By Olivia Robinson

Published Dec. 19 2017

Don’t have car insurance? Need a four-wheel drive for the weekend? Looking for a pick-up truck to move that living room set into the cottage? Until recently your plans to rent a car in Haliburton would’ve come to a screeching halt.

Two weeks ago Enterprise Rent-A-Car opened for business at the Carstar on Industrial Park Road.

Previously residents had to travel as far as Bancroft or Lindsay to rent a vehicle.

For months Paul Cross owner of Carstar’s Haliburton and Lindsay branches said people inquired at Carstar as to when vehicles would be available for rent.

“The natural partnership for me was with Enterprise Rent-A-Car” he said. Cross said that collision repair centres and car rental companies are often associated with one another.

Since Enterprise Rent-A-Car first opened its business has been driven by word-of-mouth. Within the first 10 days of opening Enterprise Rent-A-Car has tripled the size of its fleet just to keep up with customer demand.

“The big thing for us is either all-drive or something with snow tires. Something big and heavy on the road” said Mark Quinnell branch manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Quinnell said customers are primarily renting larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks because of the inclement weather.

“Around here you know how the sideroads are – they’re all hills and dirt” said Alison McGahey senior customer service representative at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “We want to make sure our customers are safe are comfortable.”

Quinnell is hopeful that they will increase the size of the fleet come cottaging season.

Aside from car rentals McGahey noted that Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s services will also benefit travellers coming from the Stanhope Municipal Airport.

“There are people who fly in and need a car and it’s great because we can pick them up” said McGahey.

Quinnell says that the new venture between Carstar and Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Haliburton streamlines the car rental process for customers.

“We have a specialist for the repair of the vehicle and a specialist for the rental car side of things” said Quinnell. “It’s a pretty symbiotic relationship – they rely on us and we rely on them.”

Christian Eriksson area manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car said he’s hopeful that the business will grow to sustain hiring a local employee. For him opening an Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch in Haliburton is much more than a business venture.

“In the spring we want to attach ourselves to a local charity and not just be a car rental provider but a part of the community” Eriksson said.

The new Enterprise Rent-A-Car is located at the Carstar in Haliburton at 154 Industrial Park Rd. and open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rentals can be made online at www.enterprise.ca or by calling 705-457-2360.