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Hertz and Enterprise are two well-known car rental companies with branches scattered all around the world.
We’ve compared their prices, vehicles, locations, deals, policies, insurance and more to help you decide which best suits your budget and travel plans.
From additional drivers to navigation systems, we’ve covered all the bases to take the stress out of booking your next hire car.
| Feature | Hertz | Enterprise | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where can I hire a car? | Hertz has 9,700 locations across
| Enterprise has over 7,600 branches across
| Both have a similar range of locations, but Hertz wins for quantity. |
| What type of cars does it have? |
|
| Hertz has more vehicle types. |
| Does it require a deposit? | No. However paying a deposit decreases the overall price. | No. | Neither company requires a deposit. |
| Is insurance included? | Yes. Accident damage excess is included, which reduces your liability for loss or damage to the vehicle. Additional insurance packages are available to purchase. | Yes. Standard cover is included, with loss or damage liability (LDL) reducing your liability for loss or damage to the vehicle. Additional insurance options are available to purchase. | Both companies include insurance in their rental policies. |
| How much is the excess? | $4,650 for 2WD and $6,001 for Prestige/Adrenaline vehicles, 4WD, AWD and light trucks/vans. $7000 for vehicles over 3 tonnes and $8,250 for Dream Collection vehicles. | $2,750 for sedan-type vehicles and compact, intermediate and standard SUVs. $3,850 for full-size SUVs, all vans and all pickups. | Enterprise has lower excess rates. |
| Do I need to wash the car? | No. However, you shouldn’t return it in an excessively dirty or smelly condition. | No. However, you shouldn’t return it in an excessively dirty or smelly condition. | Neither company requires you to wash the car unless it is excessively dirty. |
| Rental requirements | Not unless a limit on distance is part of your rental agreement, in which case you may be charged by the kilometre/mile once you exceed the limit. | No. However, some rentals have mileage limits and if you exceed these, you may be charged per extra mile/kilometre. | Enterprise and Hertz have similar mileage policies. |
| Is there unlimited mileage? | Sometimes, depending on your pickup location and the type of vehicle. If mileage is limited, a daily kilometre allowance is shown on your rental agreement. | Typically, mileage is unlimited. Sometimes a limit is imposed, depending on your pick-up location, time and the vehicle size. | Enterprise more frequently offers unlimited mileage. |
| Does it rent to under 25s? | Yes. The minimum driving age in most locations is 21. However, in some places, renting to people under 25 is not possible or is subject to fees and restrictions. | Yes. However, restrictions to vehicle type and liability reductions apply. Drivers aged 21-24 must also pay a surcharge of $15 per day, and drivers on a probationary licence must pay an extra $20 per day. | Both companies rent to drivers under 25 years of age, subject to certain restrictions and fees. |
| Does it accept cash? | Yes. | No. | Hertz accepts cash. |
| Does it price match? | Yes. If you can find a better rate, Hertz will match the rate and give you an additional 10% off. | No. | Hertz price matches |
| Does it pick you up? | In some locations. | Yes. Free pick-up services operate during normal business hours from non-airport locations. | Enterprise offers pick-up services from more locations. |
| What are my payment options? |
|
| Hertz has more payment options. |
| Does it accept debit cards? | Yes. | Yes. | Both companies accept debit cards. |
| Does it allow for cancellations/changes? If so, how? | You can cancel online before the rental begins. Fees may apply. You can make changes to the return date, time and location by calling the number provided on your rental agreement. Again, fees may apply. | You can cancel online before you pick up your vehicle. Fees may apply. Full refunds are given in most circumstances, minus cancellation fees. You can make changes to the return date, time and location online, but this may affect your rates. | Hertz and Enterprise both allow for cancellations and changes. Enterprise offers both an online method and a back-up phone service. |
| How long does it hold reservations? | Vehicle reservations are typically held either for two hours after your specified pick-up time or until 11:59pm on the specified pick-up date, depending on the location and vehicle type. | Vehicle reservations are typically honoured for the entirety of the business day. If you don’t arrive until after close of business, you should change the pickup time and date accordingly. | Hertz is more flexible regarding after-hours delays, but Enterprise has a simpler policy. |
| Can I add an extra driver? | Yes. Your immediate family and partner, employees and employers can drive the vehicle provided they meet the age and licence requirements. Anyone else must be added as an additional driver for $5.50 per day, capped at 5 days. An additional fee applies for drivers aged 21-25. | Yes. When booking in Australia, the policy states that “all additional drivers are included”. Additional drivers must meet the age and licence requirements and present their licence when collecting the vehicle. Fees may apply outside of Australia. | Both companies allow you to add an additional driver, but Enterprise doesn’t charge a fee within Australia. |
Hertz price matches, offering an additional 10% off the base rate of the rental if you find it cheaper elsewhere. Enterprise, on the other hand, does not, so there’s no guarantee that booking through its website secures you the cheapest price.
When searching for the same booking through both Hertz and Enterprise, Hertz was significantly cheaper for both economy and compact vehicles. Hertz also price matches, which guarantees you the best deal by booking through the company’s website.
Do they have manual and/or auto cars? Yes, both companies have a range of manual and automatic vehicles.
Do the seats have covers? Neither company specifies whether seat covers are included.
Do the cars have trackers? Some Hertz vehicles are fitted with In Vehicle Monitoring Systems to track the vehicle’s location, speed and distance during the rental period. Some Enterprise vehicles may be equipped with a telematics system to provide information regarding location, mileage, operational condition and crash-related data.
Is there a points/loyalty programme? Hertz has the Gold Plus Rewards Programme, with one point earned for every US dollar or equivalent spent at participating Hertz locations. Enterprise operates Enterprise Plus, a loyalty programme where every dollar spent at participating Enterprise locations worldwide equals one point.
Is GPS included? GPS systems are not automatically included in Hertz or Enterprise rentals, but they are an optional add-on.
Can I return the car early? Hertz allows early returns, but you may have to pay an early return fee. Enterprise does not charge for early returns, and unless the rental was prepaid, you will only be charged for the days that you had the vehicle.
Can I get a discount? Aside from special deals, offers and vouchers, Hertz does not offer discounts. Gold Plus Rewards members can redeem points for free rental days, weekends or weeks.
Likewise, in Australia, Enterprise does not offer any special discounts. However, coupons are available to Enterprise Plus members, email subscribers and through various corporate partnerships. Weekend specials and drive-out programs are also popular.
Hertz often features discounts off the overall rental price, free days and discounts for certain vehicles. Deals at Enterprise generally cover savings on certain locations, for example 10% off rentals across Australia or 15% in Port Macquarie and the Sunshine Coast.
Hertz has a much better range of deals, covering not just certain locations but also particular vehicles and rental time frames.
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