Introduction
If you are looking to rent a car before your cruise from Port Tampa Bay, which rental car company with a FREE shuttle should you use?
Car Rental Companies with offices near Port Tampa Bay
Unlike Port Canaveral, for example, none of the car rental companies offer a complimentary shuttle to/from Port Tampa Bay. The courtesy rides offered by Enterprise-National-Alamo get overwhelmed by cruise customers and you will do better with a taxi or rideshare service.
WARNING – Another important consideration is the day of the week. Please make sure the Downtown office is open when you want to return or pick up a vehicle!
Here are the rental car companies near Port Tampa Bay as shown on the map below:
- Budget – No shuttle – visit the local website
- Avis – No shuttle – visit the local website
- Hertz – call – visit the local website
- Enterprise – free courtesy ride – visit the local website
- National – free courtesy ride – visit the local website
- Alamo – free courtesy ride – visit the local website
Enterprise – National – Alamo shares a building across the street from the Amtrak Central Station.
AVIS – Budget shares an office in the Embassy Suites Hotel downtown.
Hertz – desk on the 3rd floor of the Marriott Waterside.
My map below shows the locations and the cruise terminals. If you want to minimize shuttle time then these Downtown locations are the best choice but the Airport is only 25 minutes from the cruise terminals.
To save money on your car rental, always compare the rates when returning a car to the Tampa Airport versus the Downtown location. It may be much cheaper to return the vehicle to the Airport but you must add $30 or so for transportation to the Port.
BUDGET
Location Name – Embassy Suites Hotel (QD7). This is the name to use as a drop-off/pick-up destination. The office recommends Blue One Transportation.
Hours – Typically Sun 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Please call to make sure because hours change depending on cruise ship sailings.
Contact – (1) 813-223-3089, Ground floor. 513 S Florida Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602
After Hours Drop Box – No. This important. You MUST return your rental car during office hours!
Membership – Fastbreak is available but you must identify yourself at the service counter.
Notes – The office is next to Starbucks or in the lobby (due to construction). Drop the vehicle in the parking garage. I recommend the Trolley – the TECO Streetcar is provided free of charge by the city of Tampa. It is about a 4 to 5 min. ride to the Port.
AVIS
Location Name – Embassy Suites Hotel (QD6). This is the name to use as a drop-off/pick-up destination. The office recommends Blue One Transportation.
Hours – Typically Sun 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Please call to make sure because hours change depending on cruise ship sailings.
Contact – (1) 813-221-5895, Ground floor. 513 S Florida Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602
After Hours Drop Box – No. This important. You MUST return your rental car during office hours!
Membership – Avis Preferred is available but you must identify yourself at the service counter.
Notes – The office is next to Starbucks or in the lobby (due to construction). Drop the vehicle in the parking garage. I recommend the Trolley – the TECO Streetcar is provided free of charge by the city of Tampa. It is about a 4 to 5 min. ride to the Port.
HERTZ
Location Name – Tampa Marriott Waterside HLE. This is the name to use as a drop-off/pick-up destination. A courtesy vehicle may be available during office hours. Call.
Hours – Typically Sun – CLOSED; Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Please call to make sure because hours change depending on cruise ship sailings.
Contact – (1) 813-226-4205, 3rd floor. 700 South Florida Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602
After Hours Drop Box – Yes. Drop the vehicle with the valet service
Membership – Hertz Gold Plus is available but you must identify yourself at the service counter.
Notes – The office is inside but you drop the vehicle with the valet service outside. I recommend the Trolley – the TECO Streetcar is provided free of charge by the city of Tampa. It is about a 4 to 5 min. ride to the Port.
ENTERPRISE – NATIONAL – ALAMO
Location Name – Downtown Tampa N. Nebraska Ave. This is the name to use as a drop-off/pick-up destination. A courtesy vehicle is available for Port service during office hours but it will be slow on cruise days.
Hours – Typically Sun – CLOSED; Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sat 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please call to make sure because hours change depending on cruise ship sailings.
Contact – 813-261-3246, 608 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
After Hours Drop Box – No. This important. You MUST return your rental car during office hours!
Membership – Enterprise Plus, National Emerald, and Alamo Insider services are available but you must identify yourself at the service counters.
Notes – This office is across the street from the AMTRAK train station about 1 mile from the Port.
Renting a car after your cruise
The downtown rental car offices are small with limited availability and I highly recommend booking a vehicle BEFORE the cruise to avoid disappointment. Otherwise, you may have to rent from the Tampa Airport (there are no rental car shuttles to/from Port of Tampa).
A taxi from the Port to the Airport costs around $30. Rideshare can be higher when surge pricing is in effect.
If you have plenty of luggage, I recommend that the driver go and rent the vehicle (from a nearby downtown office) while the family waits at the terminal with the bags. Pickup is easy.
- The downtown offices of HERTZ, AVIS, and BUDGET can be reached for FREE with the TECO Streetcar. Stations are near the cruise terminals as shown on my map above. The distance from the terminals to the rental car offices is just over 1 mile and safe to walk.
- NATIONAL, ALAMO, and ENTERPRISE require a taxi or rideshare unless you call and a courtesy vehicle is available (doubtful on a busy cruise morning). It is safe to walk 0.5 to 1 mile to the office (depending on your terminal) but it may be hot and/or rainy!