You can buy a used car from Hertz without leaving your house

In a statement released on September 30, rental car giant Hertz announced the launch of its own dedicated online platform to sell used cars directly to consumers. The Hertz Car Sales website is evolving from a simple online inventory catalog to a place where customers across the United States can buy their next set of wheels. Through this new platform, the rental giant aims to remove the intimidation that usually comes with the car-buying process. Customers will now be able to receive trade-in offers, calculate monthly payments, get pre-qualified for financing, and view optional protection plans, all without leaving their homes or couches.

In the company's announcement, Hertz CEO Gil West noted that the launch of the online platform is "a critical milestone" in the company's strategy to grow its customer-facing retail car sales business as its primary channel for offloading its previous rental fleet. Typically, previous rental vehicles from rental companies like Hertz and Enterprise are sold through channels like auto auctions if they aren't sold through their retail sales operations.

“Our new e-commerce platform marks a major step forward in modernizing how we serve our customers with a seamless journey from browsing to ownership,” said Gil West, Chief Executive Officer at Hertz. “By enhancing our digital capabilities, we’re meeting customers where they are and giving them greater visibility into our inventory, easier purchasing processes, and broader access to quality Hertz vehicles.”

Hertz offers peace of mind with inspections and warranties

Although former rental vehicles are known to have led particularly hard lives during their tenure as rental cars, Hertz assures buyers of peace of mind. The rental giant says that its certified vehicles are not only offered at competitive prices, often below their Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Values, but also undergo a 115-point inspection (on top of the post-rental inspections they go through) and are backed by a 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, in addition to any remaining factory new vehicle warranty coverage.

Additionally, Hertz also offers detailed vehicle history and condition reports for each of its vehicles, as well as 24-hour roadside assistance and a 7-day/250-mile buy-back guarantee. According to information on their website, Hertz Car Sales states that purchased vehicles can be picked up at any Hertz Car Sales location or arranged for delivery.

The announcement builds on an agreement made back in August to sell cars on Amazon Autos, the e-commerce giant’s service that allows customers to shop for cars on the Amazon site. Previously, through this arrangement, buyers in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle could buy their cars on Amazon and pick them up at their local Hertz Car Sales location. According to Hertz, this program has been expanded to all 45 Hertz Car Sales locations nationwide.

Final thoughts

The increased emphasis on direct retail vehicle sales is part of a new growth strategy at Hertz, as the company aims to expand in this area to enhance its operations. According to a statement released alongside its Q2 2025 earnings report, Hertz reported its highest retail vehicle sales volume in five years for Q2 2025, indicating strong demand.

Hertz expanding its direct-sales operation could put it in the direct crosshairs of rivals like Carvana. Bloomberg reported that Carvana shares fell by 3.4% after the announcement was released. To promote the new service, the rental giant is continuing its partnership with NFL legend Tom Brady, who will star in a new ad that will air during NFL football games.