Thrifty Car Rental is part of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty. The brand joined Hertz after a major 2012 acquisition. Knowing how these companies are connected can help explain why their rental options, locations, and customer services may overlap—while each brand still operates with its own identity.
Who Owns Thrifty Car Rental?
Hertz Global Holdings owns Thrifty Car Rental. Hertz Global Holdings is the corporate parent, while Hertz Corporation is its principal operating subsidiary. Thrifty is one of the rental brands in the company’s portfolio, alongside Hertz and Dollar.
That distinction matters: Thrifty is not simply another name for Hertz, and customers may book through separate brand websites or encounter different rates and offers. However, the brands belong to the same corporate group. Hertz’s company information identifies Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty as part of its rental brand portfolio.
Hertz Global Holdings is publicly traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol HTZ. As a public company, it is owned by its shareholders rather than by one individual or a single private owner. The company’s shareholder composition can change as investors buy and sell shares.
How Thrifty Became Part of Hertz
Thrifty’s history began long before its acquisition by Hertz. The brand developed as a U.S. car rental business and later became part of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, a company that operated both the Thrifty and Dollar rental brands.
Hertz announced an agreement to acquire Dollar Thrifty in 2012. After regulatory review and other required steps, Hertz completed the acquisition in November 2012. The deal brought Dollar and Thrifty into Hertz’s portfolio, creating a larger rental group with multiple brands aimed at different customer needs and price points. Hertz’s acquisition announcement and company filings provide details about the transaction.
The acquisition did not mean that the Thrifty name disappeared. Hertz continued to operate Thrifty as a distinct brand, preserving its customer-facing identity while placing it under the same corporate ownership as Hertz and Dollar. That model lets one company manage several brands without making them identical in pricing, marketing, or booking experience.
Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty: What’s the Difference?
All three brands are associated with Hertz Global Holdings, but they are marketed separately. Their rates, vehicle availability, rental terms, and customer experiences can vary by location and date. A shared parent company does not guarantee identical service or benefits across the brands.
| Brand | Relationship | What Customers May Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Hertz | Core rental brand within Hertz Global Holdings | Separate booking channels, offers, and rental policies |
| Dollar | Part of Hertz Global Holdings | Its own brand identity and rates, which may differ by market |
| Thrifty | Part of Hertz Global Holdings | Separate brand, booking options, and location-specific availability |
For travelers comparing prices, it can be useful to check more than one brand, even when the brands share an owner. A lower advertised rate may come with different mileage terms, taxes, fees, insurance options, or cancellation rules. The rental agreement and the terms shown during booking—not the corporate relationship alone—determine the conditions of a particular reservation.
Does Hertz Ownership Affect a Thrifty Reservation?
Hertz’s ownership of Thrifty is primarily a corporate relationship. A customer who books a Thrifty rental should review the Thrifty reservation details, including the pickup location, payment requirements, deposit, driver qualifications, fuel policy, and cancellation terms. These details can vary according to the location, vehicle, and booking channel.
Some processes or resources may be shared across the corporate group, but customers should not assume that every Hertz policy, loyalty benefit, or promotion automatically applies to Thrifty. Before booking, travelers can compare each brand’s current terms and check whether a specific discount or rewards offer names Thrifty as an eligible brand.
At airport locations, the brands may also have different counters, pickup instructions, or vehicle areas. The confirmation email should be treated as the best guide for where to go and what documentation to bring. If a reservation question arises, the contact information on that confirmation is a sensible starting point.
Thrifty’s Place in Hertz Global Holdings
Hertz Global Holdings operates in the vehicle-rental industry, where companies manage fleets, reservations, rental locations, and customer support across different markets. Its portfolio of Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty gives the group several consumer-facing brands rather than one universal name.
Corporate ownership can change through acquisitions, reorganizations, or financial transactions, so company filings are the most reliable source for current ownership details. Hertz Global Holdings’ annual reports and other regulatory filings are available through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s company database. These documents explain the corporate structure and provide information about the publicly traded parent.
Quick Answer: What Company Owns Thrifty?
- Thrifty Car Rental is owned by Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.
- Hertz Corporation is the group’s principal operating subsidiary.
- Hertz acquired Thrifty’s former parent, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, in 2012.
- Thrifty remains a separate customer-facing brand alongside Hertz and Dollar.
- Rates, policies, and benefits should be checked for the specific brand and reservation.