Enterprise Van Rental Guide for Small DIY Moves - Moving.com (2023)

If you have a small DIY move coming up, a van rental might be just the right choice. Cargo vans are a more compact and more affordable alternative to moving trucks. They are generally a great option for dorm rooms, studio apartments, and even small one-bedroom apartments. You’ll find five different options to choose from with Enterprise van rental.

There’s a lot to consider when figuring out logistics and your moving budget. Whether you hire a professional moving company or opt for a cargo van rental, that’s true. You must gather as much information as possible before making your final decision, which is why we’ve put together this quick guide on the basics of Enterprise van rental, including what your options are and how much you can expect to spend.

What is Enterprise Van Rental?

Enterprise van rental refers to the cargo van options offered as part of Enterprise Truck Rental. It is not to be confused with Enterprise’s passenger van rental services, though the company also offers those.

Since 1999, Enterprise Truck Rental has rented out commercial-grade moving trucks to consumers and currently serves more than 350 localities in the United States and Canada. What sets Enterprise van rental options apart from their competitors is the wide variety of options, with five different cargo van sizes to choose from so that it’s easy to get just the right amount of space that you need for your upcoming move.

Enterprise Van Rental Sizes

As stated above, you have quite a few different options for renting a van with Enterprise. (Think you need more space? Check out our guide to Enterprise Truck Rental to see what other size moving trucks they offer.)

Compact cargo van

• Cargo capacity: 83’ x 52’ x 48’ with 123 cubic feet of loading space.
• Weight capacity: Up to 1,480 pounds.
• Special features: Automatic transmission, swing-out rear cargo doors, 24 MPG fuel economy, bulkhead option available. Also the most fuel-efficient of the Enterprise van rental selection.

Standard cargo van

• Cargo capacity: 126’ x 65’ x 55’ with 260 cubic feet of loading space.
• Weight capacity: Up to 3,700 pounds.
• Special features: Automatic transmission, bulkhead option available.

Heavy-duty cargo van

• Cargo capacity: 126’ x 56’ x 55’ with 224 cubic feet of loading space.
• Weight capacity: Up to 4,080 pounds.
• Special features: Automatic transmission, bulkhead option available.

Heavy-duty XL cargo van

• Cargo capacity: 143’ x 56’ x 55’ with 254 cubic feet of loading space.
• Weight capacity: Up to 3,950 pounds.
• Special features: Automatic transmission, bulkhead option available, extended length available.

High roof cargo van

• Cargo capacity: 143’ x 76’ x 55’ with 345 cubic feet of loading space.
• Weight capacity: Up to 3,700 pounds.
• Special features: Automatic transmission, bulkhead option available, 79.9” interior walk-in height.

Each cargo van option offers interior seating for up to two people.

Enterprise Cargo Van Costs

Enterprise van rental prices vary depending on make, model, availability, and location and include a price-per-day plus a price-per-mile if you’re moving more than 300 miles.

Unfortunately, Enterprise does not list their van rental prices online, and you’ll have to reach out directly to a location to find out their pricing based on your needs and availability. In general, you can expect to spend anywhere from about $90 to $706 per day for an Enterprise truck rental plus about $0.20 to $3.60 per mile for non-local moves. Cargo vans are likely to fall on the cheaper end of this spectrum. Keep in mind that you’ll likely want to budget for insurance, which costs about $26 a day.

These prices are a bit higher than what you’ll find with many other truck rental companies but may be worth it when you consider that Enterprise is one of the highest-ranked companies for local and non-local truck rentals. Want to see if you can get some good savings? Check out their deals page to see current promotions and specials.

What to Know About Renting a Van Through Enterprise

All rental companies are different regarding the specifics about what they offer and what they don’t. So before opting for an Enterprise van rental, here are a couple of things to be aware of that could affect your decision.

1. Long-distance moves are charged differently. The cost for your move is going to look a lot different if you’re moving locally vs. non-locally. While many van and truck rental companies charge per mile only for local moves, Enterprise takes an opposite approach with per-mile costs only for non-local moves. If you’re moving a long distance, that’s going to add up fast.

2. You can’t rent a van one-way. Enterprise requires that all vans and trucks are returned to the location they were picked up from. So if you’re moving to another state, you’ll have to drive the van back to its original location, which is not a great deal in terms of convenience or pricing.

Enterprise Protection Plans

Enterprise offers four different protection plans for van and truck rentals: damage waiver, personal accident insurance, roadside protection, and supplemental liability protection. The price for each plan depends on the amount of coverage you need, how long you need the rental, and where you are located—plan for about $26 to $30 a day. This can be a cheaper option than opting for third-party insurance in many cases.

How to Make a Reservation with Enterprise Van Rental

If you want to make a cargo van reservation for your move, you can do so easily online. Visit Enterprise Truck Rental’s online reservation site. Next, enter your location, moving date information and what kind of vehicle you’re looking for (in this case: cargo vans) to check for availability and to get a quote. It’s good to have some flexibility since availability may vary widely between locations. Once you choose your preferred location and van, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your estimated price, including taxes and variable fees.

What if You Need to Cancel Your Rental?

You can easily cancel your Enterprise van rental reservation online. If you pre-paid for your reservation, there will be a cancellation fee—$50 for reservations canceled more than 24 hours ahead of the reservation and $100 for reservations canceled less than 24 hours ahead of the reservation.

Is Enterprise Right For You?

As always, you’ll want to research and get quotes from at least three different van rental companies to ensure that you get the best deal possible for your move. Here’s how to start the process:

Step one: Figure out exactly what you need.

Your most important variable when choosing a moving van or truck is making sure that it will be the right size. Follow these general guidelines, keeping in mind that you may have to size up if you have very large furniture or just a lot of stuff (and may be able to consider sizing down if you don’t have a lot to move):

• Cargo van: dorm or studio apartment
• 12-foot truck: dorm, studio, or small one-bedroom apartment
• 16-foot truck: larger one-bedroom apartment
• 22-foot truck: one to three-bedroom home
• 26-foot truck: three to five-bedroom home

Step two: Choose your top three picks.

Choose three van rental companies that offer the sizes and features you need for your move. If Enterprise makes the cut or not will largely depend on if it offers the best price and features for your type of move. As for everyone else, use our free online list of movers to find vetted, reputable companies wherever your move is taking place.

Step three: Get quotes.

Once you have chosen three (or more) companies to compare, it’s time to reach out for quotes. Remember, however, that these quotes are just estimates, and your actual costs may be a bit higher. Also, be sure to ask about added fees. Keep an eye out for deals and promotions. A good discount could be your deciding factor.

Whether you choose to go with Enterprise van rental or a cargo van from another rental company, it’s always smart to do as much research as possible. That way, you can know for sure that the van you’ve rented is the right one for your move.