Car Rental in Tampa

✓ No Hidden Costs ✓ 24/7 Support ✓ Free Cancellation
Tampa, USA - Florida
Unable to find any location
Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30 - 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80+
700+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Tampa Airport
Economy
Nissan Versa or similar
Nissan Versa
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
Renta Florida
$17.02 per day
Tampa Drew Park
Intermediate
Toyota Corolla or similar
Toyota Corolla
  • 5
  • 1
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
ACARENT
$22.69 per day
Tampa Airport
Mini
Chevrolet Sonic or similar
Chevrolet Sonic
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
United Rent A Car
$23.91 per day
Tampa Airport
Compact
Nissan Versa or similar
Nissan Versa
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Yours Car Rental
$24.18 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Tampa Airport
Standard
Nissan Sentra or similar
Nissan Sentra
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
HDC Rent a Car
$28.64 per day
Tampa Airport
Full-size
Nissan Altima or similar
Nissan Altima
  • 5
  • 3
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
WheeGo
$33.97 per day
Tampa Airport
Compact Elite SUV
Volkswagen T-Cross or similar
Volkswagen T-Cross
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
EXER
$37.67 per day
Tampa North
Premium
Volkswagen Passat or similar
Volkswagen Passat
  • 5
  • 2
  • 3
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
$48.17 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 12:43 AM on 12/5/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader, we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (4 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 175k+ total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.

Travel Information

Languages
English, Spanish
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+1
Average car rental price
$30 per day
Average car rental length
7 days
Speed limit within town
48 km/h or 30 mph
Speed limit out of town
88 - 112 km/h or 55 - 70 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Rating
7.6 / 10
Average gas price
$0.92 per liter or $3.48 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$0.81 per liter or $3.07 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.00 per liter or $3.79 per gallon

Why rent a car in Tampa?

Tampa is the largest city and main hun of West Central Florida. It is a bustling metropolis of business and tourism and is visited by millions every year. 

As is usual for American cities, the car is king. While some may only be staying in Downtown Tampa for conventions, most travelers and tourists stay in resorts in the surrounding area. And the overwhelming majority of them rent a car to get around, even if just to drive to eat or shop. 

Of course, with a car, you can explore the Gulf coast beaches, head to Busch Gardens, hit the outlets, and even take trips to destinations further afield. 

One-Way Car Rentals in Tampa

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Tampa and drop off in another city include:

  • From Tampa to Orlando - 48 offers from $65.79 per day
  • From Tampa to Miami - 33 offers from $71.40 per day
  • From Tampa to Fort Myers - 45 offers from $61.92 per day
  • From Tampa to Fort Lauderdale - 47 offers from $65.79 per day
  • From Tampa to Springfield - 14 offers from $104.95 per day

Top ways to enter Tampa

  • Tampa International Airport - The largest airport in West Central Florida is of course its primary entry point. 
  • St. Petersburg Airport - On the other side of Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg Airport is less than 20 miles from Tampa International Airport. The airport is served by regional and low-cost airlines and is, therefore, an incredibly popular entry point to the Tampa Bay area. It’s easy to fly into the airport and reach any destination in the entire metro area. 
  • Driving from Fort Myers or Orlando - The Tampa Bay area is a popular destination for those vacationing in Orlando as it is only an hour’s drive or so away. I-4 will take you all the way from Downtown Orlando or the Lake Buena Vista area to Downtown Tampa. The drive from Fort Myers to Tampa itself is a little longer (about 2 hours), but St. Petersburg is closer. 

Top sights and activities

  • Busch Gardens - Likely, Tampa’s most popular attraction, the Busch Gardens is a theme park that people from around the country flock to. Many that visit Disney World or Universal Orlando also make the trip to Tampa just for Busch Gardens. It is north of Downtown Tampa and is an excellent place to spend the day with your family. 
  • Adventure Island - Just next door to Busch Gardens, Adventure Island is its water park. You can, and probably should, get combined tickets for both. The park is a great place to have some fun and escape the Florida heat at the same time. It is open from March to November.
  • The Florida Aquarium - Located in the Channel District, this Aquarium is the place to go to learn about the aquatic life of Florida. It has more than 250,000-square-feet of space, so plan to spend some time. The Aquarium is a non-profit dedicated to preservation, conservation, and education and so is certainly worth supporting. 
  • The Riverwalk - The most famous part of Downtown Tampa is the Riverwalk, which is well a pedestrian trail down by the river. But it’s much more than that. It’s the center of life in the city. It has all types of restaurants, places to shop, and host events around the year. A trip to Tampa isn’t complete without wandering around the area for the day (or evening if nightlife is your thing.
  • Sports - Tampa is a great city for sports fans. It is the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,  winners of Super Bowl LV, the Rays of the MLB, and the Lightening of the NHL, so almost any time of year you can attend a game of one of the major leagues. The Buccaneers and Lightning play in Downtown Tampa, while the Rays play in St. Petersburg. 

