Search
Deals
Tips
FAQs
Locations
When to book

Lake Tahoe car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65
Here is why travellers choose KAYAK

Save up to 39%Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customise your results.

Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.

Cheap car hire in Lake Tahoe

Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates
Choose your dates
Mini car
Mini
M
View Deal
Economy car
Economy
M
View Deal
Compact car
Compact
M
View Deal
Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
View Deal
Standard car
Standard
M
View Deal
Full-size car
Full-size
M
View Deal
Luxury car
Luxury
M
View Deal
People mover car
People mover
M
View Deal
Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
View Deal
SUV car
SUV
M
View Deal
Commercial car
Commercial
M
View Deal
Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
M
View Deal

Top tips for hiring a car in Lake Tahoe

  • One very important thing to consider when renting a vehicle in Lake Tahoe is the time of year you'll be renting a vehicle. Winters in Lake Tahoe can mean snowy and icy roads for travelers. In this area, there may also be roads that are not maintained and not plowed during the winter, making driving difficult, if not impossible. As such, if you plan on renting a vehicle at this time of the year, an SUV or a four-wheel-drive vehicle is probably a great choice. Even during months when you won't experience weather like this, you will probably still want a larger vehicle to be able to take your gear to some of the great outdoor adventures you will find in this part of the world.
  • Since Lake Tahoe sits on the border between California and Nevada, you may encounter different rules about driving with children in your vehicle. In California, children that are under the age of two need to ride in a rear-facing car seat and they should ride in the back of the vehicle. Any child that is under the age of eight must either be in a car seat or a booster seat in the back of the vehicle. In the state of Nevada, any child that is less than six years old or weighs less than 60 pounds needs to be in a child restraint system while in a vehicle. The child restraint system must be appropriate for the size of the child in question.
  • One thing to keep in mind when renting a car in the Lake Tahoe area is that if you want to rent a car in a town like South Lake Tahoe, you may find a limited selection of cars available. If you want to find a greater selection of rental cars, try renting a car in the larger cities of Carson City and Reno in Nevada. One of the best options is to rent a car at the airport in Reno because this will likely give you the largest selection of vehicles and yet still offers you a rather short trip from the airport to the Lake Tahoe area.
  • Standard rental cars in Lake Tahoe are around 20% more expensive than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Lake Tahoe

  • Should I hire a car in Lake Tahoe?

    Renting a car is a must when you visit Lake Tahoe. While you can fly to places like Reno and then board public transportation or shuttles to get you to the Lake Tahoe area, it is generally much easier and much more convenient to rent a car and make the trip. When you get to wherever you are staying in Lake Tahoe, you will most certainly need a car to get around, especially if you plan on exploring the area. This is going to be especially true if you want to head to some of the more remote areas you will find around Lake Tahoe.

  • What is driving like in Lake Tahoe?

    Because the Lake Tahoe area is subject to the driving regulations of two different states, there may be some minor differences depending on where you drive in Lake Tahoe. For the most part, driving here is going to be like driving in any other state in the United States. One of the great things about this area is that you can drive around the entire lake. Be aware that most of the drive is going to be on two and four-lane highways and travel times can be longer because of congestion on these smaller roads, especially during peak travel seasons.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in Lake Tahoe?

    For the most part, most rental car companies will expect renters to be at least twenty one years old to rent a car, although drivers that are less than twenty five years old may pay an additional fee for renting a car. You should also expect that if you are younger than twenty five years old, there may be limits to the type of car you can rent. If you plan on using a debit card rather than a credit card to rent a car, most rental car companies will expect you to be at least twenty five years old to rent the car.

  • What is the best car hire company in Lake Tahoe?

    Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Lake Tahoe are Turo (8.8, 58 reviews), Apex (8.7, 160 reviews), and Ace Rental Cars (8.6, 109 reviews).

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

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

Car rental locations in Lake Tahoe

Good to know

Most popular car type

Standard

When to book a rental car in Lake Tahoe

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

Everything you need to know for your car rental in Lake Tahoe

Complete your trip to Lake Tahoe

Flights to Lake Tahoe
Hotels in Lake Tahoe

Search for cheap rental cars in Lake Tahoe with KAYAK and rent a car that suits you best. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best rental car deal at car rental locations across Lake Tahoe.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car hires and package deals with KAYAK.