Whether you’re attending a conference across town or flying out for an important meeting, having your own set of wheels is crucial for business travel. You could take public transit or rideshares, but nothing beats the freedom and convenience of renting a car.
Getting around a new city is a breeze when you have your own rental. No more waiting for trains or buses on someone else’s schedule. Just hop in and go wherever your business takes you. Plus, you’ll make a better impression arriving on time and in style.
In this guide, we’ll explore the top reasons to use a car rental service for business trips and compare popular rental companies in Houston. We’ll cover everything you need to book the perfect rental for your next work adventure.
Key Takeaways:
- Renting a car gives you unbeatable freedom and mobility on business trips
- Major companies like Hertz, Enterprise, and Turo offer excellent rental services in Houston
- Factors like price, vehicle type, convenience, and mileage policies impact which rental is best for you
- Apps like Turo let you easily book affordable peer-to-peer car rentals from your phone
Table of Contents
Why Use a Rental for Business Travel?
Here are the prime benefits of using a rental car service when traveling for work:
- Ultimate Convenience and Flexibility With your own rental car, you can come and go as you please without relying on public transit schedules or ride-share availability. This freedom is essential for business travelers who need to be multiple places on a tight schedule.
- Professional Brand Image Rolling up to client meetings in a sleek rental car helps present a polished, professional image compared to hopping out of an Uber or city bus. First impressions matter in business!
- Comfortable Transportation
Long work days are exhausting enough without being cramped on public transit. Renting a nice car allows you to travel in comfort between meetings, conferences, and events. - Secure Storage for Work Materials Need to bring prototypes, sales samples, or confidential documents with you? Keeping important work items safely stowed in your rental vehicle gives you peace of mind.
- Cost Savings Over Other Options While rental cars aren’t free, they are often cheaper than taking rideshares or taxies everywhere, especially for longer trips. Many companies offer discounts for booking rental cars too.
Top Types of Rental Cars Available
There’s no one-size-fits-all rental car. The right rental for you depends on your needs. Here are some common rental categories:
- Economy and compact cars: Small, basic models ideal for solo travelers watching their budget
- Mid-size and full-size sedans: Affordable with a bit more interior space for passengers and luggage
- SUVs and vans: Roomier vehicle options great for traveling with teams or hauling a lot of equipment
- Luxury rentals: Higher-end vehicle brands and models for making an upscale impression
- Specialty cars: Convertibles, sports cars, and premium models for trying out your dream ride
Many rental companies offer pick-up trucks as well if you need to transport large or heavy items. Premium services even let you rent exotic cars and high-end campers or RVs!
The Top 3 Rental Car Companies
- Hertz One of the largest and most ubiquitous rental car companies around. Hertz has a massive fleet with thousands of locations so you can likely find a rental near you.
- Enterprise Renowned for their wide range of vehicles types from economy to luxury. Enterprise is a leader in the rental industry with excellent customer service.
- Turo The Airbnb of rental cars! This peer-to-peer car sharing platform lets you book vehicles directly from local approved hosts. Turo offers some amazing deals on rental cars.
| Company | Fleet Size | Locations | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz | 500,000+ | 9,700 | Huge inventory, global reach |
| Enterprise | 600,000+ | 7,600 | Outstanding service, many vehicle types |
| Turo | 450,000+ | 5,500 cities | Peer-to-peer car sharing, low prices |
Exploring Car Rentals in Houston
As the largest city in Texas and a major business hub, Houston has no shortage of rental car options. All the major national chains have многочисленный locations around the metro area.
Some of the top rental car spots in Houston include:
- Locations at the Houston Hobby (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) airports
- Downtown rental offices across the city center
- Suburban locations near corporate offices in places like The Woodlands
Whether you’re flying into Houston for a conference or work meeting or need transportation for a local business event, getting a rental car is a breeze.
How to Pick the Perfect Rental Car
With so many rental options out there, how do you choose the best car and company for your business needs? Here are the key factors to consider:
1. Price Of course, rental rates are a huge factor for any business traveler watching expenses. Be sure to compare rates across companies and look for discounts. AAA, AARP, and warehouse clubs like Costco can all score you better deals.
2. Car Types Available Make sure the company you book with has the model you want for your trip. For example, you may need a roomy SUV or van if traveling with colleagues. Or maybe a luxury car is best for wowing an important client. Compare vehicle inventories.