Traffic and parking

As the Tamp Bay area is a major metropolitan area, traffic can be hectic, particularly during rush hour. As a tourist, it is best to avoid the commuting hours as much as possible. 

Parking in Downton Tampa, for example, if you want to visit the Riverwalk, can be a hassle. While on-street parking is available, using a garage is probably better. The Poe garage on Ashley Dr. is the most convenient. You could also park further away, say in Ybor city, and catch a trolley or the free streetcar. 

The water taxis are a great way to get around Downtown Tampa once you’ve found a good parking spot. You can buy a hop-on-hop-off ticket that is good for an entire day and take the taxis up and down the river to all of the attractions and dining options. 

Toll roads

If renting a car in Tampa as a tourist, it is unlikely that you will need to use a SunPass transponder that your rental car supplier may offer. There are two toll roads in the area that are electronic only (that is, they don’t accept cash), but most tourists will not need to use either of them (though be sure to check where you will be staying beforehand to be certain).

The Selmon Expressway connects the neighborhood south of Downtown Tamp with the Downtown area and bedroom communities to the east. It is more widely used by commuters rather than tourists.

As a tourist, you may need to use the Veterans Expressway (State Road 589) which connects the airport with the Spring Hill area to the north. If your destination is to the north of the city, this may be useful. But again, this toll road is primarily used by commuters. 

Finally, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the portion of I-275 crossing Tampa Bay between St. Petersburg and Rubonia, is tolled. Cash payments are accepted on it, unlike the previously mentioned toll roads. So if the toll booths at either end of the bridge are the only places you think you will incur a toll, it is best not to use any prepaid toll package offered by your rental supplier.

Ideas for day trips

Tarpon Springs - North of Tampa, and along the coast, you will find this quaint town that looks almost as if it were a Greek Island. An excellent place to just visit, but it’s best if you bring your appetite because there are numerous Greek restaurants serving up delicious food. 

Orlando - Yes, Orlando is closed enough to Tampa to visit on a day-trip, though most choose to spend more than a day there, for obvious reasons. Head to Disney World, Universal Orlando, or one of the other theme parks if Busch  Gardens isn’t enough for you! 

Beaches - The real reason most visit Florida is, of course, the beaches. There are many great beaches up and down the Gulf coast. Clearwater Beach is perhaps the closest, but there are many others. Indian Rocks Beach is a notable one. 

Further destinations

Miami - The largest city in Florida is certainly within reach of Tampa. The nightlife is unrivaled, as is the swankiness of Miami Beach. So if this is your big trip to Florida, don’t miss the Latin flair of the city. Simply take I-75 south and across the peninsula.

Fort Myers - South of Tampa is Fort Myers and the rest of Southwest Florida. Quite popular with vacationers and retirees, the area is also worth a trip from Tampa. The main draw being, of course, the excellent weather and beaches.  

Big Cypress National Preserve - If heading to Miami and wanting to take a break in nature along the way, Big Cypress National Preserve is a great place to stop. A great place to camp and to stargaze due to its lack of light pollution, it is also a great place to simply go for a hike. And it’s conveniently right off I-75!

Everglades National Park - A destination in and of itself, Everglades National Park protects the unique landscape of the very southern part of the state. There are three different visitor centers, the nearest one to Tampa being in Everglades City on the Gulf Coast side of the park. There isn’t a whole lot of hiking to do in the park, but you can get an airboat tour to experience it or travel by kayak if you are experienced. 

Car rental prices in Tampa

  • Convertibles - from $65 per day
  • Station wagons - from $24 per day
  • Large cars - from $17 per day
  • Medium cars - from $24 per day
  • Vans - from $50 per day
  • Premium cars - from $48 per day
  • Small cars - from $17 per day
  • SUVs - from $28 per day
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Top 20 cities near Tampa

  1. 64.5 km / 40.1 miles away
  2. 116.2 km / 72.2 miles away
  3. 130.2 km / 80.9 miles away
  4. 155.1 km / 96.4 miles away
  5. 177.6 km / 110.4 miles away
  6. 185.8 km / 115.5 miles away
  7. 192.3 km / 119.5 miles away
  8. 193.5 km / 120.2 miles away
  9. 196.7 km / 122.2 miles away
  10. 216.2 km / 134.3 miles away
  11. 280.4 km / 174.2 miles away
  12. 291.8 km / 181.3 miles away
  13. 316.8 km / 196.9 miles away
  14. 321.8 km / 200 miles away
  15. 329 km / 204.4 miles away
  16. 340.8 km / 211.8 miles away
  17. 388.1 km / 241.2 miles away
  18. 394 km / 244.8 miles away
  19. 477.3 km / 296.6 miles away
  20. 530.1 km / 329.4 miles away

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Tampa?

