5 Best Seattle Airport Car Rental Companies — Browse Tips on Renting a Car in Seattle in 2024

As one of the busiest airports on the West Coast, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is where you’ll very likely fly in if you’re planning to explore the Pacific Northwest. It’s likewise a popular airport to fly into for a brief layover if you’re traveling further west, to an Asia-Pacific destination. It’s additionally a popular place to fly in if you plan on taking an Alaskan cruise that departs from Seattle.

No matter your reason for landing here, though, if you’re exploring the city and surrounding region either for your entire vacation or during a layover, you’ll need a rental car. 

Here’s everything you need to know about renting a car at Seattle’s airport. Plus, we’ll also give you a few tips and advice on renting a car in downtown Seattle instead. 

Which Car Rental Companies are Best at Seattle Airport?

Seattle’s airport does not have an on-site rental car facility. Instead, there’s an off-site facility with shuttles traveling between the facility and the airport, 24 hours a day. 

Twelve rental car companies operate out of the facility. Here are the best five. 

1. Alamo Rent A Car

One of the best-rated rental car companies at SEA-TAC is also one of the more affordable. Reviewers report that this Alamo outpost offers not just the more affordable prices that the national brand is known for. It also offers clean vehicles and friendly customer service. 

Multiple reviewers mention turning to Alamo after having poor experiences with other rental car companies in Seattle and liking what they found. 

Alamo just in general typically allows for a very easy vehicle pick-up and drop-off experience. Thanks to amenities such as skip-the-counter service, self-service kiosks, and after-hours return service, you can get to your vehicle quickly. Then, you can get on the road faster and easier. 

Pros: Good rates, good service, and easy processes. 

Cons: While some customers like the fast service and no hand-holding, others prefer a more hands-on customer service approach, which they might not always get at this busy locale. 

Phone: (833) 329-8466

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

Google Rating: 4.3 stars

Kayak Rating: 9 (Wonderful)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Alamo

2. Sixt Rent a Car 

Another relatively affordable rental car company, the SEA Sixt location also boasts similar, good ratings on Google and Kayak. Reviewers report that the cars here are in great condition and often on the newer side and that the employees are incredibly helpful. 

As for the less-than-stellar feedback, most of Sixt’s customers’ complaints deal with not realizing they’d been charged for something, like damage to a car or an upgrade. So, just be sure you look over the fine print and know exactly what you’re paying for, before you sign on the dotted line. If you do, you’ll likely have a great experience, and get a great car for seeing the sights around Seattle. 

Pros: Nice vehicles for an agreeable price. 

Cons: Sometimes, during the booking or pick-up process, you might not notice the extra fees that can incur. Watch out for those, so you know what you’re paying for. Additionally, Sixt’s daily opening hours aren’t as extensive as what you might find with another provider. 

Phone: (888) 749-8227

Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Google Rating: 4.1 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.2 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Sixt

3. Enterprise Rent-A-Car 

The Enterprise location at Seattle-Tacoma receives rave reviews for its customer service — as should be expected from a rental car provider that’s a little more on the pricey end. 

Unfortunately, the one downside to renting with this Enterprise location? Customers frequently noted the lack of vehicles and problems with the vehicles they were given. Still, if it’s customer service that matters most to you in any travel experience, then you’re going to want to go with Enterprise. 

This location does allow for after-hours returns (though the hours the rental counter is open are long enough that this shouldn’t be an issue anyway), but it does not provide a pick-up service. 

Pros: Great customer service. 

Cons: Poor vehicle selection and/or vehicles are dirty or not what the renter would prefer. 

Phone: (833) 329-8464

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

Google Rating: 4.4 stars

Kayak Rating: N/A

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Enterprise

4. Hertz

If you can’t get a car with one of the above three rental options at Seattle airport, then consider Hertz. While Hertz can be slightly on the more expensive side, and this particular location doesn’t get as high of ratings as some of the other rental car providers in the area, it does make up for that fact in a few ways. That is … if you’re a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards member. 

Whereas some rental car companies may give you amenities like what you’ll find within the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership program, with no strings attached, Hertz is going to ask you to sign up first. However, if you do, you will get some pretty sweet amenities that can make your travel days easier. 

You’ll be able to skip any lines and go straight to pick up your car upon arrival. You’ll have priority access to the cars you want. You’ll also be able to add a free additional driver to your rental agreement.

If you do rent with Hertz for your trip to Seattle, be sure to pay special attention to the Hertz location you’re renting from. Several reviewers noted that they’d accidentally booked a rental at a nearby Hertz location adjacent to the airport, but not actually at the airport. 