3. Convenient Pickup and Drop-Off Nobody wants to go out of their way just to get or return their rental. So check for rental locations close to your accommodations and meeting sites.
4. Mileage and Fuel Policies Some rental companies offer unlimited mileage which is perfect for road warriors. Or agencies like Enterprise have options to return rental cars without a full tank for a fee. Know the rules ahead of time.
5. Customer Service and Policies What happens if your rental is a lemon or your needs change? Policies around replacements, refunds, and credits vary by company. Read the fine print to avoid headaches.
There’s no universal best rental company since different services may better fit your particular travel needs and priorities. It pays to shop around!
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Price | Find the lowest rates and look for discounts |
| Car Types | Reserve the right vehicle model for your trip needs |
| Locations | Pick rental spots conveniently located for your travel |
| Mileage/Fuel | Compare unlimited mileage vs charges for excess miles |
| Policies | Customer service, replacement support, cancellations |
Why Turo is a Rental Game-Changer
Okay, so you know the big legacy rental companies. But what makes Turo worthy of your business travel consideration? Here are some prime advantages of the Turo car sharing platform.
Huge Savings Over Traditional Rental Companies With Turo, you’re booking rentals directly from local car owners rather than a big corporate fleet. This peer-to-peer approach allows for much lower rates.
Incredible Range of Vehicle Options Since you’re not limited to a rental company’s inventory, Turo hosts an incredible diversity of vehicles on the platform. From economy compacts to exotic sports cars, you can find virtually any car you want.
An Airbnb-Like Local Experience Instead of a generic rental experience, booking through Turo hosts provides a chance to connect with locals who can offer travel tips and insights about the area.
Convenient Contactless Pickup and Return When you book on Turo, you’ll work out a convenient pickup location and time with your host. No rental counter hassles! Just grab the key from them and go.
“More than a million unique listings are available on Turo across 5,500+ cities worldwide,” says Turo spokesperson Chelsea Resurreccion. “So it’s easy to find the perfect car for your business travel needs at a great price.”
1. Find Deeply Discounted Car Rentals Many Turo hosts rent out their personal vehicles purely to help cover ownership costs like car payments and insurance. So you can find amazing deals on rental cars through the platform.
For example, we found a compact Toyota Corolla renting in Houston for just $25 per day! That’s at least 50% less than traditional rental companies.
2. Huge Range of Available Cars With Turo, you’re not stuck picking from a generic car company fleet. Approved hosts list everything from economy rides to classic collectors’ vehicles on the platform.
Turo has a car for pretty much any need, including SUVs, pickup trucks, luxury vehicles, and even exotic cars like Ferraris or Lamborghinis. So whether you need something basic and affordable for running errands or a premium ride to impress clients, you can find it on Turo.
There are over 1,200 different makes and models currently listed in Houston alone. With such an enormous selection, you’re sure to find the perfect rental to suit your business travel requirements.
3. Meet Friendly Local Hosts One of the coolest aspects of Turo is the chance to connect with knowledgeable locals during your travels. Rather than just another faceless rental company, you’ll coordinate directly with the car’s owner for pickup and return.
Your Turo host can provide helpful tips about getting around the area, great restaurants to try, insider advice on things to see and do, and more. It’s like having your own personal guide!
Many hosts genuinely enjoy meeting new people and hearing about their travels too. So renting through Turo allows you to have a more authentic local experience compared to a corporate car rental.
How Turo Protects Travelers
Of course, renting from individuals instead of companies may seem a bit risky at first. But Turo has robust policies and protection plans in place so you can book confidently.
For starters, all rental cars on Turo must pass a 28-point vehicle inspection prior to listing. Turo also vets potential hosts through screening processes like identity verification, background checks, and more.
Every rental includes $1 million in liability insurance provided by Turo as well. Hosts can optionally add additional protection plans like premium roadside assistance too.
There are clear resolution processes in case issues come up, like if the car wasn’t properly cleaned or has pre-existing damage. Overall, Turo makes renting from individual owners just as reliable as using a traditional rental company.
The Benefits of Enterprise and Hertz
While Turo offers some compelling advantages, the two biggest traditional rental players have their own draws too, especially for business travelers.
Enterprise: Flexible Rental Terms
In addition to a massive fleet of over 600,000 vehicles, Enterprise touts some incredibly flexible policies ideal for work trips.
