What a Hertz voucher is and how it reduces your rental cost

A Hertz voucher is a discount code or prepaid credit that lowers the price of a car rental at Hertz locations. The voucher itself is not money — it is a reduction applied to your bill at checkout, either as a percentage off the total rental, a fixed dollar amount, or a special rate for a specific car class or rental length. Hertz vouchers come from different sources: your employer, an insurance company, a membership organisation, a credit card issuer, or Hertz's own promotional offers.

When you rent a car, you enter the voucher code at the time of booking online, or you show the physical voucher or code to the agent at the counter. Hertz deducts the discount before calculating your final bill. The voucher does not cover taxes, airport fees, or optional add-ons like insurance or GPS unless the voucher terms specifically say it does — read the fine print to know what is and is not included.

Key Takeaways

  • Hertz vouchers come from employers, insurance companies, membership groups, credit card issuers, and Hertz promotions, and each has different terms and expiration dates.
  • You must enter the voucher code during online booking or show it at the rental counter; the discount applies before taxes and fees are calculated.
  • Vouchers typically do not cover taxes, airport surcharges, or optional add-ons unless the voucher explicitly states otherwise.
  • Check the voucher's expiration date, blackout dates, and car class restrictions before you book, because some vouchers cannot be combined with other offers.
  • If your voucher does not work at checkout, contact the organisation that issued it — Hertz cannot override voucher rules or extend expired codes.

Where vouchers come from and what each type covers

Employer vouchers are issued by your company's travel department or through a corporate travel program. They often cover a percentage of the rental or lock in a discounted daily rate. Some employer programs require you to book through a specific travel portal rather than directly with Hertz, so check your company's travel policy first.

Insurance company vouchers are provided when your car is in the shop or damaged. Your auto insurer or the at-fault driver's insurer may give you a voucher for a rental car while repairs happen. These vouchers usually cover a set daily rate and may be limited to a specific car class — a compact or mid-size sedan, for example. The voucher typically covers only the base rental rate, not insurance or upgrades.

Membership and loyalty vouchers come from AAA, AARP, military organisations, or Hertz's own Gold Plus Rewards program. AAA members, for instance, receive a discount code valid for a set period. Hertz Gold Plus members earn points on every rental that convert to free rental days or discounts on future bookings.

Credit card vouchers are sometimes bundled with premium credit cards or travel rewards programs. A card issuer may offer a Hertz discount code as a cardholder benefit. Check your card's benefits guide or contact the issuer to see if you have an active code.

Promotional vouchers are offered directly by Hertz through email, its website, or partner websites. These are time-limited offers — "rent a mid-size car for $35 per day" or "20% off your next rental." Promotional codes usually have an expiration date and may exclude certain dates or car classes.

How to use a Hertz voucher when you book

If you book online, enter the voucher code in the "Promo Code" or "Discount Code" field before you complete payment. The system will show you the discount amount and your new total. If the code does not work, the system will tell you why — the code may be expired, not valid for your rental dates, or restricted to a car class you did not select.

If you book by phone or at the counter, tell the agent you have a voucher and provide the code or show the physical voucher. The agent will enter it into the system and show you the adjusted price. Some vouchers require you to mention them before the agent quotes a price, because certain discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

Always check the voucher terms before you book. Look for the expiration date, any blackout dates (dates when the voucher cannot be used), the minimum rental length, the car classes it covers, and whether it can be combined with other discounts. A voucher valid only for weekend rentals will not work on a weekday, and a voucher for a compact car cannot be used to upgrade to an SUV.

What happens if your voucher does not work at checkout

If you enter a code online and it is rejected, the booking system will display an error message. Common reasons include: the code has expired, the rental dates fall on a blackout date, the car class you selected is not covered, or the code is not valid for airport locations (some vouchers are valid only at off-airport Hertz branches). Try adjusting your rental dates or car class to match the voucher terms, or contact the organisation that issued the voucher to confirm it is still active.

If you arrive at the counter with a voucher that the agent says is not working, do not assume the agent made a mistake — voucher rules are set by the issuer, not by Hertz. Ask the agent to show you the reason for the rejection in the system. Then contact the organisation that gave you the voucher (your employer, your insurance company, AAA, or Hertz customer service if it was a promotional code). They can tell you whether the voucher is still valid and may be able to issue a replacement code if it has expired.

Hertz cannot override voucher restrictions or extend expired codes. If your voucher has expired, you will need a new one from the issuer. If the voucher was promotional and is no longer available, Hertz may offer you an alternative discount, but that is not may provide.

Combining vouchers with other discounts and rental insurance

Most vouchers cannot be combined with other promotional codes or discounts. If you have both an employer voucher and a promotional code, you will have to choose one. The system will usually explore whichever gives the bigger discount, but read the terms to be sure. Some vouchers explicitly state "cannot be combined with other offers" — if yours does, you cannot stack it with a second code.

Rental insurance (collision damage waiver, loss damage waiver, or liability coverage) is separate from the voucher discount. The voucher reduces the car rental rate, but you still pay for insurance as an add-on. Some employer or insurance company vouchers include coverage, so check the terms. If your voucher does not cover insurance and you want it, you will pay the full insurance fee on top of the discounted rental rate.

Tracking your voucher balance and expiration date

If you have a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account, you can log in to your account online to see your points balance and any pending discounts or free rental days. The account dashboard shows you how many points you have earned and when they expire — Hertz points typically expire after three years of inactivity.

For employer, insurance, or membership vouchers, check the paperwork or email that came with the code. The expiration date should be clearly stated. If you received a physical voucher card, the date is usually printed on the back. If you received a code by email, search your email for the original message to find the terms. Do not wait until the last day to use a voucher — if the system rejects it at checkout, you will not have time to contact the issuer for a replacement.

Some vouchers have blackout dates — periods when they cannot be used, such as holiday weekends or peak travel seasons. Check the voucher terms for any date restrictions before you book your rental.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Hertz voucher at any Hertz location?

Most vouchers work at all Hertz locations, but some are restricted to off-airport branches only or to specific regions. Check the voucher terms before you book. If the terms do not specify a location restriction, you can use it at any Hertz branch.

What if I have a Hertz voucher but I want to upgrade to a larger car?

The voucher discount applies only to the car class it covers. If you upgrade to a larger car, you pay the full rate for the upgrade on top of the discounted base rental. Some vouchers allow upgrades at no extra charge, so read the terms to see if yours does.

Do Hertz vouchers cover taxes and airport fees?

No. Vouchers reduce the base rental rate, but taxes and airport facility fees are calculated and added after the discount is applied. You will pay the full amount of taxes and fees regardless of the voucher.

Can I transfer my Hertz voucher to someone else?

It depends on the voucher type. Promotional codes are usually transferable — you can give the code to a friend. Employer or insurance vouchers may be tied to your name or account and cannot be transferred. Check the voucher terms or contact the issuer to confirm.

What should I do if my voucher expired before I could use it?

Contact the organisation that issued the voucher — your employer, insurance company, membership group, or Hertz directly if it was a promotional offer. They may be able to issue a replacement code or extend the expiration date, but this is not may provide. Some organisations will not reissue expired vouchers.