What Enterprise Needs From You Before You Rent
When you walk into an Enterprise location to rent a car, you're not just handing over money and driving off. The company has specific requirements that protect both them and you. Understanding what Enterprise will ask for helps you prepare and speeds up the rental process on the day you need the vehicle.
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First, you'll need a valid driver's license. This isn't a suggestion—Enterprise won't rent to you without one. Your license must be current and not suspended or revoked. If you have an international driver's license, Enterprise may accept it alongside your regular license, depending on which country issued it and which state you're renting in. The staff member processing your rental will physically examine your license to verify your identity and check the expiration date.
You also need to be at least 18 years old to rent from Enterprise, though there's an important catch. If you're between 18 and 24, Enterprise charges an additional fee—typically $15 to $25 per day depending on location and vehicle type. This "underage driver fee" is their policy across the board. If you're 25 or older, you won't pay this extra charge.
A major credit card is required to hold the reservation and cover the rental costs. Enterprise accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Debit cards sometimes work, but Enterprise has stricter rules around them. With a debit card, they typically place a hold on your account that's larger than the actual rental cost—sometimes $200 to $300 more—as a safety deposit. This hold remains until the rental is complete and the final charges are processed. The hold can take several business days to release after you return the car.
Your takeaway: Bring your valid driver's license and a major credit card. If you're under 25, budget for an additional daily fee. If you only have a debit card, expect Enterprise to hold extra funds in your account during the rental period.
Understanding Insurance and Liability Coverage
This is where rental cars get complicated, and where many people spend money they didn't need to spend. Enterprise will heavily push their damage waiver and insurance products when you're at the counter, and you need to understand what these are and whether you actually need them.
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The most aggressive product they'll offer is the Damage Waiver (sometimes called Loss Damage Waiver or LDW). When you rent a car, you're technically responsible for any damage that occurs to the vehicle. If someone hits you, if you hit something, if there's vandalism—that's your liability. The Damage Waiver shifts that responsibility to Enterprise. You pay a daily fee (usually $12 to $20 per day depending on the car type and location), and Enterprise covers the damage costs. The catch: many people already have this coverage and don't realize it.
Your personal auto insurance policy likely covers rental cars, but you need to check. Call your insurance company and ask specifically: "Does my policy cover rental cars for damage and liability?" Most standard policies do, though some exclude certain situations. If you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, it typically extends to rentals. Your credit card may also offer rental car coverage—some premium credit cards include this automatically. Read your card's benefits guide or call the card company to confirm.
Enterprise also offers their own liability insurance (called Supplemental Liability Insurance). Your auto insurance should cover this as well, but if you're renting in a state where you don't have personal coverage or you're an international visitor without U.S. insurance, this becomes relevant. It typically costs $5 to $8 per day.
Here's the practical reality: if your personal auto insurance covers rentals, and your credit card adds extra protection, you probably don't need to buy anything from Enterprise. But if you're renting as an international visitor, or if you have minimal auto insurance (liability-only), Enterprise's coverage options become worth considering. Before you get to the rental counter, know what your insurance covers and what your credit card covers. This takes 10 minutes of phone calls and saves you $50 to $150 on a week-long rental.
Your takeaway: Verify your auto insurance and credit card coverage before you rent. Most people have overlapping coverage and can decline Enterprise's insurance products. Only purchase Enterprise insurance if you've confirmed you lack coverage elsewhere.
Reservation Information and Payment Details
Even if you're walking into an Enterprise location without a reservation, you'll need to provide information that goes into their system. If you already have a reservation, you'll still need to verify and potentially update these details.
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Enterprise needs your full name, date of birth, and current address. They'll also ask for a phone number and email address. This information ties to your reservation and your rental agreement. Make sure the address you provide matches what's on your driver's license. If it doesn't match, bring a piece of mail showing your current address (a utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement works). Many Enterprise locations won't complete a rental if your ID address doesn't match your stated current address.
Your payment method comes next. If you're paying with a credit card, they'll run it at the counter and you'll be asked to sign. The initial charge is typically just the base rental rate, not including taxes and fees. Local taxes, airport fees (if applicable), and fuel charges get added depending on your situation. A full accounting appears on your final receipt. If you made a reservation online, you may have already paid in full, but some reservations are "pay at counter" meaning you settle up when you pick up the car.
If you're renting at an airport location, be aware that airport rentals come with additional facility charges. These charges are mandated by the airport authority, not Enterprise. Airport fees can add 10 to 20 percent to your total rental cost depending on which airport. Off-airport Enterprise locations don't charge these fees, which is why some people drive to a non-airport branch to pick up their rental.
Enterprise also asks about your intended use: personal travel, business, relocating, or other purposes. This is for their records and doesn't affect most rentals, but it matters for tracking. Be honest about how many days you'll have the car. Returning a car late means paying daily charges for those extra days, plus a potential late fee. If your plans might change, ask about their modification policy when you pick up the car. Some locations allow free changes to rental length if you call ahead.
Your takeaway: Bring current identification with a matching address, or bring proof of your current address. Understand that airport locations charge extra facility fees. Know the exact length of your rental and ask about the late return policy.
The Vehicle Inspection and Damage Documentation
This is the most important part of the rental process, and it's where people regularly get blamed for damage they didn't cause. Before you drive off the lot, you and an Enterprise employee will walk around the car together and document its condition. This inspection protects you.
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The employee will point out any existing damage—scratches, dents, chips, stains, broken features. You need to speak up immediately if you see damage or if you disagree with what's being noted. If there's a small dent that the employee says isn't there, point it out. Take photos with your phone of any questionable areas. Enterprise won't let you leave the lot with undocumented damage, and that's actually in your favor. What's documented is not your responsibility.
You'll also check the interior. Look at the seats for stains or tears, check the carpet, look at the dashboard. Open the doors, trunk, and hood to inspect those areas too. The employee will note the mileage on the odometer—this matters because you only pay for miles you actually drive. If the car shows 15,000 miles when you pick it up, and 15,500 when you return it, you drove 500 miles.
The gas tank matters enormously. Enterprise will show you the fuel level—usually they rent cars with a full tank. You're expected to return the car with a full tank. If you return it on empty, Enterprise charges you for fuel at their pump price, which is substantially higher than what you'd pay at a gas station. The markup is typically 40 to 60 percent above the local gas price. A full tank might cost you $15 at a regular gas station but $25 to $30 when Enterprise fills it. Before you leave the lot, find out where to fill up near your destination so you can top off the tank before returning