South Lake Tahoe car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65
Fri 26/4
Fri 3/5

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South Lake Tahoe car rental information

Pick-up locationSouth Lake Tahoe
Car types
Rental locations4
Airport locations2

Cheap car rentals in South Lake Tahoe

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Mini
Economy
Compact
Intermediate
Standard
Full-size
Luxury
Minivan
Passenger Van
SUV
Commercial
Pick-up truck

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in South Lake Tahoe

  • Renting a car in South Lake Tahoe provides a comfortable and convenient way of getting around the city. South Lake Tahoe car rentals also give you the freedom to explore the city by visiting places such as Rubicon Trail, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, and the Gondola at Heavenly. Most public transport options have larger vehicles that are only limited to city roads. A ride from car rentals in South Lake Tahoe allows you to maneuver through mountain roads to get to you even to a remote destination quickly.
  • Visitors flying to South Lake Tahoe arrive at the Lake Tahoe Airport, located about 3 miles from the city center. No car rentals in South Lake Tahoe agencies have offices at the airport, but the flight hub partners with various reputable companies to deliver your rental car at the Airport's FBO, Mountain West Aviation for pickup. Easirent, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, and Avis car rentals operate in the region.
  • South Lake Tahoe residents love to ski and snowboard, and most of them drive to ski destinations on the weekends during the winter months. The traffic heading and within the main roads can be a little bit congested, especially on I-80 and Highway 50. These roads are typically busy in the afternoon and Friday evenings. At this time, children leave school, and it is critical to be watchful as they tend to be playful even along the roads.
  • In a resort city like South Lake Tahoe, highways have bends as they wind through the mountainous region, and you must maintain safe speeds. Winter weather in the city can make the road slippery. You are advised to inspect your vehicle's condition before driving. Some roads might have 10'-17' snow cover, and snowplows often clear the ice, especially on main and feeder roads. Ensure you keep behind the snow removal machine for road safety. It is also advisable to travel before or after rush hours (around 7am to 8am, and 5:30pm to 7pm).
  • Book your rental car in South Lake Tahoe at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Economy rental cars in South Lake Tahoe are around -8% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in South Lake Tahoe

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in South Lake Tahoe?

    Snow and ice are inconstant weather conditions in South Lake Tahoe, and driving may need a powerful off-road rental vehicle. Choose a compact 4x4 SUV if you’re traveling as a family/group or a winter-ready truck if you’re hauling your snow toys. An AWD car provides the required traction for stability on the road and comfort on off-road tracks. It also alleviates the need to mount chains on tires. During warm seasons, you can opt for a compact or mid-sized car for easy navigation and parking in the streets.

  • What’s the speed limit in South Lake Tahoe?

    It is critical to adhere to South Lake Tahoe's speed limits to ensure safety and stay on the safe side of the law. On Highway 50, motorists must maintain 35mph to 40mph. In summer, the speed limit of the passing lane at Tahoe Ski Resort is 55mph, as the lane heads downhill. If you drive on Highway 89 between the Y intersection of H-50 and Camp Richardson, you must not exceed 35mph. Drivers using Highway 50 (as it approaches Meyers) must quickly lower their speeds to 40mph because it is a downhill drive. Before this section, the limit is above 55mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in South Lake Tahoe?

    The city of South Lake Tahoe manages the Heavenly Village Parking Lot at 1 Bellamy Court. With a ride from South Lake Tahoe car rentals, parking will cost you about $1.25/20min, $3.75/h, and about $25 per day. The facility has an online charging system that bills drivers using their license plates and phone numbers.

  • How much is gas price in South Lake Tahoe?

    The average gas price in South Lake Tahoe is C$ 5.31 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 64 and C$ 85, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular rental car in South Lake Tahoe?

    Economy (Kia Rio or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in South Lake Tahoe.

  • Which car rental companies are at Reno airport (RNO)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Reno airport include Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Avis, Budget and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Reno airport (RNO)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Reno airport to off-airport locations include Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Avis, Budget and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in South Lake Tahoe?

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

  • How much does an Economy car rental cost in South Lake Tahoe?

    An Economy car rental in South Lake Tahoe costs C$ 156 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in South Lake Tahoe?

    An Intermediate car rental in South Lake Tahoe costs C$ 105 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car rental cost in South Lake Tahoe?

    A Standard car rental in South Lake Tahoe costs C$ 65 per day, on average.

South Lake Tahoe car rental reviews and directory

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.4

Very good

12 reviews
Best rated

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.2

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.5

Value for money

9.0

2 locations in South Lake Tahoe

Show locations

Locations in South Lake Tahoe

18 Hwy 50

+1 775 339 3458

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday09:00 - 14:00
Wednesday09:00 - 14:00
Thursday09:00 - 14:00
Friday09:00 - 14:00
Saturday09:00 - 14:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

2281 Lake Tahoe Blvd

+1 530 544 8844

Monday09:00 - 14:00
Tuesday09:00 - 14:00
Wednesday09:00 - 14:00
Thursday09:00 - 14:00
Friday09:00 - 14:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Feb. 2024

KAYAK
All locations of Enterprise in Tahoe were closed all weekend - I was unable to even get a car

2.0 Poor

Sep. 2023

KAYAK
They did not have any rental car for us, even though we reserved one.

