There are many reasons why you might want to purchase a car rental when taking a cruise out of Port Everglades. Serving millions of cruise ship passengers per year, the Fort Lauderdale cruise hub is conveniently situated near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and several popular South Florida travel destinations.
So, it wouldn’t be surprising if you wanted to stick around and explore the region before or after your cruise — and a car rental makes it possible. Here’s everything you need to know.
In This Article:
Where to Find the Best Port Everglades Car Rentals
The best car rental options for those sailing out of Port Everglades are undoubtedly going to be those found with the handful of car rental providers that offer a free shuttle pick-up service to and from the pier.
This shuttle service will negate the need to grab an Uber or similar rideshare to get between the port and your rental car, making your trip all the more convenient.
The below car rental companies all offer shuttle services to and from Port Everglades, as well as agreeable prices. Of course, pricing can vary depending on a range of factors, such as the type of vehicle you rent, length of rental period, seasonal demand and more.
Read Also: Port Everglades Cruise Parking – Locations and What to Know
Likewise, prices may change at any time. Prices quoted are in USD and for comparison purposes only and are for the cheapest available reservation for one day in peak Caribbean cruise season, which is late winter through spring. For the most accurate pricing, contact the rental company with your precise needs and any further queries.
Avis – from $52.19
Avis Port Everglades offers a free shuttle to Port Everglades with car rentals from the provider’s 2520 Miami Rd location in Fort Lauderdale.
Open daily from 8 am to 6 pm with shorter hours on weekends and holidays, Avis has all sizes of cars available, from economy to full size, plus SUVs, minivans, convertibles, pickup trucks, premium cars and passenger vans for up to approx 15 passengers.
Budget – from $36.44
Located 1.2 miles from Port Everglades at 2520 Miami Rd., Fort Lauderdale, and just five minutes from the cruise terminals, Budget offers full car rental services near Port Everglades.
Complimentary shuttle buses transfer renters to and from the cruise terminal, making it easy to drop off and/or pick-up your Port Everglades car rental.
Budget rents all sizes of cars, including compact, standard, full size, luxury, SUV, hybrid, premium, coupes, pickups, recreational vehicles and passenger vans for groups.
Payless – from $36.55
Open daily from 8 am, the Payless car rentals’ office is 1.2 miles from Port Everglades, at 2520 Miami Rd., Fort Lauderdale. The office offers low-price car rentals and your rental includes free cruise shuttle service to the port.
Available vehicles include economy, compact, midsize, full size, SUV, pickup, luxury, minivan and 12-seater passenger vans for cruise groups.
Gold Coast Car Rentals – from $58.30
A local provider, Gold Coast Car Rentals is based at the 3000 SE 6th Ave light, one mile from the airport and two miles from Port Everglades cruise terminals. The rental company offers shuttle transportation to both the airport and Port Everglades, from the rental agency location.
Fort Lauderdale Airport Car Rentals
Note that the below Fort Lauderdale Airport car rental companies do not have shuttle services to Port Everglades. As such, you’ll need to plan certain aspects of your trip accordingly.
For example, if you want to explore the area in your rental car before your cruise, plan to pick up your rental car immediately after your flight lands.
Then, return the rental car the day of your cruise embarkation, and get an Uber or Lyft to Port Everglades. When your cruise returns, you’ll need to get a rideshare back to the airport to catch your flight.
In contrast, if you want to explore the area in your rental car after your cruise, plan to take an Uber or Lyft from the airport to Port Everglades to catch your cruise.
Then, when your ship returns to Fort Lauderdale, take another rideshare back to the airport, pick up your rental car and start exploring. When you’re ready to depart, simply return the rental car to the airport ahead of your flight home.
Alamo from $46.66
Alamo car rentals are available at the brand’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport location. The office is open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight, and is located at 600 Terminal Dr. STE 202, Fort Lauderdale.
Hertz – from $38
Hertz car rentals are available at the brand’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport location, at 600 Terminal Dr. This Hertz office is open daily from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Book ahead and choose the best car for your needs, whether that’s a compact, standard, intermediate, SUV, Jeep, passenger van or luxury car.
