"At the same airport on the same vehicle class, Avis runs cheaper — sometimes by $30 a day. The cars are comparable. What's different is pricing structure, booking flexibility, and network depth. This covers both so you can decide which trade-offs suit your trip."
At Las Vegas on a midsize SUV, same airport, same dates: Avis quoted $121 all-in. Enterprise quoted $136. Both are mid-tier brands with comparable fleets and the same counter fees — so the gap isn't obvious from the outside.
It comes down to how each brand structures its pricing, not the car you're driving away in. But the mechanics matter, because they change which one is actually cheaper for your specific trip — and cheaper isn't always the same answer twice. The Avis review and Enterprise review cover each brand in full. This page is about what changes when you're choosing between them.
Quick comparison
Three things separate these two brands in practice. Pricing model: Avis offers a pay-now discount that Enterprise doesn't match in the US — that's where most of the gap comes from. Booking flow: Enterprise separates protection decisions across two dedicated screens with nothing pre-selected; Avis puts everything on one checkout page alongside a session countdown timer. Network: Enterprise runs 5,600+ US locations including neighborhood branches with free pickup; Avis is primarily airport-concentrated. The cars, the counter fees, and the core rental experience are comparable.
| Category | Avis | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-now rate (LAS, midsize SUV, all-in) | $106.28 | Not available in US |
| Pay-later rate (LAS, midsize SUV, all-in) | ~$121 | $136.16 |
| Damage Waiver (LAS) | $33.29/day (Essential) | $28.99/day |
| Payment options | Pay-now (non-refundable) or pay-later | Pay-later only in the US |
| Skip-the-counter loyalty | Avis Preferred (from enrollment) | Enterprise Plus (tier required) |
| Off-airport locations | Select neighborhood locations | 5,600+ US locations, pickup service standard |
| Fleet variety | Strong at airports | Broader — vans, trucks, large SUVs |
Compare car rental prices
Compare Avis, Enterprise, and every other supplier at your airport — prices and included coverage shown before you book.
Affiliate link
The price gap
Same vehicle class, same airport, same dates. Avis offered two rates: pay-later at $88.99/day (~$121 all-in with taxes), and pay-now at $73.99/day ($106.28 all-in) — the lower rate in exchange for prepaying and giving up free cancellation. Enterprise showed one rate: $98.11/day pay-later, $136.16 all-in. No pay-now option appeared anywhere in the Enterprise US booking flow.
On an equivalent basis — pay-later to pay-later — the gap is about $15 a day. Add Avis's pay-now discount and it widens to $30, or roughly $150 on a five-day rental. Both gaps are real. Which one applies to your trip depends on whether your dates are confirmed.
Insurance at the counter
Both brands offer the same core products at the counter — damage waiver and supplemental liability being the two that matter most. Avis bundles everything into protection tiers (Essential, Enhanced, Ultimate) at checkout. Enterprise lists each item individually with a daily rate and a short description.
The LDW cost at Las Vegas: Enterprise's Damage Waiver at $28.99/day undercuts Avis's Essential Protection at $33.29/day. If you're adding coverage either way, Enterprise is cheaper on that specific line — which partially closes the base rate gap. On a five-day rental that's a $17 saving on protection alone.
The alternative most prepared travellers use: a credit card that covers rental collision when you decline the counter insurance and pay with the card. Most major travel cards do — but check whether yours offers primary coverage (pays first, no involvement of your personal insurer) or secondary (requires filing with your personal insurer first). Primary is more valuable. If you're unsure, check your card's terms before you travel — not at the checkout page.
Loyalty programs
Avis Preferred gives you a dedicated counter lane and skip-the-counter access from the moment you enrol — no rentals required to unlock it. You go to the Preferred area, your car is waiting, you verify the condition and go. For occasional travellers who want faster pickup without earning their way to a perk, it's the more immediately useful program. Points earn on the base rate and redeem for free rental days. The full mechanics are in the rental car loyalty programs guide.