Free Cancellation Need to cancel or make changes to your rental? No problem! Enterprise never charges any fees for altering or canceling your reservation.
Unlimited Mileage Road tripping between client offices? You’ll never pay for going over the mileage limit with Enterprise since their rentals come with unlimited miles included.
One-Way Rentals Enterprise also allows one-way rentals, meaning you can pick up the car in one city and drop it off in another without extra fees.
Hertz: Premium Rental Experience
As one of the original major rental companies, Hertz is renowned for their excellent customer service. You can count on a premium experience every time you rent.
Massive Selection From no-frills economy cars to decked-out luxury models and more, Hertz has an incredibly diverse range of vehicles available for rent.
Many Convenient Locations Hertz has over 9,700 corporate and franchised locations across the globe. So finding a spot to pick up or return your rental is never a hassle, even on the road.
Elite Loyalty Program Frequent Hertz renters can enroll in their Gold Plus Rewards program. Members get amazing perks like skipping rental counters, mobile booking tools, and free upgrades.
Why Houston is a Perfect Rental City
With its booming economy, impressive size, and car-centric culture, Houston is an ideal place to rent a car for business travel. Here are a few key reasons why:
Sprawling Metro Area Houston spans a massive 665 square miles, making it one of the largest cities in the United States by area. Having your own rental vehicle is vital for navigating such a vast urban sprawl efficiently.
Terrible Public Transit
While the city has some bus and light rail lines, Houston’s public transit system is notoriously lacking compared to other major metro areas. A rental car is often essential for getting around, even locally.
Car-Centric Culture Like most Texan cities, Houston was largely designed around cars and freeways rather than walkability and public transit. So renting a vehicle allows you to experience the city like a local.
Heavy Traffic Everywhere With over 7 million residents, the Greater Houston area suffers from terrible traffic and gridlock. A rental car allows you to avoid overcrowded buses and trains stuck in the same jams.
Skip the Line and Book Online Now
In the past, getting a rental car for business travel meant waiting in long lines at the counter. But nowadays, you can easily book your perfect rental online in just a few clicks.
Most major rental companies and platforms like Turo have user-friendly websites and mobile apps for browsing available cars. You can quickly compare prices, read reviews, view pictures and amenities, and reserve your rental from anywhere.
It’s a smart move to book your rental car well in advance, especially if you need a specific vehicle type for your trip. Last-minute or day-of reservations can get expensive or have limited availability.
Many providers also offer low price guarantees if you book early online too. So skip the rental counter and use tech to your advantage to find the best rental rates!
Our Personal Top Houston Rental Picks
Houston is such a massive, sprawling city that having your own rental car is an absolute must during business travels here. But with so many rental companies serving the area, how do you pick the right one?
For short, affordable trips to the Houston area for meetings or local events, we highly recommend Turo. The peer-to-peer platform lets you rent basic commuter cars for $20-30 per day from local owners, easily 50% cheaper than companies like Hertz or Enterprise.
However, if you need a premium rental experience or certain amenities like unlimited mileage, Enterprise is likely your best bet. Their flexible policies and customer service reputation are worth paying a bit more.
For luxury travel with high-end clients or to make an upscale impression, Hertz should be your go-to choice. Their elite rental experience, diverse fleet, and convenient locations are perfect for executive transportation needs.
Whatever you prioritize most—affordability, included perks, or premium service—there’s a great rental car solution waiting for you in Houston. The key is knowing your specific travel requirements ahead of time.
Conclusion
Whew, that was a comprehensive look at why using a rental car service is ideal for business travel adventures! We covered:
✔ The major benefits of renting over other transit
✔ Top rental companies like Hertz, Enterprise, and Turo
✔ Navigating Houston’s immense rental car scene
✔ Key factors for choosing the perfect rental option
✔ How peer-to-peer rentals through Turo work
✔ The policies and perks of Enterprise and Hertz
✔ Online tools for easily booking your rental
Now you’re fully prepped to select the best possible rental car service for your upcoming work trips! Whether you prioritize low prices, premium amenities, or vehicle selection, we’ve given you all the details you need.
So stop stressing over complicated transit plans or overpriced rideshares. Rent a car and enjoy the freedom to stay productive and mobile throughout your business travels. Happy and hassle-free renting!