Dollar Car Rental – from $44.05
Open from 5 a.m. to midnight every day, the Dollar Car Rental office at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport offers a range of vehicles, including electric compact vehicles, SUVS, mid-size ATVs, economy cars and more.
ACE Rent A Car – from $53.51
ACE Rent A Car’s Fort Lauderdale airport office offers sedans, SUVs, vans and economy cars.
Budget – from $40.49
Budget’s Fort Lauderdale Airport office is at 600 Terminal Drive, on the 4th floor Car Rental Center. Budget provides a shuttle between the rental counter and the rental car lot, but not to and from the port.
The office operates 24/7 and offers all sizes of car including compact, standard, full size, luxury, SUV, hybrid, premium, coupes, pickups, recreational vehicles and passenger vans for up to 15 passengers.
Fox Rent a Car from $29.75
Fox Rent A Car is located in the Fort Lauderdale airport rental car office at 600 Terminal Dr. The office operates 5 a.m. to midnight and offers a full range of compact and family-size cars, SUVs, minivans and luxury vehicles at low prices.
Tips for Saving Money on Car Rentals
Beyond choosing one of the more affordable car rental options listed above, and opting for a rental service that provides a shuttle to and from Port Everglades, there are a few other things you can do to save yourself a little cash on rental rates.
Pay Up Front
Book your Port Everglades car rental ahead of time and save money by paying up-front and taking a “no cancellation” option. If you do this, just be 100% positive that you won’t need to cancel or make any modifications to your booking (if you do, you’ll lose the money, as you won’t be eligible for a full or partial refund).
Avoid One-Way Car Rentals
Most car rental companies charge a surcharge for one-way car rentals. That means if you are picking up a car rental near Port Everglades cruise terminal and dropping it off at Orlando Airport, for example, the rental company will add a one-way charge to your invoice to cover the relocation of the car, if necessary. If you can return the car to the same rental location, you can avoid that fee.
Only List one Driver on Your Rental
When you choose a rental policy that allows for multiple drivers, some car rentals companies will charge more for each added drivers license or passport on the policy. By choosing just one designated driver that meets the minimum age requirements, you could save money.
Stay Away from Airport Rentals
Many car rental companies charge an airport concession fee. If you want a car rental in Fort Lauderdale, choose a rental car office that is near the port and not at the airport, for potentially lower rates.
Bring the Car Back With a Full Tank of Gas
If you opt to bring the car back without filling up the gas tank, you usually pay more per gallon for the gas, via the rental car company’s charges, and they may also add a service fee.
You can gamble with the “pick-up full – return low” fixed price offered by some companies, but you run the risk of running out of gas on that all-important journey to Port Everglades if you run the tank too low.
The cheapest and least stressful option is to simply return the car with a full gas tank. There are plenty of gas stations close to Port Everglades car rental drop-off points, so plan to fill up with gas just before returning the vehicle.
Choose Your Rental Insurance Carefully
Paying a voluntary deductible for damage and declining personal accident insurance can significantly lower the price of your Port Everglades cruise port car rental. Check the small print and terms of service, and opt for the right insurance option for your needs.
Look for Coupons
Many online car rental providers run specials and sales. Take advantage of these deals by looking for a coupon code ahead of your booking.
In some cases, you can simply sign up for a rental provider’s marketing emails and get a best rate guarantee and special savings delivered right to your inbox (make sure to check your junk e-mail folder!).
Save Money on Your Car Rental — And Have More to Spend During Your Cruise!
If you plan on exploring Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding region (Miami is only a short drive away!), either before or after your cruise, you’ll need a rental car.
Read Also: Port Everglades Terminals – What You Need to Know
Luckily, there are plenty of options, and even some incredibly budget-friendly options that include shuttle service to and from Port Everglades. With a few savvy booking decisions, you can save yourself a ton of cash, and have more to spend on having fun during your cruise.