Enterprise Plus is a points accumulation program. Points earn per rental and redeem for free days with no blackout dates, and the expiration policy is lenient — better suited to occasional renters than Hertz's program. The skip-the-counter benefit requires tier progression, so it doesn't come immediately for a new member. If earning toward free days over time is the goal, Enterprise Plus is straightforward. If faster pickup is the priority, Avis Preferred gets you there sooner.
Which one should you book?
Price is your priority and your dates are confirmed. Book Avis pay-now — but only if you're certain of the trip. The pay-now rate is non-refundable and charged at booking, not at pickup. If there's any chance of cancellation, compare on pay-later rates instead: Avis ~$121 versus Enterprise $136 at Las Vegas, a $15 gap that's still real but a different calculation. On a five-day trip at pay-later, Avis still saves around $75.
Your dates might change. Book Avis pay-later or Enterprise — both offer free cancellation before pickup. At pay-later rates the gap is smaller, so the flexibility costs less than it looks.
You're not starting from an airport. Enterprise. Its neighborhood network covers over 5,600 US locations with a standard free pickup service. Avis has off-airport branches too, but the network depth and the pickup service consistency aren't comparable. For insurance replacement rentals, suburban pickups, or any situation where you're not at an airport terminal, Enterprise is the more reliable starting point.
You want skip-the-counter access without earning it first. Avis Preferred. It unlocks from enrollment, not from hitting a spend threshold. If faster pickup is worth something to you on a single trip, enrolling before you book Avis costs nothing.
You're travelling on a corporate account. Enterprise. Its booking flow has a dedicated corporate account number field from the first screen, and negotiated corporate rates aren't visible in the standard consumer flow — the $136.16 we simulated isn't what a business traveller with an Enterprise corporate code actually pays.
Europe. Call it by airport rather than brand. Enterprise is very strong in Ireland and Portugal; Avis performs well across the UK and parts of Spain. Neither is a clear continent-wide call — compare at your specific pickup location.
How the airports compare
Both brands score reliably across their shared US airports — neither is a risk. The table below shows where the scores land, but the gaps are narrow enough that they shouldn't drive the decision. Pick on price, flexibility, and network instead. The scores are most useful for flagging specific airports where one brand has meaningfully more review volume or a notable outlier.
| Airport | Avis | Enterprise | Best pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) California | 7.9 | 9.4 | Enterprise |
| Denver (DEN) Colorado | 8.1 | 9.0 | Enterprise |
| Atlanta (ATL) Georgia | 8.2 | 8.5 | Enterprise |
| Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Illinois | 8.3 | 8.6 | Enterprise |
| Las Vegas (LAS) Nevada | 8.8 | 8.7 | Either |
DiscoverCars scores by airport. Source: DiscoverCars, accessed July 2026. Scores reflect average traveller experience — see note above.
Across shared airports, both brands are reliable. Let price and flexibility decide — not a score difference of 0.3 or 0.4. Two markets worth knowing outside the table: Avis holds up well at Newark and JFK. Enterprise's strongest scores are at San Francisco and Dublin — high volume, consistently good pickup experience. If you're weighing Enterprise against other options at a shared airport, the Alamo vs Enterprise comparison is worth a look — same ownership, often a lower price.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Avis is cheaper at most US airports — on pay-later rates by around $15 a day, on pay-now by $30. If your dates are confirmed and you won't need to cancel, Avis pay-now is the clearest call on price. If there's any uncertainty, book pay-later and the gap is smaller but still real. The one airport where scores are a near-tie and price should simply decide: Las Vegas. Outside airports, Enterprise's neighborhood network has no equivalent at Avis.
If you're already booked: The preparation is the same for both. Before pickup: check your credit card's rental collision coverage and bring the benefits page. Screenshot your booking confirmation. At the car: photograph the full exterior and interior before you drive off — your phone timestamps it automatically. For Avis: know your insurance answer before you hit the checkout page, not during it. For Enterprise: the protection screen comes before checkout — the "decide at counter" option is there if you need it, but knowing your answer in advance is faster.
