Hertz’s new AI-powered scanner could change the rental experience for better or worse.
Hertz’s New AI Inspection Scanner Could MakeCar Rentals More Expensive
Published on Jun. 30, 2025
Renting a car used to mean a quick visual check, a few forms, and maybe a walkaround with a clipboard. Well, the game is changing.
Now, at some Hertz locations, AI is doing the inspecting—and it’s catching things you might not even notice. A small scratch, a tiny scuff, maybe some curb rash? The system sees it, documents it, and sends you a bill. No human involved. No easy way to ask questions.
TheDrive just reported on one renter’s experience with this new AI system, and it’s already causing concern. Patrick rented a car from Hertz-owned Thrifty at Atlanta’s airport—the first location using this new tech, according to TheDrive. When he dropped it off, the scanner flagged a 1-inch scuff on the wheel. A few minutes later, he got hit with a $440 charge. That included $250 for the damage, plus $125 in “processing” and $65 for “admin.”
AI at the Rental Counter Is Real Now
Hertz announced its new AI system in April through a partnership with UVeye, a company that specializes in AI vehicle inspections. Their camera systems scan the entire car—body, glass, tires, undercarriage—while you’re driving in or out. It all happens in seconds. The goal: catch damage and maintenance issues fast and automatically.
Hertz says this is about making the process more accurate and transparent. Manual inspections can miss things and be inconsistent. With AI, Hertz knows exactly what a car looked like before and after your rental. In theory, that means fewer disputes and faster turnaround times.
The tech isn’t just looking for scratches. It also checks tire tread and other safety issues to help keep the fleet in better shape. Hertz has over 500,000 vehicles worldwide, so they’re betting big on this working. They plan to install the scanners at 100 U.S. airport locations by the end of the year.
Concerns With the New AI System
F0r some, the issue isn’t the scanner. It’s what happens after. Let’s say the AI finds something and you don’t agree. You want to talk to someone, ask a question, get clarification. Right now, that’s hard to do.
According to TheDrive, Patrick got his bill right away, but couldn’t get a clear answer about the fees. The repair cost made sense in theory, but the extra charges? Not so much. And since Hertz doesn’t share pricing guidelines for damage, renters have no idea if what they’re being charged is standard—or not. There’s also the question of whether customers should be on the hook for standard wear and tear (like a small scuff on a hub cap) in the first place.
Hertz says this tech is about improving the customer experience. Maybe it will—if they make it easier to get answers. But it’s clear where this is headed. Other rental companies could follow as UVeye is already working with fleets, dealerships, and companies like Amazon.
So next time you rent a car, don’t be surprised if an AI scanner is watching—and billing—you before you even get out of the car.
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