Rental Car Companies

_ukcat

New member
May 22, 2002
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Going to rent a convertible for California Trip in August. I have never rented a car and while doing price check I found Enterprise is about $250 cheaper for the rental versus the other Major Companies. With Enterprise being a National chain I am not really concerned about renting from them but would like input from you guys who have rented cars and your thought on Enterprise.

Thanks
 

AustinTXCat

Well-known member
Jan 7, 2003
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Going to rent a convertible for California Trip in August. I have never rented a car and while doing price check I found Enterprise is about $250 cheaper for the rental versus the other Major Companies. With Enterprise being a National chain I am not really concerned about renting from them but would like input from you guys who have rented cars and your thought on Enterprise.

Thanks
Enterprise is my favorite. Personally speaking, one great feature about the company is availability at various locations around the US, some rather obscure. For example, I bused from Austin to Knoxville a couple months ago, with long layovers in Little Rock and Nashville, and picked up the car in downtown Knoxville near Market Square. I rent from Enterprise 1-2x per year. Never had a problem. Recently, I've been leveraging the rental for Amtrak rewards.

Search car pickup locations. I've found it is often cheaper to rent from an office located away from an airport.
 

_ukcat

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May 22, 2002
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Thanks for Info. I am in the process of finding locations now. I know we will be dropping off at SFO when a fly back but we not getting the car until after we stay 4 days in S.F. then we need the car to drive to Napa and other spots. The problem I have seen so far is not all pickup locations have Convertibles. SFO has convertibles and it not that big a deal going back to airport to get the car but hoping to find a location closer to where we staying in S.F. to pick car up.
 

Chuckinden

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Jun 12, 2006
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I'll be right behind you in September. Over the last 30 yrs, I've had very few problems renting cars with any national chain.

Just watch the "add ons". Check with your auto insurance company to see if you are insured in any car you drive (most do) and then don't buy the insurance the rental place wants you to. Also, don't pay for the gas in advance when you bring it back. Find a place to fill up close to the where you are returning the car.
 
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KingOfBBN

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Sep 14, 2013
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Prepare to get effed. Had a terrible experience in Dallas this year because they added some airport fee, EZ Pass requirement to drive and some other BS. All of a sudden that small price that was advertised online more than doubled.
 

UKGrad93

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Jun 20, 2007
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I rent from National or Enterprise because I get a discount thru work. It includes the damage loss waiver and some other perks. Join whatever program they have. I found out that being an emerald club member with National means my wife can drive the rental car for no extra fee (although that is included by law in some states).

When I was younger, I'd rent from budget. They were about the only place that would rent to a 19 yo.
 

UKserialkiller

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Dec 13, 2009
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Going to rent a convertible for California Trip in August. I have never rented a car and while doing price check I found Enterprise is about $250 cheaper for the rental versus the other Major Companies. With Enterprise being a National chain I am not really concerned about renting from them but would like input from you guys who have rented cars and your thought on Enterprise.

Thanks

They're major dicks. Just don't get angry with them because they will put you on a do not rent list.
 
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roguemocha

New member
Jan 30, 2007
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Driving through California with a convertible sounds great. Just a word of advice, try not to get a convertible mustang. That screams "somewhat confused tourist" to everyone you drive past and that lives in that area.
 

dgtatu01

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Sep 21, 2005
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Thanks for Info. I am in the process of finding locations now. I know we will be dropping off at SFO when a fly back but we not getting the car until after we stay 4 days in S.F. then we need the car to drive to Napa and other spots. The problem I have seen so far is not all pickup locations have Convertibles. SFO has convertibles and it not that big a deal going back to airport to get the car but hoping to find a location closer to where we staying in S.F. to pick car up.
On thing to consider about non airport locations is that 95% of their business is business folks renting for work drives and rental replacements for cars damaged in accidents. Neither of these are going to need or pay for a convertible so they probably won't have a convertible at a non airport location.
 

wildcatdon

Active member
Oct 17, 2012
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I'll be right behind you in September. Over the last 30 yrs, I've had very few problems renting cars with any national chain.

Just watch the "add ons". Check with your auto insurance company to see if you are insured in any car you drive (most do) and then don't buy the insurance the rental place wants you to. Also, don't pay for the gas in advance when you bring it back. Find a place to fill up close to the where you are returning the car.
Let me tell you why its easier to buy the insurance..Enterprise is self insured. If you have a wreck, you turn in the keys and walk away and your insurance is never involved. if you dont buy it, you have the headache of fighting the process with your insurance co. and possibly having your rates go up in the process. It's not that expensive to get the insurance.
 

Chuckinden

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Jun 12, 2006
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Let me tell you why its easier to buy the insurance..Enterprise is self insured. If you have a wreck, you turn in the keys and walk away and your insurance is never involved. if you dont buy it, you have the headache of fighting the process with your insurance co. and possibly having your rates go up in the process. It's not that expensive to get the insurance.
To each his own, but it's another add on. I never buy it unless I'm renting out of the country.
 
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shockdaddy19

Member
Aug 30, 2012
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Enterprise is perfectly fine to rent from. They're actually a pretty good story...privately owned, St. Louis based company. I worked for them right out of college and would recommend them to anyone looking to lay a good foundation of sales, management and marketing experience. Just don't expect to make much.

I prefer National from a business perspective as their Emerald Club is easy and usually has a good selection of vehicles. I would agree with some of the above advice. Don't prepay the gas and do some research on what exactly your auto insurance covers on rentals...or the credit card that you'll use for payment.
 

wildcatdon

Active member
Oct 17, 2012
9,703
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Enterprise is perfectly fine to rent from. They're actually a pretty good story...privately owned, St. Louis based company. I worked for them right out of college and would recommend them to anyone looking to lay a good foundation of sales, management and marketing experience. Just don't expect to make much.

I prefer National from a business perspective as their Emerald Club is easy and usually has a good selection of vehicles. I would agree with some of the above advice. Don't prepay the gas and do some research on what exactly your auto insurance covers on rentals...or the credit card that you'll use for payment.
You know that Enterprise owns National and Alamo.. I have 3 sons working for Enterprise and National and they are doing quite well. You make a good point on on good foundation for sales experience etc. Enterprise is a huge corporation. I never dreamed they were that big until my sons started working there.
 

shockdaddy19

Member
Aug 30, 2012
746
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You know that Enterprise owns National and Alamo.. I have 3 sons working for Enterprise and National and they are doing quite well. You make a good point on on good foundation for sales experience etc. Enterprise is a huge corporation. I never dreamed they were that big until my sons started working there.

I do. And it surprises me that Enterprise hasn't made their business class as easy as National has. But going back to when I worked there, Enterprise wasn't interested in that business as much as they were the insurance replacement business.

Great company though and if your sons stay committed, they will do well and either advance or have great opportunities present themselves. I have worked for some big companies and Enterprise is truly one the best I have worked for. Hard to beat the culture and overall treatment of employees.