Comparison // Drive865 vs Hertz
Drive865 vs Hertz at TYS
Hertz is on-airport and offers standardized vehicles. We're off-airport and offer sports cars, an FJ Cruiser, a Miata, and vans. Different markets.
TL;DR
Hertz for standardized reliability and counter convenience; Drive865 for vehicles worth planning a trip around.
Side by side
Aspect
Hertz at TYS
Drive865 at TYS
Hertz at TYS
Pros
- On-airport terminal counter — no shuttle required
- One-way rentals available
- Corporate accounts and rate codes accepted
- Walk-up availability for same-day rentals
- Hertz Gold loyalty program
Cons
- No sports cars or enthusiast vehicles at TYS
- Counter lines after peak flights
- Hard-sell upsell for insurance and upgrades
- Credit card hold for the rental period
Drive865 at TYS
Pros
- Sports cars, FJ Cruiser, Miata — vehicles worth renting for the roads
- No counter wait — contactless lockbox
- No hard-sell upsell process
- Multi-day discounts compound significantly
- Host communication is direct and fast
Cons
- No one-way rentals
- Requires advance booking (not walk-up)
- Economy Lot shuttle adds 15 minutes to pickup
- No standardized corporate account structure
Why Hertz wins for some trips
Hertz's counter at TYS is the right choice for business travelers who need a vehicle now, with no friction, and Hertz Gold membership to skip the line. One-way rentals (TYS to Nashville, for example) are straightforward through Hertz; Drive865 is round-trip only. If you need a pickup truck, Hertz carries them regularly; Drive865's truck-adjacent option is the FJ Cruiser (not a truck).
Hertz also has the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, corporate rate codes, and insurance partnerships that many business travelers have already established. If your company has a Hertz account, using Drive865 instead requires a new setup.
Why Drive865 wins for most East Tennessee driving trips
Hertz at TYS doesn't rent sports cars. It doesn't rent a BRZ, Supra, MR2, WRX STI, or Miata. If your trip to East Tennessee is about the driving roads — Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, the Foothills Parkway — the right vehicle isn't a Hertz compact or Hertz mid-size. It's one of ours.
For multi-day rentals, Drive865's discount tiers (up to 45% at 28+ days) typically land well below Hertz's standard published rates for the equivalent rental window. For a 5-7 day rental, the savings are real.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hertz have sports cars at TYS?
Hertz occasionally offers fun cars or exotic car programs, but not sports car inventory that matches Drive865's lineup (BRZ, Supra, MR2, WRX STI, Miata). At TYS specifically, Hertz's fleet is sedans, crossovers, and trucks.
Can Drive865 do one-way rentals?
No — all Drive865 rentals return to the original pickup location (TYS or Maryville). For a one-way TYS to Nashville or TYS to Atlanta rental, Hertz or another chain is the right resource.
Which is cheaper for a standard sedan?
Drive865 doesn't really carry a standard sedan equivalent in the enthusiast sense. Our Civic Sport Touring is the closest practical car; it's competitive with Hertz rates. For a true 'economy rental,' Hertz or Budget are better resources.
What if I need a vehicle immediately at TYS?
Hertz is right for walk-up same-day rentals. Drive865 requires advance booking (24-48 hours at minimum) — we don't operate a counter with inventory ready for walk-up customers.
Is Drive865 on the main road from baggage claim?
No — Drive865 requires the Economy Lot shuttle. Hertz is in the terminal. If the shortest possible walk is the criterion, Hertz wins.
Does Drive865 have Hertz-style insurance options?
Drive865 works with its own rental agreement and requires appropriate insurance from the renter. Hertz's LDW and CDW products are built into their booking flow. Turo's protection plans are available if you book Drive865 through Turo.
Related
Related
Drive865 vs Enterprise
Enterprise is the largest chain at TYS — the most direct chain competitor.
Related
Off-airport vs on-airport at TYS
Full breakdown of how off-airport pickup compares to the terminal counters.
Related
TYS airport pickup
How Drive865's Economy Lot C lockbox pickup actually works.
Related
Sports car rentals
The vehicles that drive the choice between Drive865 and chains at TYS.
The vehicles Hertz doesn't carry
From $88/day