We read every Hertz, Avis, Zipcar and KINTO listing on Uber's Vehicle Marketplace in 48 US markets on October 26, 2026. A Hertz gas sedan costs $265–$285 a week in 46 of them, before taxes and fees. Insurance, maintenance and unlimited Uber miles are included.
At the national median pay of $21.18 per active hour, the first 17 active hours you drive each week only pay for the rent and gas. An active hour means on a trip or on the way to a pickup. Waiting between trips comes on top.
Want a car for a trip, not to drive for Uber? That is Uber's separate car rental service for riders. Uber says those cars are "for personal use only and can't be used to earn on the Uber platform." This guide is about renting a car to drive and earn.
Key Takeaways
- Price: Hertz $265–$285 a week for a gas sedan, Avis $290, small EVs from $240, UberXL-size cars $425. Taxes and fees come on top.
- Break-even: about 17 active hours a week at median pay. At 40 active hours you keep about $391, or $9.79 an active hour, before taxes.
- Trip minimum: Hertz needs 30 trips a week or the car goes back on day seven.
- Normal rentals are banned: Enterprise, Hertz, Avis and Budget contracts forbid carrying paying passengers.
- Gone: HyreCar, Getaround and Fair no longer rent cars to US rideshare drivers.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car for Uber?
Uber does not rent cars itself. Its Vehicle Marketplace lists offers from rental companies, mainly Hertz and Avis, and you sign the contract with the rental company. The chart sums up all 633 listings. The table below shows every market.
Light bar: lowest to highest price. Dark line: the most common (median) price.
| Market | Hertz gas sedan | Hertz Comfort SUV | Hertz EV | Hertz Tesla | Avis Bolt EV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Atlanta | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Austin | $265 | $290 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Baltimore | $280 | $300 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Boston | $265 | $275 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Charlotte | $280 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Chicago | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Cincinnati | $280 | $300 | $272 | $299 | $240 |
| Cleveland | $285 | $300 | $272 | $299 | $240 |
| Columbus | $275 | $290 | — | — | $240 |
| Dallas | $285 | $300 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Denver | $285 | $310 | $250 | $315 | $240 |
| Detroit | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Honolulu | $285 | $300 | $272 | $315 | $240 |
| Houston | $280 | $290 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Indianapolis | $280 | $300 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Inland Empire | $275 | $290 | $250 | — | $240 |
| Jacksonville | $280 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Kansas City | $280 | $290 | $272 | $299 | $240 |
| Las Vegas | $280 | $290 | $272 | $290 | $240 |
| Lexington | $280 | $295 | — | — | $240 |
| Los Angeles | $280 | $290 | $250 | $290 | $275 |
| Louisville | $280 | $295 | $250 | $315 | $240 |
| Memphis | $280 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Miami | $265 | $275 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Milwaukee | — | — | — | — | $240 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $280 | $290 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Nashville | $280 | $290 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| New Jersey (statewide) | $285 | $300 | $272 | $299 | $240 |
| New Orleans | $285 | $310 | $272 | $290 | $240 |
| Orange County | $280 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Orlando | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Philadelphia | $285 | $310 | $272 | $299 | $260 |
| Phoenix | $280 | $290 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Pittsburgh | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Portland | $265 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Raleigh-Durham | $275 | $290 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Sacramento | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Salt Lake City | $285 | $300 | $272 | $290 | $240 |
| San Antonio | $285 | $300 | $250 | $315 | $240 |
| San Diego | $265 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $275 |
| San Francisco | $265 | $300 | $250 | $290 | $275 |
| Seattle | $265 | $290 | $272 | $290 | $240 |
| St. Louis | $275 | $290 | — | — | $240 |
| Tampa Bay | $280 | $295 | $250 | $290 | $240 |
| Tucson | $265 | $275 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
| Washington, DC | $280 | $300 | $250 | $299 | $240 |
Source: 633 active Hertz, Avis, Zipcar and KINTO listings on Uber's Vehicle Marketplace, for example Hertz in Chicago and Avis in Albuquerque. Where a market had two listings for the same car class, we show the lower price. "—" means no listing. New York City is covered below. Gas sedan = "Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, or similar"; Comfort SUV = "Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, or similar".
