Rental Vehicle Certificate of Offset

Learn more about the partnership between Enterprise Rent-A-Car and TerraPass.

This web-based certificate describes the actions we take on your behalf when you purchase a TerraPass for your car rental, including the amount and types of emission reductions. An independent auditor verifies these claims annually and prepares a report that we publish on our website.

Your TerraPass commits TerraPass to purchase 300 pounds of carbon offsets and retire them on your behalf. This purchase is matched by your rental car company for a total of 600 pounds of carbon offsets. A carbon offset represents a measurable, verified reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By purchasing and retiring carbon offsets, TerraPass ensures the reductions are permanent. They can never be reused or resold.

TerraPass estimates vehicle emissions using the WRI/WBSCD protocols for emissions reporting, US EPA fuel efficiency data, rental car fleet data and rental term data. Your actual emissions may be different. Your TerraPass purchase is intended to balance 100% of an average vehicle rental's estimated CO2 emissions. The company match provides additional reductions not included in these calculations.

Your purchase of a TerraPass does not directly reduce CO2 emissions from the vehicle, but rather reduces CO2 emissions elsewhere. The TerraPass represents a reduction in only CO2 emissions, not in other vehicle pollutants such as particulate matter, lead or nitrogen oxides.

TerraPass CO2 reduction projects

Type Description Location
Renewable energy TerraPass funds renewable energy projects such as wind farms. Renewable energy projects reduce CO2 emissions by displacing conventional electricity in the region where the renewable energy is generated. TerraPass funds primarily North American projects. TerraPass has contributed to renewable energy projects in CA, KY, MN, NC, NE, and OK.
Farm power TerraPass funds agricultural projects in which farmers capture and destroy methane from animal manure. The captured methane is often used to generate renewable electricity. TerraPass funds primarily North American projects. TerraPass has contributed to farm power projects in CA, IN, MN, WA and WI.
Waste gas capture TerraPass funds landfill projects in which operators capture and destroy methane from decomposition. TerraPass may fund similar projects at wastewater treatment plants. TerraPass funds primarily North American projects. TerraPass has contributed to gas capture projects in AR and ME.