Hertz has contacted multiple electric vehicle renters recently with interesting low-cost offers for cars like Teslas, offering them the option to buy their rental EVs instead of returning them

Hertz has recently approached several electric vehicle (EV) renters with enticing low-cost offers to purchase their rental cars, including models like Teslas. One Reddit user, who rented a 2023 Tesla Model 3, reported being offered a purchase price of $17,913 — a figure comparable to listings on the Hertz Car Sales website. The rental vehicle in question had approximately 30,000 miles on it, which is fewer miles than other available listings.

Another renter shared that they were offered a 2023 Chevy Bolt for $18,442, while a Polestar 2 renter cited a $28,500 purchase price. These used vehicles are sold with a limited 12-month, 12,000-mile powertrain warranty, along with a 7-day buy-back option.

When asked by The Verge whether this was a unique deal for EVs or part of Hertz’s usual used car sales approach, communications director Jamie Line clarified that the strategy is not new. “By connecting our rental customers who opt into our emails to our sales channels, we’re not only building awareness of the fact that we sell cars but also offering a unique opportunity to someone who may be in the market for the same car they have on rent,” Line explained.

Hertz’s EV ambitions have faced challenges over the past year. In response to low customer demand and repair difficulties for certain models, including the Tesla Model 3, Hertz scaled back its plans to electrify its rental fleet. Earlier this year, the company announced it would stop purchasing Polestar 2 vehicles and began preparing to sell off 30,000 Teslas from its fleet.