What the table shows:
- Prices barely change by market. A Hertz gas sedan is $280 in most markets and never more than $285. Avis charges $290 for a compact or mid-size car everywhere it lists one.
- Bigger cars cost more. A Comfort-eligible SUV is $275–$310. An UberXL-eligible car ("Kia Sorento, Honda Pilot, or similar") is $425 in every market that lists one. See which cars qualify in our Uber Comfort car list and UberXL car list.
- Hertz gets cheaper after seven weeks. Listings promise $250 a week for a gas sedan and $265 for a Comfort car. To get it, Hertz's terms require seven weeks in a row and an average of 30 trips a week. The car must stay damage-free, and 30 trips a week allow up to 1,200 miles.
- Taxes and fees are extra. Listings say they are "calculated after reserving." Hertz names airport fees, tourism fees and vehicle license recovery fees among possible charges.
We left out 91 listings from a Dallas fleet owner on the same marketplace. They are priced by the day (about $89, seven-day minimum) with a $150 deposit and no weekly trip minimum. Many cities have local rideshare rental fleets like this. Before you rent from one, ask how the car is insured for rideshare. Uber's rental FAQ says cars from outside its marketplace need proof of insurance "approved for rideshare use."
Is Renting a Car for Uber Worth It? The Break-Even Math
A rental is a fixed bill. You pay it whether you drive 10 hours or 50. So the question is how many hours it takes before you earn anything for yourself.
We used Gridwise's 2026 report, which tracks more than 500,000 drivers. The median Uber driver earned $21.18 per active hour in 2025, tips included. Gridwise counts an hour as active when you are on a trip or heading to a pickup, not while you wait for the next request. Gridwise's average of $23.88 an hour and $0.94 per mile driven work out to about 25 miles per active hour, empty miles included. At AAA's 2026 fuel cost of 17.3¢ a mile, an average across all vehicle types, gas costs about $4.39 an hour. Insurance and maintenance are in the rent.
A $280 Hertz car takes about 16.7 active hours a week to pay off. The average Uber driver drives 21.2 active hours a week and grosses $522, so the rent alone would take 54% of that week. After rent and gas, about $149 would be left.
RentGasYou keep (before taxes)
earn $424keep $56
earn $635keep $224
earn $847keep $391
| You drive | You earn | Gas | Rent | Left over | Per active hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 active hours | $424 | −$88 | −$280 | $56 | $2.79 |
| 30 active hours | $635 | −$132 | −$280 | $224 | $7.45 |
| 40 active hours | $847 | −$176 | −$280 | $391 | $9.79 |
Earnings: Gridwise median trip pay per active hour, 2025. Gas: about 25 miles per active hour at AAA's 17.3¢ a mile. Rent: the most common Hertz gas sedan price. Taxes and fees on the rental are not included.
Three things make it worse in practice. Hertz's 30-trip minimum takes about 18 active hours at a typical 1.7 trips an hour, so you can't drive just a little. Your time online is longer than your active time, because you also wait between trips. And the money left over is before income tax and self-employment tax. Top-quarter drivers, at $24.68 an hour, cover the same rental in about 14 active hours.
Our guide to how much Uber drivers make has the full picture of pay, tips and taxes.
Hertz, Avis, Zipcar, KINTO or Lyft Express Drive?
