With its rich history and picturesque beauty, the state of Alaska attracts about 1.5 million travelers from all over the world. Whether you are a first-time vacationer, a frequent traveler, a tourist, or just visiting for business, it’s indubitable that you will be mesmerized by the beauty of the land and your love of adventure would hold you to explore the thrilling wildlife and relish the delicious seafood Alaska has to offer.
While Alaska has a sound transportation system offering plane, boat, bus, and train services, the best way to explore the scenic land up close is to travel by car. Not only does it offer you the absolute autonomy to plan and travel at your own pace, but it also gives you the chance to discover the various beauties and adventures that are unique to the state of Alaska. You can fly into Anchorage and rent a car at the airport or downtown, to travel further to your destination. You can easily find the major brands of car rental companies like Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Avis, National, Budget, Dollar, and Thrifty, or locally-owned and run reputable companies as Alaska Auto Rental, Alaska 4×4 Rentals to name only a few.
With so many car rental companies present, it can be hard to decide which one is best suited for you and in order to get yourself the best experience with the best price you will need to research a lot. And although you do not have to worry about the safety of roads and driving is pretty simple too with some of the best modern cars available on rent, the only downside is the expense of renting a car. But don’t let the tediousness of the task or the fear of the cost keep you from enjoying your trip, as we have listed the best car rental companies in Alaska with their own unique upsides and downsides, as well as some tips on how you can get the best rates.
This is the ultimate Ranking of the Best Car Rental Companies in Alaska in 2024. We hope it helps you to decide on your next car rental booking.
#1 – Alaska 4×4 Rentals 🏆
Locally owned and widely popular, Alaska 4×4 Rentals is a trusted and reliable name exclusively known for its wide range of 4-wheel drive vehicles with no road restrictions. Renters can take their vehicles anywhere from paved roads to gravel highways.
At Alaska 4×4 Rentals, depending on the size of your group, you can choose from trucks, jeeps, vans, and SUVs. Their fleet is second to none with newer models to offer that are fit enough to travel in harsh conditions. Their trucks can accommodate two to four people, and some come with added features of a canopy and a truck camper with a kitchenette and a bed.
To accommodate their customers they not only provide pick up and drop off services to hotels but also offer after-hour services. Alaska 4×4 Rentals offers one-way drop-offs, unlimited mileage, and rentals to Canada. The company can provide accessories like GPS, satellite phones, coolers, and receiver hitches for towing for additional charges.
The prices aren’t too high compared to other car rental companies in the state, and you can always use discount codes, AAA and AARP discounts, or avail their reduced prices for Alaska residents and long-term rentals. There is an extra fee of $25 for a second driver but no additional charges for your domestic partner.
Customers have raved about their impeccable services as a car rental but what makes their service exclusive is their local expertise in guiding and accommodating their customers, which is valuable especially to first-time and independent travelers. The only downside is that it is positioned at one location only while most other car rental companies can be found state-wide.
#2 – Alaska Auto Rental 🥈
Another local name that made to our list is Alaska Auto Rental which started out as a neighborhood car rental but has now grown to a reputed company that excels in service than many others
Alaska Auto Rentals owns a versatile fleet of cars, SUVs, jeeps, and trucks. They are conveniently located throughout Alaska and offer complimentary shuttles, they also provide deliveries at Cruise Terminals and Train Depots. Wherever in Alaska, you are this car rental company has got you covered with its pick up, drop off, and after-hour services.
When you are on road in Alaska be prepared to face unfamiliar conditions. Whether you find yourself driving in –40 degrees, or on gravel highways, be sure that Alaska Auto Rentals has something to offer to make your experience as smooth as possible. Renters have loved their winterized packages providing winter tires, electric heaters for engines, auto-start features, cold weather-rated fluids, transmission, battery maintainers. Gravel Highway Vehicles are well-maintained and the company performs a safety inspection before every rental. They provide vehicles all set to hit gravel highways with puncture-resistant tires, and just in case spare tires, and radio.
They also offer unlimited mileage, one-way rentals, and rentals to Canada. To accommodate their customers they provide a 24 hours service using the Electronic Self-Service Rental Process which makes the process of reservation much easier for travelers.
Their fleet is very well-maintained and the vehicles are about 1 to 5 years old, so this might not be your choice if you are looking for newer models. Moreover, with its steep rates, this is certainly not the cheapest option but they do provide a Reservation Guarantee which gives renters peace of mind that their rental car will be ready as promised.
#3 – Enterprise Rent-A-Car 🥉
Any list of the best car rental companies in the USA will be incomplete without Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The company’s name in itself ensures quality, credibility, and reliability. In Alaska as well, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has marked its excellence by providing years of services.
The company is located at many locations and provides pick up and drop off at various locations. Enterprise has a wide selection of well-maintained vehicles available throughout the state. They offer unlimited mileage. Their airport location in Anchorage offers free pick-ups and after-hour services.
Being a national brand in the world of car rentals, Enterprise becomes a popular choice among frequent travelers. The company offers fairly lower prices and amazing discounts for its members which makes it the first choice of people looking for a good deal on car rentals. Their Reward Programs make you earn more points that can be availed at all participating locations throughout the USA.
#4 – ABC Motorhome & Car Rentals 🔝
If it’s the love of vacation, adventure, and a desire to share them with your family that brought you to the scenic land of Alaska then ABC Motorhome & Car Rental would be the right choice for you. The company offers local spirit, knowledge, ad guidance to all the visitors making your vacation the most memorable time of your life.
Like most other car rental companies serving in Alaska, ABC Motorhomes & Car Rentals offer all sorts of cars in its fleet. The eagerness of their staff to accommodate and assist the customers makes it a hit among most vacationers.
Their astounding collection of motorhomes is their individuality and will leave you aching to plan a vacation in Alaska. The customers have raved about the impeccable condition of motorhomes, fully equipped with kitchenware, towels, and blankets. They also provide additional staff to make your experience more amazing.
#5 – Hertz 🔝
In the car rental industry, the name Hertz is not new to anyone. Hertz is the only internationally known car rental company that has its corporate location in Alaska
If you are an enthusiast for the newest models of cars, Hertz in Alaska will offer you the best, most recent models of cars. They offer one-way drop-offs at various locations. With Hertz, you can always get the best rates using their discount offers, and promo codes.
If your destination takes you off of the road then Hertz might not be a good choice for you as the vehicles provided by Hertz are allowed for travel on paved roads only.
Traveling in Alaska can be full of variety, so your choice of car rental should be based on certain factors other than just the price and ratings, like whether you will be driving on paved roads or your journey will take you off the road or on gravel highways, or are you visiting Alaska in summers or will you be driving there in winters. Whether you are an independent traveler or vacationing with family, the car rentals in Alaska have much to offer to tailor to your unique needs.
The roads of Alaska are safe and full of natural beauty, adventure and discovery. Traveling by car not only offers you flexibility and freedom but also allows you to enjoy the experience to its fullest. However, car rentals can cost a lot but by planning ahead you can ensure you get the best rates. Rates vary on a frequent basis, so keep checking again and again. To avoid the highest rates, plan your trip on off-peak days and book in advance.
We hope that our list has helped you and you feel you are better equipped to choose your car rental company for your next visit to Alaska.
We hope you liked this article. Now you can continue reading our article about the differences between Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty, Dollar, Alamo, National, and more, or use our search engine below to book your car.