ENTERPRISE Archives

Alex Silverstein’s rental car is damaged before he picks it up. It’s still damaged, but now Enterprise wants him to pay for it. Should he?

Dinged for ‘normal wear and tear’ by Enterprise

June 19, 2024November 13, 2015 by Christopher Elliott

Alex Silverstein’s rental car is damaged before he picks it up. It’s still damaged, but now Enterprise wants him to pay for it. Should he?

When Katherine LaFaso returns her Enterprise rental, she’s charged $500 for damages she says existed before she picked up the car.

I didn’t damage my rental car, so why do I have to pay?

June 7, 2025November 7, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

On one side, you have a car rental company, Enterprise — with what it believes is incontrovertible evidence that she damaged a rental car.

Is Enterprise trying to “scam” her for damage she didn’t do?

January 26, 2024May 5, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

When Frederick Dintzis returns his rental car to Enterprise, it tells him the car looks fine. But four hours later, all is not well.

Enterprise sent me a bill for “hidden” damage

October 23, 2024January 24, 2014 by Christopher Elliott

When Frederick Dintzis returns his rental car to Enterprise, it tells him the car looks fine. But four hours later, all is not well. The underside of his car has been damaged, it claims. It wants him to pay for the repairs. Is that fair?

Am I responsible for damage under my rental car?

June 7, 2025November 29, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Brad Joiner discovers a damaged underside to his Enterprise rental after he parks it in his driveway. He’s sure it isn’t his fault, but the car rental company begs to differ. It wants him to pay $826.

Although the employee asked Harris to fill out an incident report, that he wouldn't get a bill for the damage on his rental.

Losing it over car rental “loss of use”

January 23, 2024October 20, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

After Ben Harris dropped off his Mazda 3 rental at the airport in Maui last December, a Hertz agent pointed to some scuffed paint on the underside of the front bumper. Although the employee asked Harris to fill out an incident report, he assured Harris that it was just a formality, and that he wouldn’t get a bill for the damage.

The car rental company said if one of their vehicles was damaged by an Act of God, you were on the hook for the car.

The latest car scam: hail damage?

January 22, 2024November 15, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

A few years ago, car rental companies made a small but profitable change to their contracts. They said if one of their vehicles was damaged by an Act of God, you were on the hook for the car.

Carri Schoeller is charged an extra $500 after she returns her rental car to Enterprise. The reason? There’s a small scratch on the bumper.

A “little dent” in my Enterprise rental adds $500 to my car rental bill

January 22, 2024October 7, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Carri Schoeller is charged an extra $500 after she returns her rental car to Enterprise. The reason? There’s a small scratch on the bumper. Didn’t they say little scratches don’t count? Yeah, but talk is cheap.

With all the stories about questionable damage claims on rental cars, it’s no surprise that Mike would insist on inspecting his vehicle.

Ridiculous or not? Just ignore those dings and dents – your bill is in the mail

January 22, 2024August 17, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

With all the recent stories about questionable damage claims on rental cars, it’s no surprise that motorists like Mike Weaver would insist on inspecting his vehicle before renting it. Or that he expects to note every ding and dent before he drives away.

I asked to speak with the assistant manager's boss and he informed me that it was simply a formality and that the light scratch could potentially be buffed out. He also mentioned that he would call me if a claim were necessary. I never got that call. They did, in fact, complete a damage report and like an idiot, I signed it. The report simply states the damaged part of the vehicle as a long scratch and that I was not aware of its source. A few weeks later, I received a letter in the mail from Enterprise requesting that we contact our insurance company to inform them of our claim or to contact them so that they may communicate the estimate for the damages to the minivan. I believe the damage that was observed when I returned the vehicle was already there before I rented it. But I signed the damage report. Will it be hard to prove my side of the story with this error on my part?

The Travel Troubleshooter: I signed the damage form — now they want me to pay

January 20, 2024July 22, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

When Leigh Barber returns his rental van to Enterprise, he discovers a small scratch that was overlooked when he picked up the vehicle. He signs a form acknowledging the damage, but with the assurance from a manager that thee scratch can be “buffed out.” Now Enterprise wants him to pay. Does he have to?

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