can you cancel rental car hertz

[GrahamLee]

Yes, you can cancel a Hertz rental car reservation, and in most cases, it's free if you do it within a reasonable time frame. The specific rules and potential fees depend entirely on the rate type you selected—primarily whether you pre-paid or chose a pay-later option. Understanding the difference between a "Pay Later" and a "Prepaid" reservation is the most critical factor.

For standard "Pay Later" reservations, Hertz allows free cancellation up until the rental pickup time. There is no financial penalty if your plans change. However, for deeply discounted "Prepaid" reservations, the policy is stricter. These are non-refundable in most scenarios, meaning you will not get your money back if you cancel. Some prepaid rates may offer a partial refund if you cancel well in advance of the pickup time, but this is not guaranteed.

The best practice is to act quickly. Cancel your reservation directly through the confirmation email you received, via your online Hertz profile, or by calling customer service. If you used a third-party website (like Expedia or Priceline) to book, you must usually cancel through that site's platform, not Hertz directly.

Rate Type	Cancellation Policy	Potential Fees	Best For
Pay Later	Free cancellation until rental pickup time.	Typically $0.	Flexible planners.
Prepaid / Pay Now	Often non-refundable; partial refunds are rare and time-sensitive.	Full cost of the reservation.	Travelers seeking the lowest price who are certain of their plans.
Special Offers (e.g., Weekly Rates)	Follows either Pay Later or Prepaid rules; check terms carefully.	Varies by promotion.	Long-term rentals.
Airport Location Surcharge	This fee is waived if reservation is canceled before pickup.	$0 if canceled.	All renters.
Corporate Account	Usually follows the Pay Later policy, but company agreement terms apply.	Typically $0.	Business travelers.

Always review the terms and conditions listed on your specific reservation confirmation for the definitive rules that apply to your booking.

[ReeseLee]

Absolutely, you can cancel. I just did it last week. I booked a car for a trip that fell through, so I logged into my Hertz account online, found my upcoming reservation, and clicked "cancel." It took two seconds, and I got an email confirmation right away. No charge at all because I hadn't pre-paid. Super easy. Just make sure you do it before you're supposed to go pick the car up.

[OJosephine]

As a frequent renter, I always check the rate rules before hitting "book." Cancelling a standard Hertz reservation is straightforward, but the key is the price type. If you chose a "Pay at Counter" rate, you can cancel anytime without penalty. The real risk is with non-refundable, pre-paid deals. Those are meant for when you're 100% locked in, as you'll likely lose the entire payment if you cancel. My advice: unless you're sure, stick with the flexible rates.

[LaKaden]

I called Hertz to cancel once when my flight got canceled. The agent was helpful but did warn me that because I had picked a super-cheap, pre-paid rate, I wouldn't get a refund. She processed the cancellation on her end, and I got an email about it. It was a bummer to lose the money, but the process itself was clear. The main lesson is to really read the fine print on the rate you choose—the cheapest price often comes with the strictest rules.