Posted by I needed to take a trip to a neighboring state recently. The drive would total about 660 miles and take approximately 6 hours each way. Because my vehicles are both over 16 years old, I decided to rent a vehicle for the trip. In the town where I live the only vehicle rental place is Enterprise. After reviewing my options on their website, I decided to reserve a standard pickup truck. The truck shown was a Toyota Tacoma, but it also said, “or similar”. This had me worried that I would show up and my only option would be an old Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado. When I arrived, they had a 2026 Nissan Frontier, which I thought would be an adequate substitute. Despite having only 15K on the odometer, it had some minor wear from previous use.
There was a coupon on the website for 15% off 3+ days, so I was able to get my 5-day rental for $269, which I thought was a good deal. Of course, they added a $300 security deposit, but I did get that back when I returned the vehicle. At the time gas was averaging $4.20 per gallon. I spent $144 on fuel and averaged 19.2 mpg. The truck had fairly large tires and 4-wheel drive, which I didn’t use. Most of my trip was highway miles. The were only a few things I found different on this newer vehicle. It had push button start and the adaptive cruise control. ACC is an advanced driver-assistance feature that automatically adjusts your vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead. It also had lane change warning, which helps avoid collisions. The back-up camera system was a nice addition too.
I utilized the rental coverage that was offered on my credit card. Otherwise, the rental would have cost twice as much. The staff at Enterprise was very helpful and efficient. Although they seemed to be somewhat under-staffed at times. Reaching them by phone when they are busy can be a challenge. When I was returning the truck, there was only one person behind the counter, so I had to wait a bit. The website is your best option for making a reservation. All you need to enter is your vehicle selection, rental date, and contact information. Adding additional info is optional, until you arrive to pick up your vehicle. They also send email and text reminders if you opt-in for that.