10.0 Wonderful

Oct. 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

When I got to the South Lake Tahoe rental location they had a small car for me. Monday morning and lots of cars to go out. I asked for different, larger car and they were very happy to find me and my wife another vehicle. It was cleaned and ready to go in a matter of 15 minutes and we were very happy.

Cons:

They did great and we recommend Enterprise to all our friends.

10.0 Wonderful

Mar. 2019

KAYAK

Pros:

Very easy to do business with!

10.0 Wonderful

Mar. 2023

KAYAK
Helpful convenient

1 out of 2

Easirent

4.6

Mediocre

No reviews available

2 locations in South Lake Tahoe

Show locations

Locations in South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Airport

Opening times not available

Minden-Tahoe Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

No score available yet

3 locations in South Lake Tahoe

Show locations

Locations in South Lake Tahoe

1138 Airport Rd Ste 3

+1 775 841 8002

Monday08:00 - 15:00
Tuesday08:00 - 15:00
Wednesday08:00 - 15:00
Thursday08:00 - 15:00
Friday08:00 - 15:00

18 Highway 50

+1 775 586 0041

Monday08:00 - 15:00
Tuesday08:00 - 15:00
Wednesday08:00 - 15:00
Thursday08:00 - 15:00
Friday08:00 - 15:00
Saturday08:00 - 15:00

1901 Airport Road

+1 530 542 1452

Monday08:30 - 13:30
Tuesday08:30 - 13:30
Wednesday08:30 - 13:30
Thursday08:30 - 13:30
Friday08:30 - 13:30
Saturday08:30 - 13:30
Sunday08:00 - 15:00

Filters

No reviews available

Avis

No score available yet

One location in South Lake Tahoe

Show locations

Locations in South Lake Tahoe

50 Highway 50

+1 530 544 5289

Monday08:00 - 15:00
Tuesday08:00 - 15:00
Wednesday08:00 - 15:00
Thursday08:00 - 15:00
Friday08:00 - 15:00
Saturday08:00 - 15:00
Sunday08:00 - 15:00

Filters

Reviews

8.0 Very good

Apr. 2017

KAYAK

Pros:

Friendly staff, easy process

Cons:

Hard to locate, was in a hotel but wasn't listed on the reservation.

1 out of 1

Budget

No score available yet

One location in South Lake Tahoe

Show locations

Locations in South Lake Tahoe

50 Highway 50

+1 530 544 3439

Monday08:00 - 15:00
Tuesday08:00 - 15:00
Wednesday08:00 - 15:00
Thursday08:00 - 15:00
Friday08:00 - 15:00
Saturday08:00 - 15:00
Sunday08:00 - 15:00

Filters

Reviews

2.4 Poor

May 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

The ladies at pick up were wonderful, helpful, and apologietic about the car not being the best for such a long journey.

Cons:

The car has nearly 40k miles on it and is worse for the wear. It rattled and had stains on the back seat. Upon drop off, the woman at the desk informed me that I would have to pay a $259 cleaning fee because “she was not cleaning that up”. I had just had her car cleaned. I left, went to CVS, got a lint roller, and rolled someone else’s dog’s hair out of the car (the hair was short, my service dog does not shed). She made me feel awful, repeatedly, until my husband finally showed up and informed her that my dog is a licensed and registered service dog, at which point she said she “supposed she’d waive the fee, even though the car wasn’t in great shape”. This car was in better shape than when we received it. She is doing serious damage to the Budget brand just because she doesn’t want to do her job and clean cars.

10.0 Wonderful

Jan. 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

Was her name Monique? At the Tahoe branch, she was professional and also very personable, with clear communication upon picking up my car. She made it a great experience.

6.8 Okay

Mar. 2017

KAYAK

Pros:

The car was in nice condition.

Cons:

Service was good. Staff was friendly and efficient.

6.8 Okay

Jan. 2017

KAYAK

Pros:

The lady working at the desk was very efficient and fast. She was also apologetic about the lack of car availability.

Cons:

1) There were zero cars available when I arrived at the time of my reservation. I had to wait over an hour for a car to show up. 2) It was quite difficult to find the rental store's location, as there were no signs anywhere. 3) The cost seemed excessive ($130 for a 4-hour drive to the Bay area).

2.0 Poor

Feb. 2016

KAYAK

Cons:

Wasted our time going to pick up a reservation that was made an hour earlier. Customer service representative made no effort to fix the situation and was visibly annoyed and walked away as I was asking her if she knows of other options because I took a cab to get there assuming that I had a car because of the confirmed reservation.

10.0 Wonderful

Nov. 2015

KAYAK

Pros:

Monique was very understanding and very helpful!

1 out of 3

Eagle Rent A Car

No score available yet

One location in South Lake Tahoe

Show locations

Locations in South Lake Tahoe

1001 Heavenly Village Way

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

39 travellers who rented a car in South Lake Tahoe gave the car agency they used an average rating of 4.6

Car rental locations in or near South Lake Tahoe

Good to know

Most popular car type

Economy

When to book a rental car in South Lake Tahoe

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches