If you've rented a car with Hertz recently, your personal information may be at risk. The rental car agency, which also owns Dollar and Thrifty, released a statement warning customers of a data breach involving one of its vendors.
According to Hertz, a breach of Cleo Communications may have exposed the sensitive information of at least 100,000 customers in the US. That includes credit card numbers, driver's licenses, contact info, and even in certain cases, social security or passport numbers.
The incident reportedly took place sometime between October and December 2024, and Hertz was alerted to the situation on February 10. The "Notice of Data" statement released on the Hertz website says:
'We completed this data analysis on April 2, 2025, and concluded that the personal information involved in this event may include the following: name, contact information, date of birth, credit card information, driver's license information and information related to workers' compensation claims. A very small number of individuals may have had their Social Security or other government identification numbers, passport information, Medicare or Medicaid ID (associated with workers' compensation claims), or injury-related information associated with vehicle accident claims impacted by the event.'
Hertz will offer customers two years of complimentary identity-theft protection with Kroll.
That same week, Hertz also announced a new program involving automated AI inspections for returned rental vehicles. Hertz has partnered with a company called UVeye to deploy AI-driven vehicle inspections across most major airports in the US.
UVeye uses advanced scanning technology dubbed an "MRI for Vehicles" to capture full images of the interior, undercarriage, and tires. It even provides a 360-degree scan that will detect chips, cracks, and paint issues. The AI inspection program will kick off at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with deployment at most major US airports expected by the end of the year.
Hertz states on its website:
'With more than half a million vehicles around the globe, keeping vehicles in well maintained condition before, during, and after rentals is a critical priority for Hertz. Vehicle assessments in the rental industry have always relied heavily on manual inspections conducted in varying conditions. By implementing UVeye's advanced AI-driven inspection technology, Hertz can significantly enhance the frequency, accuracy, and efficiency of its vehicle maintenance processes, ensuring reliable service, improved vehicle availability, and transparency for its customers.'
Other rental car agencies, like Avis and Enterprise, are considering using similar AI inspection technology.