Pros: If you sign up for the Hertz loyalty program, you’ll find lots to love and lots of travel benefits.

Cons: If you’re not a member of the Hertz loyalty program, you may not find renting here to be worth the price. 

Phone: (206) 277-2300

Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Google Rating: 3.6 stars

Kayak Rating: N/A

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Hertz

5. Avis 

Last up and ranked only slightly higher than the Seattle airport Hertz location, Avis offers a similar experience, but you can usually find slightly more affordable cars here than you might at Hertz. 

Do note that this location says that it’s open 24 hours a day, but it also has an after-hours drop-off service, so, depending on when you visit, you might not find an actual person there. Make sure to check the current hours before your pick-up time.

Positive reviews note friendly customer service, but several negative reviews mentioned long wait times, up to half an hour or even an hour spent in line. 

Pros: Friendly service

Cons: Sometimes long wait times for your rental car.

Phone: (206) 433-5231

Hours: 24 Hours 

Google Rating: 3.6 stars

Kayak Rating: 7.2 (Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Avis

Comparing the 5 Best Car Rental Companies at Seattle Airport  

Get a quick glimpse of these five 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?
Hertz	3.6/NA	Cars, SUVs, luxury vehicles, trucks	Luxury
Alamo	4.3/9	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Budget
Enterprise	4.4/NA	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Luxury
Avis	3.6/7.2	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Mid-Range
Sixt	4.1/8.2	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Mid-Range

How To: Renting Cars at Seattle Airport 

Whichever of the five best rental car companies you go with for your trip to Seattle, there are a few more things you’ll need to know. 

As mentioned, there are 12 car rental companies located at the official, off-site rental car facility. These include:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Fox Rent A Car
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Rent-A-Wreck
• Thrifty
• Sixt 

To reach the rental car facility, you can take a free shuttle bus. The free shuttle buses at the airport operate 24 hours per day, every day. 

The shuttle pick-up spots are situated on the airport’s baggage claim level. One is on the north side of the terminal, while the other is on the opposite end. After picking up your luggage, go outside to the lower drive and the shuttles will swing by, pick you up, and take you to the rental car facility. The drive takes about five minutes. 

Once you reach the rental car facility, the rental car counters will be directly inside. After you check in at the counter, you’ll take an elevator or escalator to reach the rental cars. 

When you bring the rental car back and park at the rental car facility, you’ll take a shuttle back to the airport’s departure terminal. However, the process will change slightly, as departing shuttles headed back to the airport are located on the opposite side of the building from which you entered when picking up your rental car. 

Renting Cars Downtown in Seattle

But what if you would prefer to wait until you’re in downtown Seattle to rent your car? Maybe you’re spending a few days in downtown Seattle, where you can easily get around using ride-share services, but then you want to take a rental out later in your trip, to sightsee around the greater region.

In that case, you’ll, again, have lots of options for renting a car beyond the airport, in downtown. There, you’ll find car rental offices from top brands, including Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Budget, and Thrifty. 

Getting downtown from the Seattle airport

Before you pick up your rental car in downtown Seattle, though, you have to get from the airport to downtown. Luckily, this is pretty easy and there are lots of ways to go about it. 

You can, of course, take a ride-share service, but other options include bus services, hotel shuttles, taxis, and the Link light rail. 

Driving around Seattle in a rental car 

Once you do have your rental car, there are some other things to keep in mind, for the best rental car experience possible (plus the least chances of ending up with fines and fees!).

Seattle driving can be challenging, especially if you’re not accustomed to driving in heavy, hectic traffic. Traffic is heaviest right after the work day ends. However, it’s not just the other cars you’ll need to look out for. Plenty of cyclists are also on the roads. 

While you drive, pay careful attention to signage and look out for one-way streets, carpool lanes, and toll roads. 

Additionally, if you’re not accustomed to driving in both heavy traffic and rainy weather, you might want to check the forecast before you head out for your day of driving around the city. The weather here can get slick and rainy, and you don’t want to be driving up one of those steep Seattle hills and feel your wheels slip. 

When parking, make sure you pay as needed. As a rule, you can expect parking to be paid, unless you’re parking downtown on a Sunday, when some spots on the street are free. 

If you can handle all this, then you can get around Seattle with ease and travel beyond the city’s main hub and downtown. Popular driving destinations near Seattle and in the surrounding region include Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, the San Juan Islands, Vancouver, and Portland. 

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.