‘I've Never Heard of This:' Customer Rents Tesla in Florida. Then Hertz Worker Says Something Shocking About Electric Vehicles
But a traditional gas guzzler might be a safer bet, or at least one less likely to attract creepy crawly companions, according to one person.
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In a video with more than 169,000 views, content creator Brandon (
@brandonjb_
) shared the unsettling thing he found in his car rental.
In the video, Brandon explains that he recently rented a Tesla from Hertz Car Rental and was surprised to find that it was infested with roaches. In the video, you can see at least three tiny roaches roaming around on one of the car seats.
And where there are baby roaches, there's likely a whole crew of pests.
Brandon brought the issue to Hertz. He implies that they shrugged him off, saying, 'Since it's a Tesla, it's going to attract roaches.'
'So Hertz in [Florida] airport told us since the car is an EV, it's gonna attract roaches and that all EVs tend to have them, so there's nothing they can do for us,' Brandon writes in the caption.
Do EVs Attract Bugs?
Despite Hertz's claim that this is just an EV issue, this doesn't seem completely accurate.
Motor1 did not find legitimate articles about this issue. The primary mentions of this online are from a
thread in which a person said that their Tesla Model Y had a roach problem, and this was their first time ever having a pest issue in a car.
A Tesla, like any vehicle, can become infested with insects or other pests.
One person who commented on Brandon's TikTok theorized the roaches may be attracted to the heat the battery gives off while idling. Another shared that their Model Y had a German roach infestation, and a third chimed in about how the Model 3s repeatedly have that issue, even if you're not leaving any food or crumbs in the car.
How Do Cars Get Infested?
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Roaches love a warm, dark space—especially one with a food source, making a vehicle a potentially ideal environment.
Even if you keep your car clean, it doesn't take much to attract roaches. A few crumbs under the seat, a forgotten snack wrapper in the glove compartment, or a gym bag left in the trunk can be enough. Roaches can make their way into your car inside grocery bags, backpacks, luggage, or boxes. They can also come through an open window or sunroof.
If you give insects access and an environment to thrive in, you may wind up with an infestation.
Once inside, they'll settle in hard-to-see places like floorboard seams, under the seats, inside the glove box, or even between upholstery.
How to Get Rid of Roaches
Roaches won't necessarily live in your car long-term—especially if there's no food source—but if they find something to eat and somewhere to hide, they'll stick around. Spotting droppings, egg casings, or even one rogue roach could signal that more are nearby.
Regularly cleaning your car and being mindful of what you leave inside are your best defenses.
And if you already suspect an infestation,
bait traps
are reportedly more effective than sprays, especially since aerosol insecticides can damage your car's interior and leave behind harmful fumes.
'Not the Car's Fault'
Most people who commented on Brandon's post agree that it's the conditions that attract insects, not whether a vehicle is electric, gasoline, or diesel.
'Roaches don't care if it's a Tesla or a Toyota. They're attracted to food crumbs, trash, and warmth. If you find roaches in a rental, it's not the car's fault it's because someone left it dirty. Blame hygiene, not the brand,' a top comment reads.
'Tesla owner here, I have never heard that nor seen a roach in my car ever,' another said.
'Definitely not true. I work at a car lot. I've been in alot of Teslas and haven't seen one yet,' a third wrote.
'This happened to me back in 2021. I rented a Hyundai from Hertz and it was infested with roaches,' another person said.
Motor1
reached out to Brandon for comment via TikTok direct message and comment, and to Tesla and Hertz via email. We'll update this if they respond.
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