Car rental loyalty programs can significantly enhance the travel experience, especially for frequent renters. Among these, the Enterprise Car Rental Points Program, known as Enterprise Plus, stands out as a valuable tool for earning rewards and unlocking exclusive privileges. As the world’s largest car rental company, Enterprise offers a robust loyalty program designed to reward its customers.
This guide delves into every aspect of the Enterprise Plus program, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of how to maximize its benefits. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to loyalty programs, understanding the intricacies of Enterprise Plus can lead to substantial savings and a more rewarding rental experience.
Related: Maximizing Points and Miles for Car Rentals: A Strategic Guide
Understanding the Enterprise Plus Program
Alt text: Detailed view of Enterprise Rent-A-Car logo on vehicle, highlighting brand recognition in car rental services.
Established in 2012, Enterprise Plus is the loyalty program from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, a company with a vast network of nearly 10,000 offices across approximately 100 countries. Joining Enterprise Plus is free and straightforward, opening the door to a world of rewards for loyal customers.
However, it’s crucial to book directly through Enterprise to take advantage of the program benefits. Bookings made via online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia or Priceline typically do not qualify for points accrual. A notable exception is National Car Rental, which is owned by Enterprise. Renting with National, using your Emerald Club number linked to your Enterprise Plus account, allows you to earn Enterprise Plus credits, extending the program’s reach. It’s important to verify participation, as some locations, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, may not participate in the Enterprise Plus program.
Earning Points in the Enterprise Plus Ecosystem
Alt text: Interior view of a rental car showcasing steering wheel and dashboard, representing travel and accumulation of rewards points.
When you rent with Enterprise, you have the choice to earn Enterprise Plus points or partner rewards, such as hotel points or airline miles, through Enterprise’s extensive partner network. For those focused on the Enterprise ecosystem, opting for Plus points yields 1 point for every qualifying dollar spent on rentals as a base member, excluding taxes, surcharges, and fuel costs. Elite status holders enjoy accelerated earning rates, with bonuses ranging from 10% to 20%.
To ensure you receive points, always attach your Enterprise Plus membership number to your reservation. If you happen to forget, you can retroactively request missing points within six months of your rental return date.
A significant advantage of the Enterprise Plus program is the points’ longevity. Your points will not expire as long as you maintain active membership by having at least one qualifying rental or points-earning activity every 36 months.
Related: Smart Strategies to Minimize Rental Car Costs
Defining a Qualifying Enterprise Rental
Understanding what constitutes a “qualifying rental” is key to maximizing your Enterprise Plus points. According to the Enterprise Plus terms and conditions, a qualifying rental must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Brand Rentals: Paid rentals at participating Enterprise locations in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the European Union, Latin America, the Caribbean, or Asia Pacific.
- National Car Rental in Conjunction with Emerald Club: Paid rentals from National Car Rental in the U.S. or Canada, provided you use an Emerald Club number that lists your Enterprise Plus member number as the preferred frequent travel program in your Emerald Club profile.
“Qualifying rental days” are defined as the paid days within a qualifying rental. Even rentals that include free days can qualify, provided there is at least one paid rental day.
However, certain rental types are excluded from earning rewards. These include:
- Rentals using insurance, dealer, body shop, or fleet replacement rates.
- Rentals that are part of tour or travel packages.
- Prepaid rentals booked through third-party online travel agents.
- Rentals from Enterprise Truck Rental using commercial, government account numbers, or contracted rates.
- Rentals from Exotic Car Collection by Enterprise or Enterprise CarShare locations.
- Discounted rentals for Enterprise Holdings employees, their families, or friends eligible for employee discounts.
Supercharging Your Earnings Strategy
To amplify your rewards, consider these strategies to potentially double or triple dip on rewards with Enterprise:
-
Online Shopping Portals: Begin your rental booking journey through an online shopping portal to earn bonus cash back or points. Utilize a shopping portal aggregator like TopCashback to compare offers and select the most advantageous portal. Booking via these portals still counts as a direct booking with Enterprise, ensuring you earn Enterprise Plus points.
-
Credit Cards with Rental Car Benefits: Pay for your rental using a credit card that offers primary car rental insurance and bonus rewards on travel purchases. Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are excellent choices. These cards provide primary rental coverage, allowing you to decline costly collision insurance from Enterprise and still be protected. Plus, you earn bonus points on your rental spend. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred offer lucrative points per dollar on travel.
-
Discount Codes and Deals: Leverage discount codes, often available to employees of large corporations and members of organizations. Check the Enterprise deals page for publicly available discounts. Services like AutoSlash can also help find discounts. While “Pay now” options via AutoSlash might forgo Enterprise Plus points, choosing “Pay later” and entering your Enterprise Plus details usually secures both discounts and loyalty benefits.
Related: Top Car Rental Booking Websites for Your Next Trip
Redeeming Your Enterprise Plus Points
Alt text: Digital interface depicting hands using a smartphone for points redemption, emphasizing ease of access and digital reward system.
Enterprise Plus points are redeemable for free car rentals across Enterprise’s extensive fleet, without any blackout dates. These free rental days cover the base rental rate, including time and mileage. However, be aware that you will still be responsible for covering applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges.
Point Value and Redemption Threshold
Redemptions for free rentals start at 400 Plus points. Enterprise employs dynamic pricing, meaning the points required for a free rental can fluctuate based on rental specifics. To ascertain the exact points needed, you must log into your Enterprise Plus account. Generally, points are valued at approximately 5 cents each.
While blackout dates are not imposed, certain restrictions apply, largely mirroring the “qualifying rental” conditions. A significant restriction is the inability to redeem points for one-way rentals outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Related: Bypass the Rental Car Counter: Speed Up Your Pickup
Elevating Your Experience with Enterprise Plus Elite Status
Alt text: Graphic showcasing Enterprise Plus elite status tiers: Plus, Silver, Gold, Platinum, highlighting progression and exclusive benefits.
All Enterprise Plus members begin at the Plus status level, with opportunities to ascend to Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers based on rental activity.
The elite status levels and their respective requirements are detailed below:
[Table depicting Enterprise Plus Elite Status Levels and Benefits, mirroring the original article’s table]
While the benefits of Enterprise Plus elite status may seem modest compared to other programs, they offer tangible value if you frequently rent with Enterprise. Bonus points and upgrade certificates can accumulate significant savings over time.
Enterprise also provides a status match program, allowing you to automatically receive Enterprise Plus elite status if you hold comparable status with over 40 other travel loyalty programs, spanning car rentals, hotels, and airlines. Furthermore, several credit cards offer complimentary car rental elite status, providing another avenue to enhance your rental benefits.
Related: A Complete Guide to Car Rental Elite Status Programs
Final Thoughts on the Enterprise Car Rental Points Program
The Enterprise Plus program is an effective way to enhance the value of your Enterprise rentals. However, for very frequent renters aiming for top-tier elite benefits, exploring other car rental companies with more extensive elite perks might be beneficial. Alternatively, for those who often rent for shorter durations, the National Emerald Club program, with the ability to credit Enterprise rentals, could present a more rewarding option.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
