Alaska car hire

Intermediate (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Alaska.

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Alaska are Alamo (8.5, 52 reviews), Budget (8.4, 195 reviews), and Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.2, 97 reviews).

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Alaska are Anchorage (75% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Alaska) and Fairbanks (25%).

In addition to being the biggest state in the US, Alaska is very expansive. Hiring a car will help you to cover more ground and allow you to stop whenever and wherever you want. When exploring the vast land, you will notice that the best things to do or see are often in the interior rather than near the main roads. Therefore, if your trip involves visiting some of the more remote areas in the region, hiring a car is a wise move, especially a four-wheel drive vehicle. Also, Alaska’s tourist attractions are not centrally located; therefore, a self-drive tour can help you visit more places in a short period of time. Alaska is a great place to explore wider into the nooks and crannies while also making last-minute stops and savouring the views on a long hike. The flexibility you reap from hiring a car to aid in your Alaskan explorations is unbeatable.

If you need to explore some scenery off the beaten path such as Denali National Park and Preserve or want to go somewhere specific, hiring a car is a worthy consideration. Generally, a drive on Alaskan roads is quite enjoyable; nonetheless, the conditions will vary, with some terrains being a bit bumpy and slow going. Some roads can be somewhat dusty with washboard sections. In such places, you are advised to drive at a speed of 30 mph (48 kph) to 50 mph (80 kph). Most car hire companies in Alaska have a clause unequivocally advising their customers against taking their vehicles down dirt roads, especially McCarthy Road and Denali Highway.

The minimum age to hire a car in Alaska is 21 years of age. However, there is a surcharge policy, commonly referred to as the young driver surcharge, applied to those under the age of 25. Also, underage car hirers may be denied certain classes of vehicle, being limited to economy and compact models. They may also be required to provide a second form of identification, such as a valid passport before being served.