Wait...is Enterprise really checking credit reports?

[redE2move]

I recently reserved a car through Enterprise for an upcoming trip and after reading the fine print, I saw a statement that said they do credit checks.  But wait, does that mean you can be denied a car rental if your score isn't high enough?  Will I get an inquiry from this credit check?  I wish they would elaborate on this credit check stuff a bit more.  I'm not sure I want an inquiry just because I'm renting a car.  That's just crazy.  What if I need to rent a car twice in a few months does that really mean that would affect my score/inquiries twice?  Anyone have experience with this?  Please help.

[Anonymous]

I highly doubt it would result in a HP.  There are people that rent cars all the time and it wouldn't be logical for them to be taking countless HPs as a result.  I would imagine they take a SP and possibly factor your profile into their terms with you.

[redE2move]

Well what credit report would they check for that?  EX, EQ, TU or are they doing the Lexis/Nexus thing?  I'm just curious as to what they are viewing to deem you qualified to rent a car.

[Anonymous]

I would imagine they could check any of your reports.  I'm sure if you researched Enterprise a bit you could find out which bureau they use for this.  I would imagine the company streamlines this and likely uses the same one, but I can't be certain of that.

Also, were you using a debit or credit card for the rental?  From what I understand, credit checks are much more common when a debit card is used, as the rental company can't put a hold on funds the way they can with a CC.  If you were to return the car damaged for example and you used a debit card, if you wiped your account clean the rental company wouldn't be able to collect for damages.

[kilroy8]

I think that some companies do this based on your payment method. If anything other than a major bank CC, they can run your credit and ask for a deposit.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I would imagine they could check any of your reports.  I'm sure if you researched Enterprise a bit you could find out which bureau they use for this.  I would imagine the company streamlines this and likely uses the same one, but I can't be certain of that.

Also, were you using a debit or credit card for the rental?  From what I understand, credit checks are much more common when a debit card is used, as the rental company can't put a hold on funds the way they can with a CC.  If you were to return the car damaged for example and you used a debit card, if you wiped your account clean the rental company wouldn't be able to collect for damages.

---

Yup. 

I encourage our OP to pull his credit reports (free reports every month are available with all three bureaus) and let us know if he experienced a hard pull.  This article (and others I just read) imply that the inquiry could be a hard pull.

https://www.thrifty.com/Car_Rental_Information/content/Car_Rental_with_Credit_Card.aspx

My guess is that hard pulls, if they do indeed happen, are way more common when one is paying with a debit card.  As BBS says, frequent travelers use credit cards and presumably avoid hard pulls.

[redE2move]

I hope this turns out to be true.  I would be using a credit card anyway but I never heard of such a thing before.  Credit cards typically cover the rental anyway as I saw this in one of my card disclosures.

[kilroy8]

---

@redE2move wrote:

I hope this turns out to be true.  I would be using a credit card anyway but I never heard of such a thing before.  Credit cards typically cover the rental anyway as I saw this in one of my card disclosures.

---

The insurance provided by credit cards is secondary to your normal auto policy that you have if you are a car owner. They will hit Geico or whoever first. Could come in handy if a deductible is involved.

[Gidgetmom]

When I rented a car from Hertz, using my Chase SWRR card, they did a soft pull on my Equifax report.  No harm to my score and no problems renting car.  My Equifax was in low to mid 600's at the time.  I was only 6 months into my rebuild.

YMMV

[topgunvf]

FACT: Enterprise and their parent companies (National & Alamo) DO NOT run your credit before, during, after, EVER. When using a MCC at any location including airports and train stations no further documentation is needed. If using a debit card at a "HOME CITY" location ONLY and have a license not from out of state they require additional documents to prove you pay your bills on time and your address on your license matches your bills/pay stub (proof of income). In this way, they do not run your credit at any time. Other companies (Hertz, Avis, Budget.etc) do a credit check and you must meet their certain criteria score wise. (Unsure still at this point what min they're looking for). When renting at an airport or train station, and using a debit card with an out of state license Enterprise, National, & Alamo MAY require a return flight itinery confirmation # and that is all.

I used to work for Enterprise Holdings.

Hope this helps everyone!!