Enterprise Car Rental Review

Enterprise is well-known for being one of the world’s leading car rental companies. Founded in St Louis, Missouri, back in 1957, it is the flagship brand for Enterprise Holdings, which counts Alamo and National among its other business interests.

The company has a global reach, operating over 7200 locations in nearly 100 countries and has established itself as a trusted brand that is predominantly used by tourists and business professionals.

With a strong focus on affordability and the quality of their service, they offer a wide range of vehicles in their fleet, including everything from compact cars and SUVs to luxury vehicles and moving vans.

Overall, the company is regarded as having a good level of customer service, and its rewards program is up there with the best of them in the industry.

If you are wondering whether Enterprise is a good company from which to hire a vehicle, please keep reading this review.

When Does It Make Sense to Use Enterprise?

If you need to hire a car, Enterprise can serve your needs pretty well in many situations.

Thanks to their flexible one-way rentals, tourists can have the opportunity to pick a vehicle up from one location and drop it off at another, which means they can cover a wide distance on their travels.

Additionally, if you require a vehicle for a large group of people, they are one of only a few companies that can provide you with something suitable. Among their portfolio of vehicles are 15-seater vans.

For those who are environmentally conscious, the company offers a good selection of electric and hybrid vehicles that will help you reduce your carbon footprint.

At the same time, if you require a vehicle for business use or one to help you move home, they have plenty of options that should suit you.

When Doesn’t It Make Sense?

Enterprise is a solid choice of car rental company. However, on occasion, it might not be the best option for you.

If you only need a vehicle for a very short trip, such as running errands for a few hours, rideshare services like Uber or public transportation might be a more cost-effective and even more convenient alternative. Particularly if you have to find and pay for parking or are under the age of 25, in which case you’ll most likely have to pay a more expensive rate to hire a vehicle.

For those on a tight budget, you will probably find cheaper companies you can make a booking with, especially for short-term needs.

Finally, if you require a specialized vehicle, such as a luxury sports car or a top-of-the-range off-road 4×4, Enterprise’s selection may be limited in certain locations.

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Vehicle From Enterprise?

For the renter, Enterprise offers several advantages, which is why it is a popular choice for many people who need a car.

Its biggest attraction is the number of locations where you can hire a vehicle from them. The company operates in major cities on all continents around the world, predominantly at airports and CBD or downtown locations.

They provide a wide range of vehicles to customers, which include everything from budget-friendly options to larger SUVs and 12 or 15-passenger vans. So, they cater to various needs. They also offer one-way rentals, which can be really handy for tourists.

However, for some people, Enterprise’s rental rates might be a little high in comparison to some of its competitors, and they are not in as many countries or locations as other players in the market.

Booking Experience

In line with most other car-leading car rental companies, booking a vehicle with Enterprise is a straightforward process – whether you do this on their website, mobile app, or in person at a branch.

The website and app provide an easy-to-follow, user-friendly interface, which allows renters to filter options based on price, vehicle size, and specific features. After selecting a car, they can choose add-ons like insurance coverage, GPS, and child seats before proceeding to checkout.

Enterprise accepts several major credit cards, including AMEX, Mastercard, Visa, and Diners, as well as debit cards. However, some might involve additional transaction charges.

Important Things to Note Before Renting with Enterprise

As Enterprise has a decent reputation in the marketplace, you should have no qualms about booking a vehicle from them. However, before you do, there are some things you should be aware of.

They include the following.

Pricing & Hidden Fees

All the cars in the Enterprise range are available to book at a baseline price. However, if you want to upgrade your rental experience with optional extras, for instance, additional mileage or a specific type of insurance, be mindful that doing so will increase the cost.

All rentals have terms and conditions you must abide by, such as a set time you need to drop the car off and the amount of petrol it needs to have in it. While they might offer you some grace, you could be issued with extra costs for not adhering to them.

Insurance & Deposit Policies

It is always advisable to take out insurance when you hire a car, and Enterprise offers a range of different protections for their customers, including Damage Waiver, Roadside Assistance Protection, Supplemental Liability Protection and Personal Effects Coverage.

To avoid any hefty charges in case of an accident, be sure to choose the level of protection you are comfortable with and can afford.

You should also be aware that if you want to rent a car with Enterprise, you will be hit with a pre-authorization before you can drive it off the forecourt. While it is not a bona fide charge, it does limit the funds available on the renter’s credit card, which could cause temporary inconvenience.

Vehicle Condition & Inspection

Before handing over the keys to you, Enterprise staff will run you through the current state of the vehicle.

You should pay close attention to this because they will be checking to see whether any damage has been done to it when you return it.

For this reason, make sure you take videos and/or photos of it to use as proof should they claim you have brought the vehicle back in a worse than when you first drove off with it.

Cancellation & Refund Policies

Like every car rental company, Enterprise has a cancellation and refund policy, which you should familiarize yourself with before finalising a booking.

Hopefully, circumstances won’t result in you having to use it, but it would be beneficial to know what it does and does not allow you to do should you find yourself in a situation where you are forced to cancel your booking or lodge a claim.

Customer Service

You’ve always got to take customer reviews with a pinch of salt. However, based on what has been put on websites like Trustpilot, as well as Google and Facebook, Enterprise customer service is generally considered to be good.

Many users report positive experiences with friendly, helpful, and polite staff at several rental locations around the world. However, it must be said that others report experiencing poor service, including rude or unhelpful representatives in some of their field offices.

The online platform is also generally considered to be a good system for booking and managing reservations, and the standard of cars it offers is well-received.

However, some negative feedback has highlighted having to wait for a long time on the phone or in person to speak with a representative and others have expressed frustrations at issues with billing and at delays in or the inability to get refunds.

Alternatives to Enterprise

There are plenty of alternatives to Enterprise from which you can choose to rent a vehicle.

Some of their direct competitors include Hertz, Avis, and Budget, which tend to operate in many of the same geographical locations. But elsewhere, the likes of Dollar, Alamo, Sixt, National, and Thrifty might also provide good options.

In some cities and major tourist areas, other smaller, local agencies may run services, which would be a good way to support the domestic economy, as would using a ride-sharing app if you only need to go short distances.

Final Verdict: Should You Rent from Enterprise?

All things considered, Enterprise is an excellent company from which to book a vehicle.

Not only do they have a good reputation in the marketplace, but they are also quite well-priced and have a wide range of vehicles you can choose from to suit all needs.

In addition, their customer service is decent, and their booking process is quite smooth, so overall, they tick all of the main boxes you should be looking for when you want to hire a car.

That said, they are not the cheapest around, so if you are looking for a budget-priced vehicle, you might be better off booking with another company.

Additionally, they do not have a presence in as many countries as their competitors, so depending on where you are trying to source a car, you might have to go with other options.