Enterprise checks the license status of every driver on the rental agreement, including additional drivers
When you rent a car from Enterprise and add another person as a driver, Enterprise runs a check on that person's license through their own system and through state DMV records. If that driver's license is suspended, revoked, or otherwise invalid, Enterprise will not allow them on the agreement. You will not be able to complete the rental with that person listed as an authorized driver.
This is not optional for Enterprise — it is part of their standard rental process. The company has a financial and legal stake in who drives their vehicles, so they verify every driver's status before handing over keys. If you discover during the rental process that an additional driver's license is suspended, you have a few options, which are covered below.
Key Takeaways
- Enterprise checks every additional driver's license status against state records before the rental is approved.
- A suspended, revoked, or invalid license will prevent that person from being added to the rental agreement.
- You can still rent the car if only you drive it, even if your additional driver has a suspended license.
- The check happens at the rental counter or during online booking, so you will know when ready whether the person can be added.
- Enterprise's check is separate from your own license status check — both drivers must pass for both to be on the agreement.
How Enterprise runs the license check for additional drivers
Enterprise uses a rental management system that connects to state DMV databases. When you provide the name, date of birth, and license number of an additional driver, the system queries that state's records in real time. The check looks for suspensions, revocations, and other flags that would make the license invalid for driving.
This happens whether you book online or at the counter. If you book online and add a driver, the system may flag the issue before you arrive — you will see a message that the driver cannot be added. If you are at the counter, the agent will run the check and tell you the result when ready. Either way, you find out before you sign the agreement.
Enterprise does not make exceptions for suspended licenses. The company's insurance and rental policies require all drivers to have valid, unsuspended licenses. Even if the suspension is about to be lifted or if the driver has a court order, Enterprise will not override the system check.
What happens if an additional driver's license is suspended
If the additional driver's license comes back suspended, you have three realistic options: rent the car with only yourself as the driver, remove that person from the agreement and have someone else with a valid license added instead, or cancel the rental and try again another time.
You can still complete the rental if you are the only driver, even if everyone else on your trip has a suspended license. Enterprise's concern is that the person actually behind the wheel has a valid license. If you are comfortable being the sole driver for the entire rental period, you can proceed.
If you need another driver and the person you planned to add cannot be added, you will need to find someone else with a valid, unsuspended license. That person's information goes through the same check. There is no workaround — Enterprise will verify whoever you list.
The difference between your license check and an additional driver's check
Enterprise checks your license status when you arrive to pick up the car, regardless of whether you checked it yourself beforehand. The company does this because license status can change between the time you book and the time you rent. A suspension can go into effect, or a previous suspension can be lifted.
If your own license is suspended when you arrive, you cannot rent the car at all — not even as a solo driver. Enterprise will not hand over keys to anyone with an invalid license, whether that person is the primary renter or an additional driver. This is different from the additional driver scenario, where you can still rent if you are the only one driving.
Both checks use the same system and the same state DMV records. The only difference is that if you (the primary renter) fail the check, the entire rental is cancelled. If an additional driver fails, only that person is removed from the agreement.
What to do before you arrive at Enterprise with an additional driver
If you are unsure whether your additional driver's license is suspended, check their status through your state's DMV website before you go to Enterprise. Most states let you look up license status online using the license number and date of birth. This takes five minutes and saves you from showing up at the rental counter only to find out the person cannot be added.
You can also call Enterprise ahead of time and ask whether they can pre-check a driver's status. Some locations will do this over the phone if you provide the license information. This is not a may provide — the official check still happens at rental time — but it gives you a heads-up.
If you discover the license is suspended before you arrive, you have time to make other arrangements: find a different driver, plan to drive solo, or reschedule the rental. Waiting until you are at the counter wastes time and may leave you without a car.
Can you add a driver after you have already rented the car
No. All drivers must be added to the agreement before you leave the rental location. You cannot add someone later or let an unlisted person drive the car, even if they have a valid license. Enterprise's insurance covers only the drivers named on the agreement.
If an unlisted person drives the rental car and is in an accident, Enterprise's insurance may not cover the damage, and you could be personally liable. This is why Enterprise does not allow changes to the driver list after the rental has started.
If you need to add a driver during your rental period, you must return to an Enterprise location, update the agreement, and have the new driver pass the license check. This is rare and usually only done in emergencies, but it is possible — you just cannot do it remotely or over the phone.
What suspended license status means for your rental options
A suspended license means the state has temporarily removed the person's right to drive. Suspensions are usually tied to unpaid tickets, unpaid child support, medical conditions, or DUI convictions. The suspension is in effect until the person completes whatever requirement lifted it — paying fines, completing a program, or waiting out a mandatory period.
Enterprise has no way to know why the license is suspended or when it will be reinstated. The company's system straightforward sees that the license is flagged as invalid. From Enterprise's perspective, the status is the only thing that matters.
If the suspended driver needs to be on the rental, the only solution is to have their license reinstated before the rental date. This usually requires going to the DMV, paying any outstanding fines or fees, and completing any required steps. Once the license is valid again, it will show as valid in Enterprise's system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Enterprise tell me why a driver's license is suspended?
No. Enterprise will only tell you that the license came back as invalid or suspended. The company does not have access to the reason for the suspension, and they will not speculate. If you need to know why, you or the driver will need to contact your state's DMV directly.
Can I rent a car if my license is suspended but I do not plan to drive?
No. Enterprise requires the primary renter to have a valid, unsuspended license. You cannot be the person on the agreement if your license is suspended, even if someone else will do all the driving. You would need someone else to be the primary renter instead.
Does Enterprise check licenses the same way every time?
Yes. Every Enterprise location uses the same system and checks every driver against state DMV records. The process is the same whether you rent in your home state or across the country. There is no location where the check is skipped or done differently.
What if the additional driver's license is from a different state?
Enterprise checks out-of-state licenses the same way they check in-state licenses. The system queries the DMV database of whatever state issued the license. A suspended license from any state will prevent that person from being added to the rental agreement.
Can I dispute the result if Enterprise says a license is suspended?
You can contact your state's DMV to verify the status yourself, but Enterprise will not override their system check. If the DMV confirms the license is valid, you can bring that documentation to Enterprise and ask them to run the check again. Sometimes records take time to update, and a second check may show a different result.