Related: Understanding Self-Unlocking Technology Post-Pandemic
Hertz Launches 'Gold Standard' Clean, Certified Vehicles
To give customers total confidence when they rent a car, every vehicle will be sealed and certified "Hertz Gold Standard Clean," after undergoing a 15-point cleaning and sanitization process that follows U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Hertz is also launching a new vehicle delivery service and highlighting its fast and touchless rental solutions.
Photo via Flickr/Marco Verch.
Hertz is working to provide customers with a safer, faster, and easier way to travel when they are ready to hit the road with the Hertz Gold Standard Clean, an enhanced vehicle cleaning and sanitization process that concludes with each vehicle being sealed and certified "Hertz Standard Gold Clean" before each rental.
Hertz is also launching a new vehicle delivery service and highlighting its fast and touchless rental solutions.
“At every Hertz location around the world, our focus remains on getting people where they need to go safely and confidently,” Kathryn V. Marinello, Hertz President and CEO, said in a statement. “That’s why we’re raising the bar on our high standards for safety and cleanliness with Hertz Gold Standard Clean and continuing to introduce innovative rental solutions that provide our customers with a safer, faster and easier way to travel as they get back on the road.”
Raising the Bar with Hertz Standard Gold Clean
To give customers total confidence when they rent a car, every vehicle will be sealed and certified "Hertz Gold Standard Clean," after undergoing a 15-point cleaning and sanitization process that follows U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Key steps in the 15-point process entail cleaning and sanitizing the interior and exterior of the vehicle, including all contact surfaces (e.g. steering wheel, consoles, door handles, etc.,) with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectant for use against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Hertz Gold Standard Clean is rolling out across all Hertz locations in the U.S. and planning to launch in other countries.
In addition to these new vehicle-cleaning protocols, Hertz has enhanced its cleaning methods at all locations and in shuttle buses, which includes using approved disinfectant to regularly wipe down high-touch areas such as door handles, counters, kiosks and other hard surfaces. Employees are also following social distancing guidelines and best practices, which are being reinforced through signage at all locations for employee and customer safety.
For customers who prefer to limit personal contact or want a more convenient rental experience, Hertz is now offering Hertz Neighborhood Delivery at nearly 3,000 U.S. neighborhood locations. The vehicle will be delivered to the customer and picked up from their preferred location.
Hertz also offers other low contact or completely touchless rental solutions. At many airports, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members can skip the counter and go straight to their car.
At locations where Hertz Fast Lane powered by CLEAR is available, members can also exit the lot with a quick facial scan, providing a completely touchless experience. When ready to return, members can simply drop off their vehicle and go with Hertz’s eReceipt and Express Return service.
More Rental Operations

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
