Enterprise rental rates depend on car type, location, how long you rent, and when you book

Enterprise does not publish a single daily rate. A compact car in one city might cost $35 a day, while the same car in another costs $55. A weekend rental often costs less per day than a weekday one. Booking two weeks ahead usually costs less than booking the day before. The only way to know what you will pay is to enter your location, dates, and car type into their website or call a local branch.

What matters more than the headline rate is understanding what gets added on top. The base daily rate is rarely what you actually pay. Taxes, facility charges, and optional insurance can easily add 30 to 50 percent to the quoted price. Some of these are mandatory; others you choose. Knowing which is which before you book saves you from surprises at the counter.

Key Takeaways

  • Enterprise's daily rates vary by location, car class, and season, so you must check their website or call your local branch for an actual quote.
  • Taxes and facility fees are added to the base rate and vary by state and airport; these are not optional.
  • Damage waiver insurance (called Loss Damage Waiver or LDW) costs extra and is optional, but declining it means you pay for any damage to the car.
  • Weekend rates are often lower per day than weekday rates, and booking further in advance usually costs less.
  • Your personal auto insurance or credit card may cover rental car damage, so check your policy before paying Enterprise's insurance.

How Enterprise's base rate is built

The daily rate you see quoted is the base rental charge. This is what you pay per day for the car itself. Enterprise groups cars into classes—economy, compact, midsize, full-size, SUV, and so on—and each class has its own rate. A compact car costs less per day than an SUV. An economy car costs less than a compact.

The base rate changes based on demand and how far ahead you book. If you rent during a holiday week or a major event in that city, rates go up. If you book 30 days in advance instead of 3 days, the rate usually drops. Enterprise also runs promotions—discounts for members of AAA, military, or corporate programs—that lower the base rate if you may have access to and enter the code when you book.

The total number of days matters too. A three-day rental might be quoted at $45 per day, but a seven-day rental of the same car might be $38 per day. Weekly rates are almost always lower per day than daily rates. Monthly rentals are lower still.

Taxes and facility charges that are always added

After the base rate, Enterprise adds taxes and facility fees. These are not optional. Sales tax applies in every state and varies by location—it might be 6 percent in one city and 8.5 percent in another. Concession recovery fees (also called facility fees or airport fees) explore if you rent from an airport location. These fees go to the airport authority and typically run 10 to 15 percent of the rental cost, though they vary by airport.

Some cities and counties add their own rental car taxes on top of sales tax. Las Vegas, for example, has a 12 percent rental tax in addition to sales tax. New York City adds a 5.85 percent tax plus a $2.75 daily surcharge. These are set by local government, not by Enterprise, but they appear on your final bill. The only way to know what applies to your location is to see the full quote on their website—the taxes and fees are shown before you complete the booking.

If you rent from an off-airport location (a local Enterprise branch), you pay sales tax but not the airport concession fee. This is one reason off-airport rentals are sometimes cheaper than airport rentals of the same car for the same dates.

Optional insurance and damage coverage

Enterprise offers Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), also called damage waiver or collision damage waiver. This is optional insurance that protects you if the car is damaged or stolen. If you decline it and the car is damaged, you pay for the repairs. If you accept it, you pay a daily fee (typically $15 to $30 per day, depending on the car and location) and Enterprise covers damage.

Before you buy Enterprise's damage waiver, check what you already have. Your personal auto insurance may cover rental cars—many policies do, though some exclude them. Your credit card may also cover rental damage if you charge the rental to that card. Call your insurance company or check your credit card's benefits guide before you book. If you are already covered, paying Enterprise for damage waiver is money wasted.

Enterprise also offers additional liability insurance (covering damage you cause to other vehicles or property) and personal effects coverage (covering theft of items left in the car). These are less common purchases and cost extra per day. Your auto insurance usually covers liability already, so check before buying.

What a real example costs

Say you rent a compact car from an Enterprise branch in Denver for three days in March. The base rate is $42 per day. That is $126 for three days. Colorado sales tax is 7.65 percent, which adds $9.64. You decline damage waiver. Your total is $135.64, or about $45 per day when you divide the total by three.

Now say you rent the same car from Denver International Airport for the same three days at the same $42 base rate. The airport concession fee is 11.5 percent, which adds $14.49 to the base rental. Sales tax of 7.65 percent applies to the base rental plus the concession fee, adding $10.82. Your total is $151.31, or about $50 per day. The airport location costs $15.67 more because of the facility fee and the tax on that fee.

If you had bought damage waiver at $18 per day, you would add $54 to either total. These examples show why the headline rate is only part of the story.

When rates are lowest and highest

Enterprise's rates fluctuate based on local demand. In most places, weekends are cheaper per day than weekdays because business travel demand is lower. Summer and holiday weeks (Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring break) are more expensive than off-season months. If you have flexibility on when you rent, booking a weekend in February costs less than booking a weekday in July.

Booking further in advance almost always costs less. If you know you need a car three weeks from now, book it today. Rates can rise as the rental date approaches, especially if demand is high. Last-minute bookings—the day before or the day of—are the most expensive unless the rental company is trying to fill empty inventory.

Some locations are more expensive than others regardless of season. Airport locations cost more than branch locations. Major cities and tourist destinations cost more than smaller towns. A rental in San Francisco or Miami will cost more than the same car in a rural area, all else equal.

How to compare Enterprise to other rental companies

Enterprise is one of several major rental companies. Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National also operate in most locations. Rates vary between companies, and the cheapest option changes depending on your location and dates. The only way to know which company offers the best price is to check all of them for your specific rental.

When you compare, make sure you are looking at the same thing: same car class, same location, same dates, same insurance choices. A quote from Enterprise that includes damage waiver is not comparable to a quote from Hertz that does not. Enter your details into each company's website and write down the total cost including all taxes and fees. The lowest total is the best deal for that rental.

Some credit cards and membership programs (AAA, AARP, corporate accounts) offer discounts with specific rental companies. If you belong to one of these, check whether the discount applies before you book. A discount code can change which company is cheapest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Enterprise charge by the hour or only by the day?

Enterprise charges by the day. If you rent for part of a day, you pay for the full day. If you pick up a car at 2 p.m. and return it at 10 a.m. the next day, you pay for one full day. Some locations offer hourly rentals through a separate service, but standard Enterprise rentals are daily.

What happens if I return the car late?

Late returns are charged as additional days at the daily rate you agreed to. If you rented for three days at $42 per day and return the car one day late, you pay for four days. Some locations have a grace period (often 30 minutes to an hour), but do not count on it. Return on time to avoid extra charges.

Can I get a discount if I book directly with Enterprise instead of through a travel website?

Sometimes. Enterprise occasionally offers rates on their website that are not available through third-party booking sites, and vice versa. Check both before you book. You may also find better rates by calling a local Enterprise branch directly and asking about current promotions.

Is the quoted price the final price I pay?

No. The quoted price includes the base rate and taxes, but additional charges can appear at pickup: damage waiver if you add it at the counter, fuel charges if you do not buy a full tank upfront, or extra fees if you add a driver or equipment. Review the full quote on the website before you book to see what is included and what costs extra.

What if the car I reserved is not available when I arrive?

Enterprise will offer you a car in the same class or a higher class at no extra charge. If they offer a lower class, you should receive a refund of the difference. If no car in your class is available and you need one, you can cancel and rebook with another company, though you may lose any discount you received.