Enterprise is the largest car rental company in the world by fleet size, with over 9,500 locations across 100 countries. Founded in 1957 in St. Louis, Enterprise built its dominance not through airport terminals but through neighborhood branches, and it remains the only major rental company that will come and pick you up. Its customer service reputation is the strongest in the industry.
✓ Pros
- Best customer service in the industry
- Free pick-up from home or office
- Largest practical fleet including vans and trucks
- Enterprise Plus with no blackout dates
- Strong neighborhood and city branch network
✗ Cons
- Less competitive at airports vs. budget brands
- Basic tier lacks skip-the-counter
- Enterprise Plus earning is slower than Hertz
- Fewer premium and luxury options
Enterprise Car Rental Review
Enterprise is the largest car rental company in the world by fleet size, and yet its most distinctive feature has nothing to do with scale. It is the only major rental brand that will send someone to collect you from your home, office, or dealership. That single operational detail, free of charge, says more about the Enterprise philosophy than any marketing campaign.
Customer Service: The Structural Advantage
Enterprise has ranked at or near the top of customer satisfaction surveys for the car rental industry for years, and the reason is not accidental. The company pays branch managers bonuses tied directly to their location's score on the Enterprise Service Quality Index, a proprietary customer satisfaction metric. Managers have a direct financial incentive to resolve problems quickly and to ensure renters leave satisfied.
This creates accountability at the local level that competitors have not replicated. Hertz and Avis operate with more centralized structures that make local accountability harder to enforce. Enterprise's model means that even if one branch has a bad day, the system is designed to self-correct in a way that others are not.
Fleet: Broad and Practical
Enterprise excels at the practical end of the fleet spectrum. Vans, minivans, cargo vehicles, pickup trucks, and large SUVs are consistently available and often at better prices than at airport-focused competitors. For family trips, moving assistance, group travel, or anything requiring genuine cargo capacity, Enterprise is the most reliable first stop.
Premium and luxury options are more limited than at Hertz or Avis. If you want a convertible or a BMW, Enterprise is not the right starting point. For the vast majority of rental needs, the fleet covers everything required without the gaps that sometimes appear at budget-focused alternatives.
Enterprise Plus: Simple and Forgiving
Enterprise Plus earns points per rental that can be redeemed for free days with no blackout dates. The expiration policy is more lenient than Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, making it a better fit for travelers who rent a handful of times a year rather than every month. The basic tier does not include skip-the-counter, which is a genuine gap compared to Hertz Gold. Enterprise Platinum and Enterprise Plus Elite tiers add counter bypass and upgrade benefits for higher-frequency renters.
Airports vs. Neighborhood Branches
Enterprise built its business on neighborhood branches, and that is still where it performs best. At off-airport city locations, Enterprise typically offers better prices, better service, and better availability than competitors whose presence is concentrated at terminals. At airports, the advantage narrows, and budget alternatives like Alamo, its own sibling brand, often undercut Enterprise significantly on base rate.
Who Enterprise Is Best For
- Anyone who values consistent, reliable customer service above all else
- Family and group travelers needing vans, minivans, or large SUVs
- City and neighborhood rentals where Enterprise's branch density is strongest
- Travelers who want a free pick-up from home, office, hotel, or repair shop
- Occasional renters who prefer a forgiving loyalty program without strict expiration