Best way to get connectivity on the road for a Windows laptop WITHOUT a smartphone? [View all]

I'm trying to prepare to be on the road for a couple of weeks during a time when there is a LOT of work to do. My employer gave me a shiny new Thinkpad X13 running Windoze 10 Pro 64, and set it up with a VPN connection to their network. I should be able to connect just fine from any available network.

But since I do not have a smartphone, there is no network available in the rental car in which I will be a passenger. With many hours of available time to work.

And no connection.

I understand there is something called a "USB 4G modem" that can be used to connect a laptop to a cell phone network. My not-smart cell phone is with Consumer Cellular, but they tell me they need a SIM card to connect me to their network, and as far as I can tell, neither the laptop nor any of the "USB 4G modem" devices I have looked at have those things.

Anyone here know of any not-too-expensive ways to connect in a moving car without a smartphone?

hopefully,
Bright