These are the rental programs open to US rideshare drivers in 2026, with the rules from each company's own pages.
| Program | Price | Up front | Must drive | Age | Rental length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz (Uber) | $265–$285/wk gas; $425 XL | $200 deposit plus first week | 30 trips a week | 21+ in most cities; 25+ in the LA area and for Teslas | Renews weekly up to 180 days, then a new contract |
| Avis (Uber) | $290/wk gas; $240 Bolt EV | No deposit | EV only: 100 past Uber trips and a 4.7 rating | 25+ | Renews up to 56 days, then you rebook |
| Zipcar (Uber) | $90/day weekdays, $104/day weekends | No deposit | 8 trips a day | 25+ | By the day |
| KINTO (Uber) | $240–$360/wk | Full rental at booking; $35 background check | Not stated | 25+ | Up to 28 days |
| Lyft Express Drive | Not published; Hertz says from $219/wk | Refundable deposit or starter fee, by market | 20–40 rides a week, per Lyft Help | 25+ | No set limit after 7 days (Hertz: new contract every 28 days) |
Sources: Hertz for Uber drivers, Uber: Avis, Zipcar Uber program terms, KINTO listing, Lyft Express Drive, Lyft Help and Hertz for Lyft drivers. KINTO is listed in 6 markets, all in Texas and California; Zipcar in about 25.
For most drivers the choice is Hertz or Avis. Avis has no deposit, but its EV needs a record of 100 trips and every rental renews only up to 56 days. Hertz takes newer drivers and renews for up to 180 days. Zipcar is for a day here and there: driving every day of a week would cost about $658.
The Fine Print That Costs Renters Money
- Damage is on you. Hertz says you are "responsible for the first $1,000 of damage, regardless of fault," and that its damage waiver "is not insurance." Uber's Avis page says Avis drivers pay for damage "up to a $1,000 deductible."
- The deposit and holds add up. Hertz wants the first week's rent and a $200 deposit, then places a hold for each new week. Prepaid cards are not accepted.
- Miss the trip minimum and you lose the car. With Hertz, fewer than 30 trips means no extension and a return on day seven.
- One app per car. Hertz's Uber listings say the "vehicle cannot be used to earn on any other platform," and no one else may drive it.
- Repairs only where they send you. Hertz sends you to an approved shop and does not pay for earnings lost while the car is in for maintenance.
- Tesla charging is billed to you. Hertz adds Supercharger costs, including idle fees, to your rental.
Can You Use a Regular Rental Car for Uber or Lyft?
No. Every major rental contract we read bans it:
- Avis and Budget: you may not "carry passengers or property for hire." Their terms say breaking this rule automatically voids all liability protection and the loss damage waiver.
- Hertz: no use "to carry persons or property for hire," unless Hertz authorizes it in writing.
- Enterprise, National and Alamo: you may not "transport persons for hire," and the damage waiver does not apply if you do.
Uber warns that "use of an unapproved rental car can result in permanent deactivation." Its rental FAQ adds that a rental from outside the marketplace needs extra paperwork, including proof of insurance "approved for rideshare use," and that Uber "cannot guarantee" the car will be accepted. The safe route is a rental built for rideshare.
Lyft Express Drive: How Renting for Lyft Works
Express Drive is Lyft's rental program. Lyft runs it with its own company, Flexdrive, and with Hertz; Lyft Help also lists Avis in Phoenix. It is offered in about 40 US cities, not including New York.
- Price: Lyft shows it only in the app. Hertz's Lyft page says its rentals start "as low as $219 per week", before taxes and fees.
- Lower pay: Lyft says renters' "base ride earnings" are lower, "approximately 17% on average." If you would earn $500 in base ride earnings with your own car, a renter gets about $415.
- Rent comes first: your earnings, "including tips and bonuses," pay the rental bill before you can cash out. If they fall short, Lyft charges your card the next Tuesday (Lyft Help).
- Included: insurance, standard maintenance and roadside assistance. Tolls, tickets and damage are extra.
- Mileage: unlimited while driving for Lyft. Hertz renters also get unlimited personal miles; Flexdrive sells personal-mile plans.
Lyft's own pages disagree on trip rules. A Lyft help article asks for 20–40 rides a week to renew, while Lyft's Express Drive page for Hertz rentals says "No Lyft ride requirements." Check the terms shown at booking. For pay differences between the two apps, see Uber vs Lyft for drivers.
