One customer, Patrick, was charged $440 for a one-inch scuff on a wheel — including $250 for repairs and $190 in combined fees.
Hertz customers are raising alarms over the company’s new artificial intelligence-powered damage scanner, which has billed renters hundreds of dollars for minor scrapes.
At its Atlanta airport location, Hertz has deployed UVeye scanners that photograph vehicles and generate instant invoices.
One customer, Patrick, was charged $440 for a one-inch scuff on a wheel — including $250 for repairs and $190 in combined fees.
“Saving $30 to accept responsibility is not worth it,” Patrick said after declining an early-payment discount.
Critics say the system offers little recourse. Customers must dispute charges via a chatbot or email, with responses sometimes taking 10 days.
Another renter posted on Reddit: “It automatically sent me a bill for this ‘ding’. $195… I will no longer be using Hertz.”
Hertz defended the system as more transparent and efficient, but renters say it feels like pressure tactics designed to boost revenue.
The company plans to expand the scanners to 100 US airports this year.