Hire cars · Electric hire cars

Hiring an electric car in Europe: charging, return level and the fees

Checked 1 October 2026 against each company's own published terms · skynomad

A hire EV changes three things: how you return the car, how you pay for charging, and what is not covered. The contract terms are not the same at each company. Checked on 1 October 2026 against Hertz's Rental Terms (June 2026) and Europcar UK's terms of hire and tariff (5 January 2026). Prices of electricity at the public chargers are on the EV prices page.

The return level

Hertz records the battery level before you collect the car and measures it again on return. Return it with at least the same level or 80%, whichever is lower, and there are no recharging costs. Return it lower and Hertz recharges it and bills a Recharging Fee; below 10% an extra Service Fee of €25 including VAT applies. You can instead buy the Charge Purchase Option at pick-up for a flat fee based on the model and battery.

Europcar UK requires a minimum 80% charge, unless you bought its 80% Charge Option. If you do not, the charge is the missing energy at the weighted average price for rapid and ultra-rapid charging plus £0.15 per kilowatt-hour, with an estimate on your rental agreement.

Who pays for charging

At Hertz you may use the charging fob supplied with the car. The cost of the electricity, any per-transaction fee charged by the network and a Convenience Fee are billed at the end of the rental. Public chargers that do not accept the fob are paid at the point of use. Charging is not included in the rental price. Many public fast chargers also take a bank card, which is covered on paying by card.

Cables and what the damage cover leaves out

Hertz prices two cable types, Mode 2 (car to household socket) and Mode 3 (car to charging station), and says only the cables provided with the vehicle should be used. A lost or damaged cable is charged at replacement cost and is excluded from SuperCover. The cost, with VAT: £432 in the UK, €500 in France, €560 for a Mode 2 cable in Germany and €360 for a Mode 3, €400 in the Netherlands, €530 and €390 in Italy and €450 in Spain. A lost key costs €170 or £170, a lost card €40 or £40, a lost fob €20.

Europcar UK says electric vehicles may only be charged with the cables it supplies, and that lost or damaged cables count as serious damage. For which plug the car takes and what to carry, see plugs and cables.

One-way and drop-off

Hertz says an electric car must be returned to the branch shown on the rental agreement, because not every branch supports electric vehicles. Return it elsewhere and it can apply its one-way fee. See one-way hires.

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