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Renting a car has grown decidedly more expensive over the past few years. At times, it can be almost impossible to find even moderately decent rental car rates, especially if you prefer a particular rental company. With that in mind, we’ll show you how to save on Enterprise car rentals, so you won’t ever have to pay full price again.
1. Check the current deals page for any coupons, promo codes, or special offers.
The best deals that Enterprise offers at any given time are often available on their current deals page. Since deals are updated regularly, it’s worth a look to see what offers are available when it’s time for you to make a reservation.
2. Use a corporate, military, or government discount code
Your employer may have an agreement with Enterprise that could save you even more than a coupon or promo code. Enterprise offers a discount to US government and military travelers on official business, as well as a leisure travel discount for US government employees, active-duty military, and veterans. State, county, and city governments often have discounted agreements with Enterprise, as do many corporations and small businesses. Benefit and travel administrators are usually the best people to ask about car rental discounts, at least at large companies and organizations.
3. Save on Enterprise car rentals by joining the Enterprise Plus loyalty program
Another way to save on Enterprise car rentals is to join their loyalty program. Enterprise Plus members receive discounted rental rates, free rental days, free upgrades, and if that’s not enough free for you, it’s also free to join. To make things even better, there are no blackout dates on Enterprise Plus loyalty point redemptions, so you can get on the road with a free day whenever you like, holidays included.
4. Check your discounted price with a reliable aggregator site
Once you’ve used the tips above to get the maximum discount available to you, check the price with a reliable car rental aggregator site. A good one to start with is RentalCars.com. Other good sites to check are Expedia and Hotwire. Using an aggregator site allows you to quickly search available car rental deals from multiple companies, including Enterprise.
5. Save on Enterprise car rentals by using a membership discount code or booking portal
Organizations like Veterans Advantage, USAA, and Costco offer discounted rates on Enterprise car rental. While Enterprise doesn’t offer AAA discounts, there may be another organization you belong to that does. For example, an amateur sports association, museum, or other institution / organization to which you belong may have an agreement with Enterprise for rental discounts. Sometimes perks like free liability insurance are also included.
6. Use a credit card that includes auto rental insurance
Many credit cards, even those that don’t accrue miles or other travel rewards, offer car rental insurance benefits. Check the benefits offered with your current cards – you might be surprised to find or two that cover car rental liability and collision insurance. Some cover windshield damage on rental cars as well.
7. Save on Enterprise car rentals by using your existing auto insurance
Even if you don’t have a credit card that covers car rental insurance, many auto insurance policies do offer this coverage, especially those with full collision and liability riders. If you’re not sure if your current auto insurance policy also covers rental cars, it’s definitely worth a look before you shell out for expensive loss damage waivers or collision damage waivers from the rental company.
8. Don’t prepay for gas and bring the tank back at the same level
Prepaying for gas or allowing the rental company to charge you for gas used is ALWAYS more expensive than filling the tank yourself. Bring the car back with the gas at the same level as when you picked up. If possible, rent a vehicle with a full gas tank. When you return it, it will be a lot easier to fill the gas tank to the top than to estimate how many gallons it will take to fill the tank to, say, halfway. But don’t worry if you overfill it a bit – you’re still likely to come out ahead.
9. Bring your own child car seat – or buy one
Enterprise charges between $10 and $15 per day for child car seats. If you can’t bring one with you, it may be more cost effective to buy a used one or even a new one, then sell it on a site like Craigslist, 5 Miles, or Facebook Marketplace.
10. Document all damage prior to leaving the lot
Make sure to check the car thoroughly for damage prior to leaving the lot. Take a moment to walk around the car, looking for dents, scratches, chips in the glass, etc. Photograph any damage as well as pointing it out to the Enterprise customer service representative and having them document it on the rental agreement. This will prevent the rental company being able to charge you later for pre-existing damage.
11. Skip the GPS
If you have an Android or iPhone, you don’t need to rent a GPS. Your phone will connect via cable or Bluetooth to the vehicle’s display screen. You can use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to navigate. Make sure to allow a few moments to become familiar with the controls and display before driving away.
12. Avoid weekend rentals
Weekend car rentals are nearly always more expensive than weekday rentals. If your schedule is flexible enough to allow you to avoid weekend rentals, you could save a bundle on your next Enterprise car rental.
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