What Happened to HyreCar, Getaround and Fair?
Several companies that used to rent cars to rideshare drivers are gone:
- HyreCar filed for bankruptcy in February 2023 and sold its business to Getaround in May 2023.
- Getaround shut down its US business, "which includes its car-share and HyreCar businesses," in February 2025. It still runs in Europe.
- Fair wound down its rideshare rentals in 2020.
If a site still offers "HyreCar" rentals today, it is not the company drivers used before 2025.
Renting a Car for Uber in New York City
New York works differently. Every Uber and Lyft trip there needs a TLC-licensed driver in a TLC-licensed car, and new car licenses are limited to wheelchair-accessible vehicles. So new drivers rent, lease or buy a car that already has TLC plates.
- A study for the TLC found about 30% of drivers rent, and the median renter paid $525 a week for a gas car and $550 for an EV. The study puts sales tax on these rentals at 20.875%.
- Uber's marketplace lists one Hertz option in New York: a Tesla Model 3 for $588 a week before taxes, with a $200 deposit. It is for experienced drivers only: the listing asks for 1,500 Uber trips, a 4.9 rating and a TLC license.
- New York drivers earn more per hour. In our analysis of TLC records, they averaged $39.17 for each hour with at least one trip. At that rate, a $525 rental takes about 14 hours a week to cover. The Tesla, at about $711 with that sales tax, takes about 19. The average New York driver works about 32 such hours a week.
Electric Rentals: Lower Rent, Different Costs
Small EVs are the cheapest cars on the marketplace. Avis lists a Chevy Bolt EV for $240 a week in most markets. Hertz's small EVs cost $250–$272, and its "EV Deal of the Day" is $240, with the model picked at pickup. Teslas cost more: about $290 to $315 outside New York.
You skip gas, but charging is not free. Hertz bills Tesla Supercharging to your rental, and Lyft ended unlimited charging for Express Drive renters in August 2024. Uber drivers with Gold status or higher get 45% off at EVgo chargers (25% for Blue). Rented EVs do not qualify for Uber's $4,000 Go Electric incentive.
Renting vs Using Your Own Car
AAA puts the fixed cost of owning an average new car at $8,506 a year: depreciation, loan interest, insurance and registration. That is about $164 a week. A rental also covers maintenance, so add AAA's 11.7¢ a mile for upkeep. At 40 active hours, about 1,016 miles a week, owning comes to about $282 a week before gas, close to a $280 rental. At 20 active hours it is about $223.
AAA's numbers are for personal use. Driving for Uber usually needs extra rideshare coverage on your own policy, and a car driven 50,000 miles a year loses value faster than AAA assumes.
The simple rule: if you already have a reliable car, driving it costs less than renting, especially part time. Renting makes sense to test the job for a few weeks, to keep earning while your own car is in the shop, or when you can't buy a car yet.
How We Got These Numbers
- Prices: every Hertz, Avis, Zipcar and KINTO listing on Uber's Vehicle Marketplace in 48 large US markets, all marked active, read on October 26, 2026. We did not check Uber's smaller markets. Prices are the listed weekly rate before taxes and fees.
- Terms: Hertz, Avis, Zipcar, Lyft, Flexdrive and the main rental contracts, quoted from each company's own pages.
- Earnings: Gridwise's 2026 report (2025 data) for the US, per active hour, and NYC TLC trip records for New York. Your own pay depends on your city, hours and car type.
- Limits: we did not rent a car, so we could not see the final price with taxes. RideWise has no deal with Uber, Lyft or any rental company.
Read Next
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent a car for Uber?
On Uber's Vehicle Marketplace, a Hertz gas sedan costs $265 to $285 a week in 46 of the 48 markets we checked ($280 in most). Avis charges $290, a small electric car runs about $240 to $272, and an UberXL-size car is $425. Taxes and fees are added on top. In New York City, the one Hertz listing is a Tesla for $588 a week.
Is renting a car for Uber worth it?