Car rental prices in Tampa vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Tampa
$32.29
January
$34.54
February
$37.56
March
$27.66
April
$24.18
May
$22.62
June
$24.93
July
$29.33
August
$22.60
September
$26.60
October
$28.90
November
$37.70
December
The cheapest month to rent a car in Tampa is September (when prices average $22.60 per day). This is 22% cheaper than the yearly average and 40% cheaper than renting in December (when prices average $37.70).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Tampa?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in January, the average renter keeps their car for 9 days, and in December, they keep their car for 6 days.
Average number of rental days in Tampa
9
January
7
February
7
March
7
April
7
May
8
June
8
July
8
August
8
September
7
October
7
November
6
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Tampa?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Tampa is April, and the least popular is September.
Monthly searches in Tampa by pick-up date relative to the average
49%
January
93%
February
145%
March
158%
April
130%
May
67%
June
100%
July
64%
August
40%
September
129%
October
99%
November
127%
December

Car rental information

Car rental locations 8
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Yours Car Rental, FOX, Thrifty, Ecovia, AZ Car Rental
Popular car categories Large cars, SUVs, Medium cars, Small cars
Lowest price $17 per day
Cheapest supplier Renta Florida

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Yours Car Rental Toyota Corolla 4 2 Large cars
Yours Car Rental Toyota Yaris 5 2 Small cars
Yours Car Rental Toyota Camry 4 2 Large cars
Yours Car Rental Nissan Versa 5 2 Medium cars
Hub Rent a Car Honda CR-V 4 3 SUVs
Thrifty Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Hub Rent a Car Toyota RAV4 5 2 SUVs
FOX Hyundai Santa Fe 5 2 SUVs
Ecovia Toyota Corolla 4 3 Large cars
Ecovia Kia Rio 4 2 Small cars

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

United Kingdom
Hyundai Elantra
11/23/24
Photo by olayinka s. about renting a Hyundai Elantra in Tampa (11/23/24)
United States of America (USA)
Ford Focus
5/2/24
We love the cleanliness of the area! Food is delicious everywhere and great sunsets!!!
United States of America (USA)
Ford Focus
3/28/24
Fun great Clearwater beach
Canada
Nissan Altima
3/19/24
spring training baseball, Lightning hockey game, beaches, mini golf, epperson lagoon
United States of America (USA)
Chevrolet Spark
3/14/24
Treasure Island is a great spot to relax and enjoy the Gulf. St. Petersburg had a great night life and plenty of places to eat and drink.
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai Santa Fe
2/5/24
Dining, Edison home and gardens, beach bars
United States of America (USA)
Honda CR-V
12/27/23
If you are looking for an mid size SUV, you will receive a mini size suv.
United Kingdom
Mazda 3
11/29/23
Went to most craft breweries in Tampa and Clearwater.
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Rogue
11/26/23
Tampa is a boring city. The only good part is the beach.
United States of America (USA)
Chevrolet Equinox
11/8/23
Enjoyed a great time with family in Sarasota!
United States of America (USA)
Volkswagen Jetta
10/20/23
Hard Rock casino was a blast. St Pete beach was beautiful
Sweden
Nissan Rogue
4/21/23
Perfect in every way!!
United States of America (USA)
Honda Civic
4/11/23
Our experience with your agency was horrible and you should be ashamed!
United States of America (USA)
Ford Focus
3/12/23
Visited a friend in South Pasaneda,,Fl
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Sentra
1/24/23
Went to Bush Gardens with kids and grandkids..
United Kingdom
Toyota Corolla
10/22/19
I would recommend trying other rental dealers if you dont like waiting
United Kingdom
Toyota Yaris
5/21/19
We found the road system rather disconcerting after the roads in the United Kingdom but did get the hang of it. We travelled to Indian Rocks Beach and loved the area - would definitely recommend it. Tampa has grown a great deal since we were last there, 30 years ago.

