Last Updated on August 1, 2026 by Michael
Want to rent a Tesla? Maybe you are curious about driving an electric car. Or perhaps you want to see if the driving experience lives up to its hype. Whatever your motivation, it’s easier to rent a Tesla now that more firms are including these cars in their fleets.
Hertz Bet Big on Tesla, Then Regretted It
Hertz went all-in when it announced its 100,000-Tesla order in 2021, creating the largest EV rental fleet in North America at the time. Tom Brady was plugging Teslas for Hertz, whose fleet was primarily comprised of Tesla Model 3s. Hertz was one of the first rental car companies to make a significant commitment to EVs and its investment in the necessary charging infrastructure will encourage renters to take advantage of this growing trend in a major way.
Since then, Hertz has aggressively shrunk its Tesla fleet because the economics did not work as the company had hoped. In 2024, Hertz announced it would sell approximately 20,000 EVs, or about one-third of its global EV fleet, and use the proceeds partly to buy more gasoline-powered vehicles, citing problems such as charging inconvenience for renters and higher collision and repair costs. By April 2024, Hertz expanded its reduction target to 30,000 EVs. The company took significant depreciation charges related to the selloff. Bloomberg reported Hertz was accelerating sales because Tesla vehicles had become a financial burden, including lower rental rates and higher costs. It’s one of the biggest reversals in recent rental car history.
What It’s Like to Drive a Tesla
To unlock the Tesla Model 3, just place the key card near the cirle on the outside of the driver’s door, much like you would to unlock a hotel room. Inside the cabin, there are almost no buttons and switches, apart from window and seat controls. To turn on the car, place the key card on the console or in the cup holders, press the brake and shift the car into gear. You can move the key card once the car is on.
Nearly all car functions are controlled through the 15-inch touchscreen on the dashboard. Think of it as a giant iPad that’s easy and intuitive, whether you are in driving mode, route planning or streaming media. You can even access the car’s owner’s manual from the touchscreen.
The gear selector stick is just behind the right side of the steering wheel. Push the stick up for reverse and down for drive. For park, press the button on the end of the gear stick. The touchscreen will show your gear selection. The braking mode increases battery charge and available drive time by automatically applying the brakes when you take your foot off the gas. Instead of rolling to a stop, the car rapidly slows down.
Eight separate cameras let you know what’s going on all around the car, and the autopilot features automatic steering. Not to be confused with self-driving mode, this feature assists with maneuvers like parking and lane-switching on highways.
The car turns off automatically when you exit the vehicle, remove the key card and close the doors. You can also use the touchscreen to power down the car.
Where to Charge a Tesla
Worried about where you’ll recharge? Teslas can be charged at more than 40,000 EV charging locations nationwide, including Hertz, Tesla, third-party and public locations.
To charge, remove the charging station connector from its dock, open the car’s charge port and insert the connector into the charge port. When charging is complete, press the connector button until the charge port logo turns white. Then remove the connector and return it to its dock. For more on charging, Hertz has a good explainer.
Hertz is installing thousands of chargers throughout its location network, so customers who rent a Model 3 will have access to 3,000 Tesla supercharging stations throughout the U.S. and Europe. Hertz plans to have a combination of Level 2 and DC fast charging in approximately 65 markets by the end of 2022, and in more than 100 markets by the end of 2023.
Where Else to Rent a Tesla
You can rent a Tesla from Enterprise through its Exotics division, as well as through National, Avis and Sixt. It must be said, however, that for each of these companies, the supply of Teslas is often limited to only a few major airport locations.
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In addition, the car-sharing platform Turo offers the opportunity to rent from Tesla owners. A story in Business Insider recounts a positive experience of renting a Tesla through Turo.
Other local companies, such as Tesloop in Southern California and WhiteCar in the U.K., also offer the option to book a Tesla.
Incidentally, Tesloop has served as a long-term test bed for Tesla, which had decided upon an eight-year, infinite mile warranty. Much of the Tesloop fleet travels between 17,000 and 20,000 miles per month, shuttling between various sites (either with a Tesloop employee driver or a renter driving). And while Tesloop has the highest-mileage Tesla vehicles on the planet, the company does offer the cheapest option to drive a Tesla vehicle on the Los Angeles to San Diego loop.
What to Know About Driving a Rented Tesla
If you’re used to driving a traditional gas-fueled car, there are a few things to know about Teslas. For starters, almost all functions can controlled via the key fob or onboard panel. The vehicles are exemplary in the use of cutting-edge technology.
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Finding charging stations has become much easier in the past few years. If you’re planning to rent a Tesla for a long road trip, you need to plan where to recharge at Tesla Supercharger sites. After all, it can take up to an hour to fully recharge the battery of an electric vehicle if you start on empty. Timing your charges to coincide with meals is a smart strategy. During a trip, the vehicle needs to be recharged to continue operation (and recharged before returning, otherwise the rental car company may impose a fee).
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