Only if you drive close to full time. At the national median of $21.18 per active hour (on a trip or heading to a pickup), the first 17 active hours each week pay for a $280 rental and gas. Drive 40 active hours and you keep about $391, or $9.79 an active hour, before taxes. Time spent waiting between trips is on top of that.
Can I rent a car from Enterprise or Hertz and drive for Uber?
Not with a normal rental. Enterprise, Hertz, Avis and Budget contracts all forbid carrying passengers for hire, and Avis says breaking that rule voids its liability protection and damage waiver. Uber warns that an unapproved rental can lead to permanent deactivation. Rent through Uber's Vehicle Marketplace or Lyft Express Drive instead.
How many trips do you need with a Hertz Uber rental?
At least 30 trips a week. If you fall short, Hertz will not extend the rental and you must return the car on the seventh day. At a typical 1.7 trips per active hour, 30 trips take about 18 active hours.
Can I rent a car for Uber with no deposit?
Yes. Avis and Zipcar list no deposit on Uber's Vehicle Marketplace. Hertz takes a $200 security deposit plus the first week's rent. KINTO charges the full rental when you book, and Lyft Express Drive takes a refundable deposit or, in some markets, a non-refundable starter fee.
Why did Hertz charge me $200 extra?
That is usually Hertz's $200 security deposit, which it takes on top of the first week's rent. Hertz also places a hold for the next week each time your rental is extended, so you may need more than one week's rent in your account. Hertz says it settles the deposit at your first extension date.
Do you need a credit check to rent a car for Uber?
Not if you pay with a credit card at Hertz or Avis, Uber says. Avis runs a soft credit check if you pay with a debit card. Prepaid cards are not accepted.
How much is Lyft Express Drive?
Lyft does not publish a price. Hertz's Lyft page says its Express Drive rentals start "as low as $219 per week" before taxes and fees. Lyft also pays renters about 17% less in base ride earnings, and your earnings pay the rental bill before you get a payout.
Can I drive for Lyft in a Hertz car rented through Uber?
No. Hertz's Uber listings say the "vehicle cannot be used to earn on any other platform," and Hertz says each rideshare company needs its own rental agreement. If you want to drive for both apps, ask before you rent, because the coverage can change when you are on the other app.
Is HyreCar still open?
No. HyreCar filed for bankruptcy in February 2023 and sold its business to Getaround in May 2023. Getaround then shut down its US business, including HyreCar, in February 2025. The hyrecar.com address now shows an unrelated rental comparison site. The main ways to rent for rideshare now are the Hertz, Avis, Zipcar and KINTO listings on Uber's Vehicle Marketplace and Lyft Express Drive.
Can I use a loaner or insurance rental car for Uber?
Usually not. Standard rental contracts from Enterprise, Hertz, Avis and Budget ban carrying passengers for hire. Uber says a car rented outside its marketplace needs extra paperwork, including proof of insurance approved for rideshare, and may not be accepted. It also warns that an unapproved rental can lead to permanent deactivation.
Can I use an Uber rental car for Uber Eats?
Uber says its marketplace rentals can be used "for rides and deliveries." Hertz's listings require 30 trips a week but do not say whether deliveries count toward that, so ask Hertz before you rely on Uber Eats orders.
How old do you have to be to rent a car for Uber or Lyft?
Hertz rents to Uber drivers from age 21 in most cities, but from 25 in the Los Angeles area and for Teslas. Avis, Zipcar, KINTO and Lyft Express Drive require you to be at least 25.
Is an electric rental car cheaper for Uber?
The rent is a little lower: about $240 to $272 a week for a small EV, against $280 for a gas sedan. Teslas cost more, about $290 to $315 outside New York. You skip gas but pay for charging, and Hertz bills Tesla Supercharging, including idle fees, to your rental. Rented EVs do not qualify for Uber's $4,000 Go Electric incentive.
Ready to start saving?
Compare Uber, Lyft, and taxi prices side-by-side in seconds. Free, no sign-up required.
Compare Prices Now