Last Updated on December 1, 2022 by Michael
Looking to rent a car with some flash? The Hertz Dream Car Collection focuses on high performance cars, selected for their sporty design and powerful performance. Whether you prefer a Porsche, Mercedes or Tesla, this program lets you get behind the wheel of a really sweet ride. But there are some caveats you should know before you go.
But this isn’t Hertz’s first time offering dream rides.
The Earliest Hertz Dream Cars
Once upon a time, Hertz rented race cars. In 1966, renters could pick up a Carroll Shelby model 1966 Ford Mustang GT 350 H under the “Rent-A-Racer” program. The “H” stood for Hertz, and Hertz agents loved to talk up the “Rent-A-Racer.” Back then, Hertz knew that renters were going to race the cars; today, racing is strictly forbidden by rental car contracts.
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The program had buzz in its day and Car and Driver even road-tested this ride. Sadly, soon Hertz and Shelby had to make a major concession to the rental audience. The first one hundred cars were supposed to be equipped with stick shifts but more than 90 percent of all Hertz GT 350 H’s ended up being delivered with automatic transmissions. The rental car drivers in San Francisco weren’t quite capable of preserving clutches on these great cars, and that was two years before Steve McQueen’s iconic Bullitt chase scene through San Francisco.
Hertz recently celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the “Rent-A-Racer” in 2016 with a fleet of 140 inspired cars. These should be disappearing from the rental fleet soon but are a nostalgic look back at automotive history.
How the Hertz Dream Car Collection Works
Hertz Dream cars can be booked online or upgraded at over 40 U.S. airport locations.
The minimum age for Hertz Dream Collection rentals is 25 years.
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Given the high value of these vehicles, you will need to present the following:
- a valid driver’s license
- a valid credit card in your name with approved sufficient credit. Debit cards are not accepted but may be used for payment at return.
- proof of automobile insurance in your name OR a passport or military ID
Hertz Platinum members are not required to provide proof of automobile insurance or secondary form of ID.
Dream Cars are not a great choice for a road trip. The vehicles have a limit of 75 miles limit per day at no charge, with a $0.75 charge for each extra mile. There are no one-way rentals with Dream Cars, which must be returned to the location where it was initially checked out.
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