,” urged Brian Fallon, an influential Democratic political consultant.
A former Hertz employee sued the company in Georgia federal court, alleging male employees received better pay and treatment than women and that Hertz fired her after she complained. The report, dated December 4, 2025, provides no further details about the claims’ status or outcome.
By Kelcey Caulder ( December 4, 2025, 6:01 PM EST) -- A former worker hit the Hertz Corp. with a lawsuit in Georgia federal court, claiming that the car rental company gave male employees better pay and treatment than women, and eventually fired her for complaining about it. . . .
OpenSecrets lists $45,000 in political contributions associated with Hertz Global Holdings for 2022. The database says the money came from individual members, employees, owners or their immediate families—not the organization itself—and that totals include subsidiaries and affiliates. The supplied evidence does not establish that Hertz made corporate donations.
On Dec. 19, 2025, a California federal district court granted Hertz partial summary judgment on a former rental-car agent’s state discrimination, wrongful-termination, emotional-distress and wage-related claims. The worker alleged his termination was racially motivated and retaliatory after he complained of favoritism toward Filipino employees; the court found insufficient evidence of discrimination or retaliation.
A California federal district court granted partial summary judgment in favor of Hertz on a former rental car agent’s state Fair Employment and Housing Act claims, wrongful termination, emotional distress, and wage-related violations, finding insufficient evidence of discrimination or retaliation, despite his allegation that his termination was racially motivated and retaliatory after he complained of favoritism towards Filipino employees.
OpenSecrets says Hertz Corp made no direct contributions to federal candidates during the 2024 election cycle. Its recipient listings show contributions attributed to individuals, with $0 from the organization for the listed recipients. The figures cover PAC and individual contributions of $200 or more, based on Federal Election Commission data released Feb. 6, 2025.
Hertz Corp did not make direct contributions to any congressional candidate in 2024.
After workers left a Syracuse Hertz location about six hours before their scheduled departure, customers—including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston—arrived to find it empty and took cars with keys inside. Hertz said the employees on duty were immediately terminated and normal operations resumed the next day. Johnston returned a car he had taken in error.
Hertz did provide a statement about what happened to Syracuse.com, saying that "the employees on duty were immediately terminated and we resumed normal operations the next day." As for Denver's Mayor Johnston, he was a good sport about the incident and even returned the car he drove off in after finding out it was the wrong vehicle. "We resolved it all. I drove it back," he said.