Car Rental Statistics

Highest-rated company
Alamo
8.9 / 10
)
Lowest-rated company
Ecovia
2.8 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
18
Total rental companies
46
Average daily price
$29.53
Lowest daily price
$17.02
Total cars available
1076

Top 46 suppliers in Tampa in 2024

Alamo
Alamo
Very good 8.9 / 14 reviews
3 locations
$72 - $162
Hertz
Hertz
Very good 8.7 / 15 reviews
2 locations
$72 - $162
Enterprise
Enterprise
Very good 8.5 / 8 reviews
1 location
$76 - $211
SIXT
SIXT
Very good 8.3 / 14 reviews
3 locations
$47 - $137
Thrifty
Thrifty
Very good 8.3 / 83 reviews
3 locations
$45 - $126
Dollar
Dollar
Very good 8.1 / 28 reviews
3 locations
$46 - $127
CAPITAL
CAPITAL
Average 7.9 / 0 reviews
1 location
$46 - $127
National
National
Average 7.9 / 1 review
2 locations
$76 - $213
Avis
Avis
Average 7.8 / 9 reviews
5 locations
$53 - $160
U-Save
U-Save
Average 7.6 / 1 review
1 location
$53 - $160
FOX
FOX
Average 7.5 / 90 reviews
1 location
$54 - $85
EXER
EXER
Average 7.5 / 0 reviews
1 location
$26 - $69
Street Rent A Car
Street Rent A Car
Average 7.5 / 1 review
1 location
$48 - $58
Carls Van Rentals
Carls Van Rentals
Average 7.5 / 1 review
1 location
$48 - $58
Ace Rent a car
Ace Rent a car
Average 7.4 / 47 reviews
1 location
$115 - $196
NextCar
NextCar
Average 7.4 / 3 reviews
1 location
$115 - $196
Seven Auto
Seven Auto
Average 7.3 / 18 reviews
1 location
$92 - $199
Advantage
Advantage
Average 7.3 / 0 reviews
1 location
$92 - $199
Blue Auto Trading
Blue Auto Trading
Below average 6.9 / 0 reviews
1 location
$92 - $199
Budget
Budget
Below average 6.8 / 6 reviews
5 locations
$42 - $306
Europcar
Europcar
Below average 6.8 / 0 reviews
1 location
$60 - $130
Zezgo
Zezgo
Below average 6.6 / 0 reviews
1 location
$60 - $130
Saferide rent a car
Saferide rent a car
Below average 6.6 / 0 reviews
1 location
$60 - $130
NUCarrentals
NUCarrentals
Below average 6.6 / 0 reviews
1 location
$82 - $107
Surprice
Surprice
Below average 6.5 / 1 review
1 location
$82 - $107
ACARENT
ACARENT
Below average 6.4 / 5 reviews
2 locations
$23 - $68
Priceless
Priceless
Below average 6.3 / 3 reviews
2 locations
$23 - $68
North Car Rental
North Car Rental
Below average 6.3 / 1 review
1 location
$70 - $87
MEX RENT A CAR
MEX RENT A CAR
Below average 6.1 / 7 reviews
1 location
$70 - $87
Routes Car Rental
Routes Car Rental
Below average 6 / 20 reviews
1 location
$89 - $114
drive365
drive365
Below average 6 / 4 reviews
1 location
$38 - $96
Renta Florida
Renta Florida
Poor 5.9 / 4 reviews
1 location
$17 - $98
Yours Car Rental
Yours Car Rental
Poor 5.6 / 71 reviews
1 location
$24 - $104
One Switch Rent a Car
One Switch Rent a Car
Poor 5.6 / 61 reviews
1 location
$57 - $65
AZ Car Rental
AZ Car Rental
Poor 5.4 / 11 reviews
1 location
$33 - $78
OTOQ
OTOQ
Poor 5.4 / 16 reviews
1 location
$36 - $98
Easirent
Easirent
Poor 5.1 / 216 reviews
1 location
$37 - $157
HDC Rent a Car
HDC Rent a Car
Poor 4.9 / 40 reviews
1 location
$26 - $388
Flexways
Flexways
Poor 4.7 / 10 reviews
2 locations
$26 - $388
WheeGo
WheeGo
Poor 4.7 / 13 reviews
1 location
$31 - $38
GreenMotion
GreenMotion
Poor 4.3 / 51 reviews
1 location
$47 - $121
United Rent A Car
United Rent A Car
Poor 4 / 33 reviews
1 location
$24 - $29
Optimo Rent
Optimo Rent
Poor 4 / 13 reviews
1 location
$72 - $146
Autovia
Autovia
Poor 3.7 / 18 reviews
1 location
$34 - $64
Carwiz
Carwiz
Poor 3.1 / 15 reviews
1 location
$34 - $64
Ecovia
Ecovia
Poor 2.8 / 32 reviews
1 location
$37 - $68
Download Our App
Book and manage your booking on the go
Log in or create an account
Get access to all your bookings in one place
Continue with email
By selecting "Agree and continue", you agree to DiscoverCars.com's
and
What's your email?
Please check your email
Please check your email
We've sent an email with a verification link to {email}
Click on the link in the email to log in.
Please select a pick-up location and dates