When to Rent a Car for a Business Trip

Personal Car vs. Business Car Rental

First, evaluate your personal transportation:

• Do you have a properly functioning car available to you that you can use any time?
• Does it get good kilometers per liter?
• How many kilometers are on your odometer?
• Is your car capable of making your trip with little to no risk of breaking down or other mechanical issues?

Second, assess the total travel required for your trip:

• How many kilometeres will you travel?
• Do you have to make multiple stops?
• Do you have a lot of luggage, equipment or other materials to bring with you?

Finally, consider your company’s travel policies:

• What is your company’s policy on use of personal vehicles?
• Is there a certain kilometer threshold or trip duration that warrants a rental?

All these items can factor into determining if a rental car is best for your business travel. 

From a cost perspective, the automobile allowance rates for 2021 are currently set at $.59 per kilometer for the first 5,000 kilometers driven, and $.53 per kilometer driven after that, if you use your personal vehicle. Oftentimes, at a certain threshold, it is typically more cost efficient for the company to have you rent a car. Estimate your own calculations to see what option would be best for your business travel.

Flying vs. Driving

As a rule of thumb, if a trip takes 6 hours or less, many businesses may recommend driving instead of flying. But even if you choose to fly, you may still need a rental car to transport you from the airport to your lodging and any other locations you’ll be visiting during your trip. 

Taxis and other ride-sharing options might be available, but a rental car might be more cost-effective. Here’s a quick rule of thumb for determining if you need a taxi or rental car: calculate the cost per kilometer then compare. 

Ride hailing fees can be challenging to calculate, as pricing factors in a base fare, the size of the vehicle, service type, cost per mile, cost per minute, plus additional fees for wait times or long pick up times. Add in a minimum fare and tip, it’s easy to see how costs can add up. Alternatively, an intermediate-size rental car from the Enterprise Business Rental program can cost around $52 per day (plus taxes and state fees), which includes unlimited mileage.

If your trip requires you drive more kilometers than you do during an average day, it might be more cost effective to rent a car. Visit our Mileage Reimbursement Calculator to discover how much you could potentially save by renting a vehicle instead of using your personal vehicle. Calculate your estimated taxi or ride-sharing fare to find the most cost-effective solution for your business travel. 

Beyond the cost savings, a rental car can offer reliability and control over your environment plus allow you to store and easily access your laptop and other business supplies. 

Why Enterprise Business Rental Program

With a business car rental, you have the flexibility to select a car that meets all your needs. Choose a car with better gas mileage, more storage or 4-Wheel drive. And if your trip includes multiple stops, consider that a business rental car is based on a single rate per day, not per kilometer, making it a cost-effective approach. And with thousands of branches conveniently located in neighborhood communities, the rental you need is likely nearer than you thought.