Hertz Car Rental in Chattanooga: Airport and Downtown Locations for Short-Term and Long-Term Rentals
Hertz operates two rental locations in Chattanooga: one at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) on the air side and one downtown on Market Street. Both handle standard short-term rentals, airport pickups, and multi-week leases, positioning Hertz as the primary national chain option for travelers who need a car immediately upon arrival or locals requiring temporary vehicle access without purchasing.
What Hertz actually is
Hertz is a multinational car rental company operating since 1918. The Chattanooga locations rent economy through premium vehicles on daily, weekly, and monthly bases. The airport branch serves originating passengers and connecting travelers; the downtown office sits near the North Shore and riverfront, convenient for business visitors staying in midtown hotels. Both locations are franchise-operated under Hertz corporate standards.
Vehicle classes and daily rates
Hertz groups vehicles into economy, compact, mid-size, full-size, SUV, and premium categories. Chattanooga airport location daily rates typically run $35 to $65 for economy cars, $45 to $75 for mid-size, and $70 to $120 for SUVs, though rates fluctuate by season and demand. Weekly rates offer roughly 30 to 40 percent discounts over daily pricing. Monthly rentals drop further, to approximately $600 to $900 for an economy sedan. Prices vary significantly by travel dates; summer and holiday weeks are substantially higher. Verify current rates directly, as they change daily.
Insurance, fuel charges, and airport facility fees (at CHA only) add to the base rental cost. Hertz offers collision damage waiver (CDW) and liability coverage; declining CDW assumes you carry coverage through your credit card or personal auto policy.
How Hertz compares to other Chattanooga rental options
Chattanooga has four national rental chains at the airport: Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, and Avis. Budget and Enterprise typically undercut Hertz by 10 to 20 percent on economy rentals, especially for weekly bookings. Avis sits near Hertz in pricing but offers different loyalty benefits. None of the four operates a significant local independent alternative; regional consolidators like Turo (peer-to-peer) exist but require different booking workflows and carry different insurance frameworks.
Choose Hertz if loyalty points matter, if you need consistent vehicle quality across multiple trips, or if you're already in the Hertz app ecosystem. Choose Budget or Enterprise if price is the primary driver and you're renting for one week or less. Choose Avis if you hold Avis status or travel frequently and value their mobile app. Chattanooga lacks a major car-share operation (Zipcar or similar does not serve the market), so traditional rental remains the default for temporary vehicle needs.
Who it suits and who it does not
Hertz works well for business travelers spending three to five days in Chattanooga, tourists needing a car for a weekend exploration of the Gorge or nearby mountains, and relocating professionals needing a vehicle while searching for a car to purchase. Monthly rates appeal to people whose cars are in repair, those waiting for new car deliveries, or short-term workers.
Hertz is less suitable for single-day rentals within Chattanooga proper (ride-share is cheaper), for people without a valid driver's license and credit card, or for those under 25 (Hertz charges an under-25 surcharge, typically $20 to $30 per day). It is not appropriate for one-way rentals to distant cities unless you accept steep drop-off charges.
What the first visit involves
At the airport, arrive at least 30 minutes before your flight departure for car pickup (Hertz is on the departures level). Bring a valid driver's license, credit card in your name, and proof of insurance or willingness to purchase Hertz coverage. The rental agreement takes 5 to 10 minutes. You will inspect the vehicle for existing damage (photos recommended), note the fuel level, and receive keys and paperwork. Return follows the reverse process; fuel the car to the level you received it (or Hertz charges a refill fee, typically $6 to $8 per gallon) and park in the return lot.
Downtown pickups at the Market Street location allow walk-in rentals but generally require advance booking during peak seasons. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the entire process.
Hours, location, and parking
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport location (air-side): Open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., adjusting for flight schedules. Parking is on-airport; you drive the rental vehicle directly from the lot. Airport facility fees of approximately $4 to $6 per day apply.
Downtown Chattanooga location (Market Street): Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Sunday. Street parking and small lot available. Verify hours before visiting, as they adjust seasonally.
Hertz offers mobile key technology through its app (available on newer vehicles) and 24-hour roadside assistance. The Chattanooga locations do not offer free airport shuttle service; you are expected to drive away immediately upon pickup.
Hertz serves Chattanooga's transient vehicle needs where national brand consistency and mid-market pricing matter more than deep local discounts, making it a standard choice for business and leisure travelers without specific loyalty to competing rental chains.
