The Complete Guide to Enterprise Plus

Enterprise Plus is the loyalty program for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the largest car rental company in the country. That means Enterprise Plus membership can yield some valuable benefits if you are someone that rents cars often. The more you rent from Enterprise, the more rewards you can earn.

But you may be wondering, is Enterprise Plus free? Yes, you can join this loyalty program at no cost — and still reap access to several perks. Let’s explore how Enterprise Plus works and what you can earn from being a member.

Rental car loyalty programs are very similar to each other in that the higher the frequency of your rentals, the more benefits you can earn. With Enterprise Plus, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar spent on all qualifying car rentals.

Like hotel loyalty programs, you must book directly with Enterprise to qualify for benefits. Using a third-party agency like Expedia or Orbitz would not count toward Enterprise Plus benefits. Also excluded are bookings that use a pre-negotiated discount, rentals that are part of a tour package and rentals from “CarShare” locations.

» Learn more: Which rental car company has the lowest prices?

Earning Enterprise Plus elite status depends on how much (and how frequently) you spend with the car rental company. Of course, you won’t be rolling in perks with the program, but who can say no to a free upgrade from time to time?

There are three different elite status tiers — Silver, Gold and Platinum. Here's a closer look:

Enterprise Plus is a good option to consider if you like saving money and being rewarded for loyalty. Once you rack up enough points, you can redeem them for free car rentals, which begin at 600 points. That means base members need to spend at least $600 on car rentals before qualifying for their first redemption.

Keep in mind that points expire 36 months after the latest account activity. If you are missing points after a qualifying rental, you can request them as much as six months after the rental by completing an online form.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

If you don’t rent cars often and prefer not to earn Enterprise Plus points, the program can still deliver solid value. Enterprise Plus members can choose to earn frequent flyer miles instead. Enterprise’s four travel partners are:

1. Air France-KLM: Earn 4 miles per qualifying euro.

2. Lufthansa: Earn 500 miles per rental.

3. Turkish Airlines: Earn up to 1,000 miles per rental.

4. Virgin Atlantic: Earn up to 1,200 points per rental.

Rental car insurance can be an expensive addition, especially over multiple days. But if you have a credit card that offers primary car rental insurance, you may not need to pay even more. Review the fine print of your card because you may already have insurance included if you use that card to pay for the rental.

If you rent cars often, consider adding one of the best credit cards for rental cars to your wallet.

» Learn more: Start booking your trips backward — book your rental car first

If you’re wondering which to choose between, Enterprise Plus or Emerald Club, both are free and easy to sign up for. Since you can earn Enterprise Plus points on National car rentals by designating it as your preferred travel program, it’s good to be a member of both programs to maximize your earnings.

Enterprise Plus is more straightforward than Emerald Club, as members earn straight points rather than credits. Emerald Club members get more perks than their counterparts in Enterprise Plus; examples include no second drive fees and automatic upgrades in Europe.

If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can enjoy elite status in Emerald Club as a perk of your card. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

» Learn more: What to know before joining Emerald Club

There's no reason not to sign up for Enterprise Plus to take advantage of its many benefits, especially if you are a frequent renter. Whether you choose to earn points that can be redeemed toward a car rental or prefer airline miles that can be put toward your next flight, Enterprise Plus delivers supplemental value at no extra cost to you.