Pro Tip: New Hertz AI Scanner Charging Renters Hundreds Can’t Detect Engine Swaps

Minor rim scuff? That’s $440. Entire powertrain removed for your project car? Totally fine.

ATLANTA—Hertz’s shiny new fancy shmancy AI-powered money printing damage scanner, capable of spotting microscopic scratches and charging customers hundreds in “fees,” apparently can’t tell if you’ve yanked the factory engine and replaced it with your poorly maintained paper weight. This is not financial advice.

“It nailed me for a scuff the size of a sesame seed,” said Five Star customer Armando Rivas, holding a bill itemizing a $250 repair, a $125 ‘documentation’ fee, and a $65 ‘AI maintenance charge.’ “But the swapped-in junkyard motor with cracked mounts and a misfire? Passed with flying colors.”

The scanner, developed by UVeye, uses ultra-high-res cameras and AI modeling to scan the exterior of every rental car like a money hungry anal retentive robot security guard. The moment it detects a scratch, smudge, or reflection, the invoice is already halfway into your bank account.

But pop the hood, replace everything, and drop it back off sounding like a blender full of sockets? Totally fine.

“There was no oil in the engine,” said a Hertz rep who asked to remain anonymous. “They fire everyone and replaced them with this thing. I'm the only one left and they said what this thing says goes. So I gave it a wipe and clocked out.”

Instgram users have already turned the oversight into a challenge, documenting everything from engine swaps to full drivetrain extractions on vehicles they return in what they call “Hertz to Be You.” One video shows a Chrysler 300 returned with a push mower engine zip-tied in place. The brilliant and infallable AI flagged a door ding.

Even seasoned thieves are getting ideas. “You can practically build your project car one rental at a time,” said user @BoostedTwoLeggedPirate. “Just rent, remove, replace, return, repeat. The scanner only sees beauty skin-deep.”

Industry experts are baffled. “AI is supposed to be infallable and save me so much money in Labor,” said Dr. Rachel Tan, a CEO. “But it's costing us thousands. There's not solution, except hiring people but who wants to do that?”

For now, savvy renters are polishing their fenders, removing their engines, and keeping a straight face until they hear the scanner chime “No issues detected.”