Car rental loyalty programs might not always be top of mind for travelers, but for those who frequently rent vehicles, they can be incredibly beneficial. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, as the world’s largest car rental company, naturally offers its own rewards program, known as Enterprise Plus. This program allows members to accumulate points on their car rentals and gain access to exclusive benefits through elite status tiers.
Let’s delve into the details of the Enterprise Plus program to understand all its aspects.
Related: Maximizing Car Rental Rewards: How to Redeem Points and Miles Effectively
Enterprise Plus Program: An Overview
Enterprise operates a vast network of approximately 10,000 locations spanning nearly 100 countries. It’s highly likely you’ve encountered this rental car giant during your travels. The Enterprise Plus loyalty program was launched in 2012, and while it hasn’t seen significant changes since its inception, it remains a valuable program for loyal customers.
Joining Enterprise Plus is free and straightforward. However, it’s important to note that to enjoy the program’s perks, bookings must be made directly through Enterprise. Reservations made via online travel agencies like Priceline generally do not qualify. A notable exception exists because Enterprise owns National Car Rental. Renting through National allows you to accrue Enterprise Plus credits, which contribute to free rental days and elite status within the Enterprise program. Keep in mind that some Enterprise and National locations, particularly those in Africa and the Middle East, do not participate in the Enterprise Plus program.
Earning Enterprise Plus Points
When renting a car from Enterprise, you have the option to earn Enterprise Plus points or alternatively, hotel points or airline miles through Enterprise’s partnerships. If you choose to earn Enterprise Plus points, you’ll receive 1 point for each qualifying dollar spent on your rental (excluding taxes, fees, and fuel) as a base-level member. Holding elite status within the program boosts your earning, providing bonus points ranging from 10% to 20%.
To ensure you earn points, it’s crucial to include your Enterprise Plus membership number in your reservation. If you happen to forget, you have a six-month window from your vehicle return date to submit a request for missing points.
A significant advantage of the Enterprise Plus program is that your points do not expire as long as you maintain active membership. Activity is defined as completing at least one qualifying rental or points-earning activity within every 36-month period.
Related: Smart Strategies to Secure the Best Car Rental Deals and Avoid Overpaying
What Constitutes a Qualifying Enterprise Rental?
Not all Enterprise rentals are eligible for earning rewards. According to the Enterprise Plus terms and conditions, a “qualifying rental” must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- A paid rental from Enterprise Rent-A-Car at participating locations within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the European Union, Latin America, the Caribbean, or the Asia-Pacific region.
- A paid rental from National Car Rental in the U.S. or Canada, made using an Emerald Club number that has your Enterprise Plus member number listed as the preferred frequent travel program in your Emerald Club profile.
“Qualifying rental days” are defined as paid rental days associated with a qualifying rental. Even if a rental includes one or more free rental days, it still counts as a qualifying rental as long as there is at least one paid rental day included.
The following rental types are specifically excluded from qualifying rentals and qualifying rental days:
- Rentals where an insurance, dealer, body shop, or fleet replacement rate is applied, regardless of who is paying for the rental.
- Rentals that are part of a tour or travel package.
- Prepaid rentals booked through third-party platforms, including online travel agents.
- Rentals from Enterprise Truck Rental locations using commercial or government account numbers or contracted rates.
- Rentals from Exotic Car Collection by Enterprise locations or Enterprise CarShare locations.
- Discounted rentals offered to Enterprise Holdings, Inc. employees and their eligible family members or friends.
Maximize Your Earnings
There are several effective strategies to potentially amplify your rewards earnings with Enterprise car rentals. One approach is to start your booking process by navigating to the Enterprise website through an online shopping portal. This can earn you bonus cash back or additional points. Utilizing a shopping portal aggregator like TopCashback is recommended to identify the portal offering the most advantageous deal at any given time. Booking through a portal still directs you to the Enterprise website for the final transaction, ensuring you remain eligible for Enterprise Plus points.
