What Enterprise CarShare Is

Enterprise CarShare is a membership program run by Enterprise Rent-A-Car that lets you rent a car by the hour or day from designated parking locations in your city. You reserve a vehicle through their app or website, walk to the nearby lot, unlock the car with your membership card, and drive it. When you're done, you return it to the same location, lock it, and end the rental through the app. You pay only for the time you use the car, plus mileage if you go over your plan's included miles.

Unlike traditional car rental where you go to a counter and sign paperwork, Enterprise CarShare is designed for short trips — a grocery run, a doctor's appointment, moving a piece of furniture. The cars are parked in fixed locations throughout participating cities, so you need to live or work near one of those spots for the service to be practical.

Key Takeaways

  • Enterprise CarShare charges by the hour or day, with hourly rates typically ranging from $8 to $12 per hour depending on your city and membership plan.
  • You must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, and pass a background check to join.
  • Cars are parked at fixed locations called "home zones," and you must return the car to the same location where you picked it up.
  • Fuel, insurance, and parking are included in your hourly rate, so you pay nothing extra for those costs.
  • You can cancel your membership at any time with no penalty, though some plans charge a monthly fee whether you use the car or not.

Membership Plans and Monthly Costs

Enterprise CarShare offers two main membership types: a pay-as-you-go plan with no monthly fee, and a monthly membership plan that charges a flat fee each month in exchange for lower hourly rates. The monthly plan makes sense if you use the service more than a few times per month; the pay-as-you-go plan is better if you only need a car occasionally.

Hourly rates vary by city and vehicle type. A compact car might cost $8 to $10 per hour on a pay-as-you-go plan, while the same car on a monthly membership might cost $6 to $8 per hour after you pay the monthly fee (which typically ranges from $15 to $25). The monthly fee covers your membership but does not may provide any free driving time — you still pay for every hour you use a car.

Mileage is usually included up to a certain amount per hour (often 60 miles per day), and overage charges explore if you exceed that. Some plans offer unlimited mileage for a higher hourly rate. Check the rates in your specific city on the Enterprise CarShare website, because pricing differs by location.

How to Join and What You Need

To join Enterprise CarShare, you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, and provide a credit card for billing. Enterprise runs a background check that includes your driving record — serious violations, recent accidents, or insurance lapses may disqualify you. The background check typically takes a few business days.

Once you are approved, Enterprise mails you a membership card (or provides a digital card in the app) that you use to unlock cars at the home zones. You set up your account online or through the mobile app, add your payment method, and you're ready to reserve a vehicle. There is no upfront deposit or membership initiation fee on most plans.

Reserving and Using a Car

You reserve a car through the Enterprise CarShare app or website, typically up to 30 days in advance. You choose a home zone location near you, pick the date and time you want to pick up the car, and select the vehicle type (compact, sedan, SUV, etc.). The app shows you available cars at that location and confirms your reservation when ready.

On the day of your rental, you go to the home zone at your reserved time, unlock the car using your membership card or phone, and the rental clock starts. When you finish, you drive back to the same home zone, park in an assigned spot, lock the car through the app, and the rental ends. You receive a receipt via email showing your hourly charges, mileage, and total cost.

If you need to extend your rental, you can do so through the app as long as the car is not already reserved by another member. If you need to cancel, you can do that through the app up until your reservation time — cancellations made within an hour of your pickup time may incur a small fee.

What's Included and What Costs Extra

Your hourly rate includes the car, fuel, comprehensive and collision insurance, roadside information, and parking at the home zone. You do not pay separately for gas, tolls, or parking at the home zone lot. If you incur a parking ticket or traffic violation while using the car, you are responsible for paying that fine.

Mileage is included up to a daily limit (often 60 miles per day), and you pay an overage charge (typically $0.25 to $0.50 per mile) for miles beyond that. If you damage the car, you are responsible for repair costs up to your insurance deductible, which is usually $1,000 to $2,500 depending on your membership plan. If you return the car late, you are charged for the additional hours at your plan's hourly rate.

Where Enterprise CarShare Operates

Enterprise CarShare is available in select cities across the United States, including Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco, and others. The service is not available everywhere — you need to check the Enterprise CarShare website to see if it operates in your city. Even within a city, the service may only be available in certain neighborhoods where Enterprise has established home zones.

Home zones are typically located in urban and suburban areas with good public transit access, since the service is designed for people who do not own a car full-time. If you live or work far from a home zone, the service may not be practical for you.

Enterprise CarShare vs. Other Car-Sharing Services

Enterprise CarShare competes with other hourly car-sharing services like Zipcar and Maven, as well as traditional car rental companies. The main difference is that Enterprise CarShare is run by a major rental company, so it may have more locations in some cities and a larger fleet of vehicles. However, availability varies by city — Zipcar may have more home zones in your area, or vice versa.

Hourly rates and membership fees are similar across services, so your choice often comes down to which service has the most convenient home zones near you and which vehicles they offer. Some people maintain memberships with more than one service to have more options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Enterprise CarShare if I have a poor driving record?

Enterprise runs a background check that includes your driving history. Serious violations, recent accidents, or insurance lapses may disqualify you. If you are unsure whether you will be approved, contact Enterprise CarShare directly with details about your record — they can tell you before you formally join.

What happens if I get in an accident with an Enterprise CarShare car?

You are responsible for damage up to your insurance deductible, which is typically $1,000 to $2,500. You must report the accident to Enterprise when ready through the app or by calling their support line. Enterprise's insurance covers the rest of the damage, but you will be charged your deductible.

Can I book a car for someone else to drive?

No. Only the member whose name is on the account can unlock and drive the car. The person driving must be the cardholder. This is an insurance requirement.

What if there are no cars available at my home zone when I need one?

If all cars are reserved, you cannot book one for that time. You can check the app to see real-time availability and choose a different time or location if one is nearby. Some members keep memberships with multiple car-sharing services as a backup.

Can I cancel my membership anytime?

Yes. You can cancel your membership at any time through the app or by contacting Enterprise. If you are on a monthly plan, you will not be charged for the following month. There is no cancellation fee or penalty.