LONDON, Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), the world's leading general use car rental brand, has signed an agreement with Costco, the UK's leading membership cash and carry wholesaler, to bring short term Hertz 24/7 van rental to Costco's members. The self-drive service operates at all 25 Costco warehouses in the UK, with hourly rentals starting from just £13 per hour, bookable from http://www.hertz247.com/costco. Costco's members can hire a Long Wheel Base Ford Transit Van from the warehouse car parks to drive their purchased items home immediately.

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Michel Taride, Group President, Hertz International, said: "We have been growing our global van rental offering through Hertz 24/7 for over five years. Our Hertz 24/7 service enables Costco to provide its members with an attractive and efficient van delivery service. Hertz takes care of providing and maintaining the fleet and handling all customer transactions while Costco's members can enjoy the convenience of taking their purchases home straightaway, rather than waiting for the goods to be delivered in the future."

Sue Knowles, Costco's Marketing Director, commented: "Our agreement with Hertz 24/7 is another example of our dedication to improving member service, ensuring members can transport their purchases conveniently and at a low price. Given Hertz's 24/7's customer support network, combined with its solid reputation for reliability and experience of operating a large and strong van fleet across the UK, I am confident that this agreement will further enhance the Costco member experience."

For Costco's members Hertz 24/7 represents a hassle-free self-delivery option. The price covers insurance, maintenance, road tax and VAT. Using the service is seamless; members simply sign up to Hertz 24/7 by using an instant enrolment pack available from the Costco warehouse, or by calling +44 207 365 4199. Future rentals may then be booked on-line or by using smartphone apps, and once on the road, the member has full access to the Hertz 24/7 Customer Care Centre, which can assist in case of any questions. If a journey is taking longer than anticipated, the rental period can be extended simply by using a display pad fitted inside each vehicle. To register for Hertz 24/7 and hire a van, customers need to be aged 21 years and over, have a standard driving licence valid for the UK, and hold a Visa debit or credit card in their own name.

Notes to editors

Hertz 24/7 supports its partners by co-branding all vans and promoting the scheme through the web, the warehouse car park and the Hertz network.

As well as with Costco, Hertz 24/7 has partnered with IKEA in the UK to offer customers access to van hire. Hertz 24/7 self-drive van hire is also available to customers of B&Q in the UK; IKEA, Castorama and the Casino supermarket chain in France; the DIY store Leroy Merlin and a number of IKEA stores in Spain; and Lowes DIY store in the United States.

About Hertz

The Hertz Corporation (www.hertz.com) operates its car rental business through the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly brands from approximately 10,400 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,800 corporate and licensee locations in 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 111 major airports in Europe. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 1,400 corporate and franchisee locations in 75 countries.

Hertz is in its 96th year of delivering quality car rental solutions to leisure and corporate customers. Product and service innovations such as Gold Plus Rewards, Worldwide Online Check-in, Carfirmations, Mobile Wi-Fi, NeverLost® satellite navigation systems, and unique cars offered through the company's Dream, Green, Family, Fun/Adrenaline and Prestige Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition.

About Costco

Costco currently operates 648 warehouses, including 461 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 87 in Canada, 33 in Mexico, 25 in the United Kingdom, 18 in Japan, 10 in Taiwan, nine in Korea and five in Australia. Costco also operates electronic commerce web sites in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Hertz Press Contacts

Nicola Hanley
Ketchum
T: +44 (0) 207 611 3597
E: nicola.hanley@ketchum.com

Ian Savage
Ketchum
T: +44 (0) 207 611 3774
E: ian.savage@ketchum.com

SOURCE The Hertz Corporation