If you've returned the car and a charge has appeared: If you booked through a third-party platform, start there — they have direct leverage with the supplier. Then contact the brand in writing with your signed rental agreement and pickup and return photos. Give it one week. If nothing moves, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step.
Compare car rental prices
Compare Avis, Enterprise, and every other supplier at your airport — prices and location scores alongside each other before you commit.
265,000+ verified reviews · 1,000+ brands · Free cancellation
Affiliate link - we may earn a commission
- Avis's pay-now rate requires a credit card at booking — the discount doesn't apply to pay-later reservations or debit card bookings.
- Enterprise's booking flow shows protection options on a dedicated screen before checkout — read each item before clicking through, not at the counter.
- Avis's checkout page embeds all add-ons in one view with a session countdown timer — sort your insurance decision before you start the booking, not during it.
- Enterprise's all-in LAS total ($136.16) includes $38.05 in taxes and fees — higher than Avis's $32.29 at the same airport, partly due to the higher base rate.
- Location scores reflect the average DiscoverCars user's experience — a directional signal, not a verdict on either brand.
- Avis's pay-later rate (~$121 all-in at LAS) is still cheaper than Enterprise pay-later ($136.16) — the gap exists across both rate types, not just pay-now.
Frequently asked questions
Does Enterprise have a pay-now discount like Avis?
Not in the US. Enterprise's booking flow shows a single pay-at-counter rate — there's no prepay option that reduces the base. Avis's pay-now rate typically runs 15–17% below its own pay-later rate at US airport locations.
Which has better customer service — Avis or Enterprise?
Both brands receive mixed reviews that vary significantly by airport. Enterprise's overall Trustpilot score is pulled down by insurance-replacement rentals — a different experience than booking for a trip. At their strongest US airports (California, Hawaii, Denver), Enterprise consistently scores well in DiscoverCars data. Avis's complaint pattern concentrates on the checkout process and post-return charges rather than counter service itself. Neither brand is straightforwardly "better" — the airport you're picking up from matters more than the name on the sign.
Which loyalty program is better — Avis Preferred or Enterprise Plus?
They serve different renters. Avis Preferred gives you a dedicated counter lane and skip-the-counter access from enrollment — useful immediately, even if you only rent a few times a year. Enterprise Plus is a points accumulation program: points earn per rental and redeem for free days, but the skip-the-counter benefit requires tier progression. If faster pickup is your priority, Avis Preferred delivers it faster. If you want to earn toward free rental days over time, Enterprise Plus is more straightforward. Both programs are free to join.
Can I cancel an Avis pay-now booking?
No — the pay-now rate is non-refundable and charged at booking, not at pickup. If your travel dates are uncertain, book Avis pay-later instead. The pay-later rate is higher (around $15/day more at Las Vegas in our simulation), but it carries free cancellation before pickup. Enterprise's US rate is pay-later only, so free cancellation comes as standard there.
I already booked one of them — what should I do before pickup?
The same preparation applies to both. Find out what coverage your credit card provides for rental collision before you travel — bring the benefits summary, not just the card. Screenshot your booking confirmation. At pickup, photograph the full exterior and interior of the car before you drive off — your phone timestamps it automatically. For Avis: read the checkout page carefully before finalising, since add-ons are embedded on the same screen as the booking summary. For Enterprise: the protection decision happens on a dedicated screen before checkout — you can defer to the counter, but knowing your answer in advance makes that conversation simple.
Is Avis good for international travel?
Yes — Avis operates in over 165 countries and is a reliable default across most of Western Europe. It performs particularly well in the UK and parts of Spain. Enterprise is stronger in Ireland and Portugal. For most European destinations, both are reasonable choices; checking the DiscoverCars score for your specific pickup airport before booking tells you more than the brand name does.
