The Hertz story started in September 1918 when the pioneer of auto renting, Walter L. Jacobs, opened a car-rental operation in Chicago at the age of 22. Starting with a dozen Model T Fords, which he repainted and repaired himself, he expanded his operation to the point where the business generated annual revenues of about $1 million within 5 years.

Hertz has grown into a world leading organisation over the years while the Hertz brand has always been synonymous with excellent service and high quality car rental. These days, Herts offers cars for hire approximately 1,900 locations in the United States and from approximately 5,100 international locations. Hertz offers a wide variety of current-model cars on a short-term rental basis (daily, weekly or monthly) at airports, resorts locales, business centers, and in residential areas.

Today, Hertz' Worldwide Reservations Centers handle approximately 40 million phone calls and delivers approximately 30 million hire reservations annually. Herts, the world's leading car and vehicle renting organisation, is represented in more than 150 foreign countries, operating from 7,000 locations. Wholly owned subsidiaries of Hertz include:

• Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation (HERC), which rents a full range of construction and industrial equipment to contractors, industrial and government markets and offers quality used equipment for sale.
• Hertz Local Edition, which specializes in insurance replacement and local car rentals for those customers whose personal cars are being repaired or are otherwise out of service.
• Hertz Claim Management Corporation is a Third Party Liability Claims Administrator providing services to major corporations, self insured entities and the insurance marketplace.

Through the Hertz website you can view rates, make reservations, check the travel weather and map your quickest route. You can also check out the latest special Hertz offers, coupons and deals.