Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Kristin
Rental car companies are increasingly offering electric vehicles in their fleets. While you won’t have to fill a gas tank, there are some charges that might not be immediately apparent to first-time renters. Here are some of the hidden costs of renting an electric car.
Charging Fees
While you will not have to pay for gas when using an all-electric vehicle, there’s a good chance you will have to charge the car at some point before turning it back into the rental company. To do this, you will most likely pay charging fees.
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How long you have to charge the car and how much it will cost depends on the type of charging method and the driving range of the vehicle. DC fast chargers can add substantial range in 20 to 40 minutes for many EVs, but a full charge often takes 30 to 60 minutes or longer depending on the vehicle, battery size, charging speed and battery state.
Some of the most extensive public networks offering “fast” charging include ChargePoint, Electrify America, EVgo and Tesla Supercharger stations. Ask the rental car company if they have any agreements or partnerships with a specific brand.
While some public places may offer free EV charging, you will generally have to pay to juice up your vehicle. How much depends on the location and type of the charger. A typical DC fast-charge session costs roughly $15 to $35, although larger batteries or higher electricity prices can push the cost higher.
EV charging costs are usually denoted in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Sometimes you’ll also have the option of paying per minute.
Idle Fees
One sneaky hidden charge of renting an electric car is the so-called “idle fee.” This is a fee that certain charging stations tack on for every minute that an EV is hooked up after it is fully charged.
Tesla no longer uses one universal idle fee. Rates are commonly $0.50 or $1.00 per minute, but vary by location.
Considering this common fee, it’s best to not stray too far while waiting for an EV to charge. Otherwise, an EV on the charger for hours unattended can lead to hefty fees.
Charging Penalties
Just like rental car companies require renters to agree to returning the car with a certain amount of fuel in the tank, EV renters must hand back their vehicles with a specified level of charge.
Some rental companies add an extra fee for returning an EV without a sufficiently-charged battery. Therefore, it is crucial to check the fine print of your rental agreement to know how much of a charge the car needs to have when you return it. Ignoring these rules can lead to hefty charges.
For example, Hertz’s terms and conditions currently stipulate that it will try to provide EVs to customers with the battery at least 80% charged. Returning the car with a battery charge of less than 70% will incur a $35 fee, unless the EV was less than 75% charged at the time of rental. Returning a car with less than 10% charge — something that can damage the battery — will result in an additional $25 fee.
To avoid having to worry about last-minute charging, in some locations, Hertz offers a prepaid EV recharge option, allowing renters to return the vehicle without recharging it themselves.
Roadside Assistance
Another potential cost of renting an electric car is roadside assistance if the car battery runs out of power.
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Rental car companies typically will not cover towing charges if your EV breaks down because you failed to charge it. For example, Hertz prohibits drivers from calling their own tow truck if this happens, and requires renters to pay the cost of a special flatbed tow truck arranged through its emergency roadside assistance service.
Broken or Faulty Equipment
The cost of renting an electric car can also include dealing with breakdowns. Renters may be charged for missing or damaged charging cables, adapters, key fobs or other EV accessories that came with the vehicle. Coverage varies by rental company and by the type of protection purchased, so check the rental agreement carefully.
Extra Insurance
EVs tend to be more expensive than gas-powered cars due to their high-tech components, and your personal auto policy may not cover a rental. Before renting an EV, make sure to determine whether you need to buy extra coverage at the rental counter.
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