Anchorage Thrifty Car Rental

Need a car for your next Alaskan adventure? Find the wheels you need, plus great service and affordable prices, at Thrifty, which has two convenient locations: one at the Anchorage airport and a second just south of downtown on Spenard Road.

Thrifty knows Alaska well—they’ve been in Anchorage for more than 42 years, and it’s always been Alaska family owned and operated. Choose from a variety of cars—a compact like the Chevy Spark, a midsize like the Toyota Corolla, a full size like the Nissan Altima, an SUV like the Nissan Rogue, a standard like the GMC Terrain, a 7-passenger minivan like the Toyota Sienna, or even a full-size crew cab pickup like the Dodge Ram.

Fly into Anchorage airport and rent your car there, or opt for the second location on Spenard Rd., which may have shorter wait times depending on when you arrive. One tip: Reserve as early as possible in the summer high season. SUVs and minivans are popular options, and minivans tend to sell out early for most of the month of July. In winter, explore Alaska in an all-wheel-drive vehicle like the Nissan Rogue or Subaru Outback, a few of which usually get studded tires as well.

As with any rental car, you have to be at least 25 years old (though drivers from 21–25 are allowed to rent for an additional fee) with a driver’s license and major credit card. Be aware that the deposit on the credit card will be the estimated rental charges plus $500. Insurance and/or roadside assistance services (towing, key replacement, jumpstarts, and gasoline delivery) are available for an extra charge.

One other insider tip: If you’re renting at the Spenard Road location and are planning an early start the next morning, rent the night before. Then you can leave the hotel as early as you want, instead of dealing with the stress of picking up your car at a busy time. Getting an early start can be especially helpful of you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of magnificent Denali, since rising temperatures during the day can cause clouds to form over the iconic mountain.