Special report
Yes — Hertz is already selling cars online.
The hunch was right about the direction, late about the launch. Hertz moved from an online catalog to a full checkout in 2025, added Amazon and eBay, and on Nov. 9, 2026 said it will close dedicated Hertz Car Sales lots and lean on digital channels plus its rental network.
Verified timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Aug. 20, 2025 | Hertz Car Sales joined Amazon Autos as the platform’s first fleet dealer. Shoppers could browse, finance, and buy online, then pick up at Hertz Car Sales locations, starting in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with plans to reach all 45 locations.1 Reuters reported the same partnership that day and said Hertz shares rose about 7% in early trading.2 |
| Sept. 30, 2025 | Hertz launched a fully online buying experience at HertzCarSales.com — trade-in offer, pre-qualification, protection plans, and credit approval online. CEO Gil West called it a milestone in making retail the primary car-selling channel. Hertz said the Amazon collaboration had expanded to all Hertz Car Sales locations. Certified cars get a 115-point inspection, a 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and a 7-day/250-mile buy-back guarantee.3 |
| Sept. 30, 2025 | Transport Topics, citing Bloomberg, reported that Hertz will schedule delivery of cars ordered on its site anywhere in the U.S., and that going online competes with Carvana and CarMax while Hertz still sells some cars to Carvana. Retail, the story said, gets better pricing than wholesale auctions.4 |
| May 5, 2026 | Hertz opened a digital showroom on eBay with more than 8,000 Hertz Certified listings, using eBay Secure Purchase (including transport and up to $100,000 Vehicle Purchase Protection). Chris Berg, EVP of global fleet management, said the move supports a scalable retail model and reduces reliance on wholesale channels.5 |
| Oct. 15, 2026 | Rent2Buy was rebranded TestDrive+: up to three days with the exact car, a daily drive fee waived if the shopper buys, now at 300+ participating Hertz neighborhood rental locations as well as Hertz Car Sales locations. Eligible vehicles were described as carrying 100K Mile Protection, a 3-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.6 |
| Nov. 5, 2026 | Hertz’s Q3 release said the company is advancing its Hertz Car Sales retail strategy to “prioritize higher-yielding digital channels and build on the scale of its rental business,” and that it recently launched TestDrive+ at neighborhood rental locations.7 |
| Nov. 9, 2026 | DealershipGuy published a Hertz spokesperson statement: the company has expanded online buying, deepened retail-partner relationships, and grown TestDrive+ to more than 300 rental locations, and “is focusing on these channels and leveraging our extensive nationwide rental network rather than dedicated Hertz Car Sales locations.” Closures were reported as finalized Friday, Nov. 20; the spokesperson did not confirm that date.8 |
What this means at a Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty locationIf your branch is in TestDrive+, you may see shoppers who are not classic renters — they are trying a car they might buy. Those units need to be clean, charged or fueled, and free of unrepaired damage. If dedicated sales lots close, more of that handoff lands on the rental network.
Shop links Hertz itself published: HertzCarSales.com, buy online, eBay showroom, and Amazon Autos (search Hertz vehicles on Amazon).