Hertz Sets Financial Records for Q1 2013
Results were driven by stronger volumes and pricing, including the impact of the Dollar Thrifty acquisition, lower net depreciation per vehicle and an increase in total RPD.
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. achieved record first quarter 2013 worldwide revenues of $2.4 billion, an increase of 24.3% year-over-year, the company reported yesterday. Worldwide car rental revenues for the quarter increased 25.7% year-over-year to $2.08 billion.
First quarter 2013 adjusted pre-tax income was $144.5 million, versus adjusted pre-tax income of $29.4 million in the same period in 2012. Corporate EBITDA for the first quarter of 2013 was $367.1 million, an increase of 74.2% from the same period in 2012. First quarter 2013 adjusted net income was $93.9 million, versus $19.4 million in the same period of 2012.
Mark P. Frissora, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We've now achieved record year-over-year adjusted pre-tax income seven consecutive quarters and increased employee productivity twenty six consecutive quarters. Our record first quarter 2013 results were driven by year-over-year, double-digit revenue and pre-tax margin growth in the car and equipment rental and leasing businesses, especially in North America. Dollar Thrifty is performing better than anticipated, with integration and synergy progress exceeding our targets," he added.
The Company achieved record transaction days for the quarter, which increased 23.4% over the first quarter of 2012 largely due to the acquisition of Dollar Thrifty, partially offset by the Advantage divestiture. U.S. off-airport total revenues for the first quarter increased 13.5% year-over-year, and transaction days increased 13.0% from the prior year period. Worldwide rental rate total revenue per transaction day ("total RPD") for the quarter increased 2.6% from the prior year period.
Worldwide car rental adjusted pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2013 was $208.4 million, an increase of $116.8 million from $91.6 million in the prior year period. The result was driven by stronger volumes and pricing including the impact of the Dollar Thrifty acquisition, lower net depreciation per vehicle, lower interest expense as a percentage of revenues and an increase in total RPD.
The worldwide average number of company-operated cars for the first quarter of 2013 was 757,100, an increase of 27.2% over the prior year period, largely as a result of the Dollar Thrifty acquisition.
The company reported that it reaffirms its full-year 2013 guidance, provided on February 25, 2013. For 2013, Hertz said it expects to generate worldwide revenues of $10.85 billion to $10.95 billion and adjusted net income of $830 million to $875 million.
More Rental Operations

Clean on Paper: Red Flags in Exotic Car Rental Verification
A suspicious $45,000 Lamborghini booking reveals the strengths and limitations of renter verification, from forged insurance documents to coverage gaps and unauthorized drivers. (Part 2 of 3)
Read More →
Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals
The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.
Read More →
How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