Another smart tactic is to pay for your rental using a credit card that provides primary car rental insurance and offers bonus rewards on travel spending. Excellent card choices include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
These cards offer primary car rental coverage, allowing you to confidently decline Enterprise’s collision damage waiver (and its associated cost) while still being protected should any incident occur. You’ll also earn bonus points on your Enterprise rental. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred both offer significant rewards on travel purchases, earning 3 points per dollar and 2 points per dollar respectively.
The Venture X card provides an impressive 10 miles per dollar on car rentals, but this elevated rate is only applicable when booking through the Capital One Travel portal, which, unfortunately, will not earn Enterprise Plus credits. If you choose to book directly with Enterprise, you’ll still earn a solid 2 miles per dollar spent using the Venture X card.
When refueling your rental car, consider using a credit card that maximizes rewards at gas stations, such as the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) or the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Like most car rental companies, Enterprise often offers better rates when using discount codes. These codes are frequently available to employees of major corporations and members of large organizations. You can find some publicly available discounts on Enterprise’s deals page. It’s also beneficial to check AutoSlash for potential discounts. While opting to “Pay now” through AutoSlash might forfeit Enterprise Plus rewards, choosing the “Pay later” option and entering your Enterprise Plus information during booking usually allows you to retain loyalty perks and earnings.
Related: Top Car Rental Booking Websites for Your Next Road Trip
Redeeming Enterprise Plus Points
Enterprise Plus points are redeemable for free car rentals, applicable to any available vehicle on any day, with no blackout dates. It’s important to note that free rental days cover only the base rental rate, which includes time and mileage. You will still be responsible for covering any applicable taxes, government-imposed fees, and surcharges.
How Many Enterprise Points are Needed for a Free Rental?
Free rental redemptions start at 400 Enterprise Plus points. Enterprise employs dynamic pricing, meaning the exact number of points required for a free rental will fluctuate depending on the specifics of your rental, including location, dates, and car type. To determine the points needed for a particular rental, you must be logged into your Enterprise Plus account. Generally, points are estimated to be worth around 5 cents each.
While blackout dates are not imposed, certain restrictions do apply to point redemptions. Many of these restrictions mirror the “qualifying rental” limitations. A key restriction to be aware of is that points cannot be redeemed for one-way rentals originating outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Related: Speed Up Your Rental Process: Tips to Skip the Car Rental Counter
Enterprise Plus Elite Status
All Enterprise Plus members start at the basic “Plus” level. From there, members can progress to Silver, Gold, and finally Platinum status by meeting specific rental activity requirements.
The different status levels and their associated benefits are outlined below:
| Status Level | Qualifying Rentals or Rental Days | Bonus Points | Upgrade Benefit | Other Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plus | 0-5 rentals or 0-12 rental days | Base | None | Member-only check-in |
| Silver | 6-11 rentals or 13-24 rental days | 10% | Free upgrade one class | Bonus points rollover |
| Gold | 12-23 rentals or 25-49 rental days | 15% | Free upgrade two classes | Bonus points rollover, Priority phone line |
| Platinum | 24+ rentals or 50+ rental days | 20% | Free upgrade two classes | Bonus points rollover, Priority phone line, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Star® status |
ENTERPRISE.COM
As seen in the table, the benefits of Enterprise Plus elite status, while present, are somewhat limited compared to other car rental programs. However, if you consistently rent from Enterprise, the bonus points and upgrade certificates can accumulate significant value over time.
Enterprise also provides a status match program. If you hold comparable elite status with over 40 different travel loyalty programs, including those from other car rental companies, hotels, and airlines, you may be eligible for automatic Enterprise Plus elite status. Furthermore, numerous credit cards offer complimentary elite status with various car rental programs, potentially providing a shortcut to Enterprise Plus status.
Related: A Traveler’s Guide to Car Rental Elite Status Programs
Bottom Line
The Enterprise Plus program serves as a valuable tool for enhancing the rewards earned from Enterprise rentals. However, for individuals who rent cars with very high frequency and consistently achieve elite status, it might be worth exploring programs from other rental companies that offer a broader range of elite benefits. Alternatively, if your rental durations are typically short, joining National Emerald Club and crediting your Enterprise rentals to that program could potentially offer greater advantages.
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.
