4 Best Anchorage Airport Car Rental Companies — Browse Tips on Renting a Car in Anchorage, Alaska in 2024

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) may not get as much overall traveler traffic as LAX or Atlanta. However, it’s still one of the top airports in the country for cargo and it serves about 5 million people per year — numbers that are not too shabby. 

If you’re one of these millions of travelers headed to the Anchorage airport, whether for business or pleasure, you may need a rental car. If so, the airport has you covered with nine on-site rental car options, including eight national brands and one local brand. 

Here’s everything you need to know to pick the right car rental provider at the airport, and a few tips for getting around the Alaska airport and then on the road. 

Which Car Rental Companies are Best at the Anchorage, Alaska Airport?

The Anchorage airport’s car rental center includes offerings from the following brands:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National
• Thrifty
• Alaska 4×4 Rental 

So which guarantees the best rental experience? We’ve scoured these providers’ reviews, specific to their Anchorage airport locations, to help you decide which is right for you. 

1. Alamo 

Alamo is one of the top-rated rental car providers at ANC. Renters report that the pick-up process is quick and easy, vehicles are in good condition, and the drop-off process is just as convenient as the pick-up process. Some report free upgrades, while others praise the staff’s friendliness and how quickly they respond to inquiries during the rental period once the car is off the lot.

The one downside? Some renters mentioned high prices (though the individual rental counter can hardly be blamed for that) and wished they had received a more thorough breakdown of what they were paying for. Others lamented the high deposits necessary for their rentals. 

Pros: Convenient and fast pick-up and drop-off, friendly and responsive staff, and high-quality cars.

Cons: Some may find the fees and deposits a little on the higher side.

Phone: (844) 914-1558

Hours: Daily from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. (Monday until midnight only)

Google Rating: 4.0 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.6 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Alamo

2. National Car Rental

Kayak reviewers have ranked National Car Rental at the Anchorage airport as the best car rental company to rent with when visiting the area. (Google reviewers ranked local rental car providers higher, but still ranked National as their top choice when going with a large, non-local brand.) 

Travelers rave about the quick and easy pick-up and drop-off processes, friendly and helpful staff members, and extra online amenities, such as the ability to choose your car’s specific make and model on the National website before your arrival. Others mention that, in the event of an issue, such as something being wrong with a vehicle, their problems were remedied quickly and effectively.

As for any complaints, most seem to be primarily tied to communication issues — staff telling customers one thing and then not relaying that information to their colleagues, the team mixing up rentals, etc. 

Pros: Quick and easy pick-up and drop-off, friendly staff, and the ability to pick your rental online. 

Cons: The team may not be the most organized bunch.

Phone: (844) 914-1557

Hours: Daily from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Google Rating: 4.5 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.7 (Very Good) 

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at National

3. Enterprise Rent-A-Car

While the Enterprise location at the Anchorage airport does receive overall high marks, a quick look at the location’s reviews does reveal that travelers’ experiences here are a mixed bag. Some report that their rental experience was simply “flawless.” Others had more significant concerns. And the mixed bag doesn’t just apply to one aspect of the rental process — it applies to everything.

Some say the employees are accommodating and courteous. Others say employees care little about travelers’ experiences and do the bare minimum to get them out the door. 

Some travelers found the vehicles clean, modern, and in excellent working order. Others said the cars needed repairs or that they smelled of smoke. 

Some say pick-up and drop-off are easy, quick, and convenient. Still, others report getting a larger bill than expected upon return and check-out, making the overall process a headache.

So, the thing to keep in mind if you rent from Enterprise during a trip to Anchorage? Just be prepared for anything. You could have a fantastic experience — or a lackluster one.

Pros: Some travelers report great experiences, from the staff to the rental cars to the rental process.

Cons: Some travelers say they had horrible experiences, from the team to the rental cars to the rental process.

Phone: (844) 914-1559

Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. (7 a.m.–10 p.m. winter hours)

Google Rating: 4.3 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.4 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Enterprise

4. Avis

While Avis isn’t the highest-ranked rental car provider at the Anchorage airport across the board, Kayak notes that it is still the most popular option on its website. So what makes it so popular?

Happy reviewers say the service at the rental counter is quick and efficient (even when, in some cases, travelers arrive far ahead of their scheduled rental time). Others mention that, compared to the other rental car counters at the airport, Avis is extremely fast, getting you out the door in less than half an hour, compared to some rental car providers that might make you stand in line for an hour or more. 

Complaints are more or less related to pricing. However, some pricing concerns travelers voiced do seem a little suspicious/negligent. Issues include being charged for gas even after returning the rental with a full tank and making travelers upgrade for a fee because Avis failed to supply the booked class of car. 

Pros: Speedy and efficient service.

Cons: Watch out for strange or unnecessary fees that may not be entirely legitimate.

Phone: (907) 243-2377

Hours: Daily from 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Google Rating: 3.9 stars

Kayak Rating: 7.9 (Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Avis

Comparing the 4 Best Car Rental Companies at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

Get a quick glimpse of these four best car rental companies, so you know which is best for you.  

Brand/Rental Provider	Google/Kayak Rating	Types of available vehicles	Budget or Luxury?
Avis	3.9/7.9	Cars, SUVs, luxury vehicles, trucks, vans	Budget
Alamo	4.0/8.6	Cars, SUVs, luxury vehicles, trucks, vans	Mid-Range
Enterprise	4.3/8.4	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Luxury
National	4.5/8.7	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Mid-Range

Further Reading: Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance Coverage

What You Need to Know When Renting a Car at the Anchorage, Alaska Airport

So you’ve perused our above car rental options at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. You’ve decided which you may want to book with. Now, how do you go from reserving your rental online to picking it up at the airport and getting out on the road? 

How to get to the rental car center at the Anchorage airport

First, you’ll need to go from your arrival gate to the rental car center at the airport. All nine on-site rental car companies do business from within the rental car center, across from the airport’s South Terminal. 

You’ll need to take a shuttle to get there. The complimentary airport shuttles run between the South Terminal and the rental car center every day, with shuttles arriving every 15 minutes (this shuttle also stops by the employee parking lot). 

You can also get a shuttle between the airport’s North Terminal and the rental car center, but the shuttle won’t just arrive on a schedule like it does at the South Terminal. You’ll have to call for the shuttle to pick you up using a dedicated phone line on the wall next to the curbside Southeast exit door. 

(One cool feature this airport offers? If you’re tired of waiting for your shuttle and wondering where it’s at, you can check the airport shuttle bus tracker at ancshuttlebus.com.) 

Your other rental options near the Anchorage airport

Suppose you don’t want to rent from on-site rental car providers at the Anchorage airport. In that case, one off-airport service provider works with the airport: Alaskan Car Rental. 

The provider’s office is just a quick drive from the airport, and the provider offers shuttle service between the airport and the office. Alaskan Car Rental provides service 24/7, any hour of the day, May through September (with limited hours from October through April). 

Other transportation options from the Anchorage airport

Suppose none of the above options work for you. In that case, you have a few other transportation options to get you into downtown Anchorage. 

Buses run between the airport and downtown, with service between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m. throughout the week and between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the weekends. 

Taxis and ride-share services are also available. Taxis pick you up either at the South Terminal, outside baggage claim on Level 1, across from Door 3, or at the North Terminal, across from Door 2. Ride-share services pick up passengers on Level 2, outside ticketing.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.