Cheap Car Rental in Portland

Tips for renting a cheap car in Portland

Need a cheap car rental in Portland? With Economybookings, you can easily compare multiple providers to find the best possible deal. With so much to experience across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, a quick comparison can save you time and money on a car that will help you reach it all.

• Compare pickup locations – Select the broader urban area instead of a specific location to unlock more deal options, including off-airport savings.
• Slightly adjust pickup times and dates – Even changing your booking by an hour can reveal lower rates.
• Choose economy or compact cars – Unless you’re planning a longer road trip down the Oregon Coast or into the Cascades, a compact car will likely meet all your needs in and around Portland.
• Book early – While Portland is generally a year-round destination, rental demand spikes higher during popular travel times like summer (June to August), major holidays, and large events like cultural festivals and business conventions. Booking in advance helps secure lower prices and better vehicle selection.

Tips When Renting and Driving a Car in Portland

• Rent a car if you plan to visit places outside the city, where mass transit options may be limited.
• Avoid rush hour traffic on the I-5, I-405, I-84, and I-205 freeways.
• You can pick up your car at major airports like Portland International (PDX), and at various storefronts around the city.
• Choose a small car for better mileage and easier parking around the city.
• Pick a car with four-wheel drive for longer drives into rural mountain and desert areas, and along the coast.
• Inspect the car and take photos before and after rental.

Driving Tips in Portland

• Drive on the right side of the road, and prepare to wait your turn when you need to turn left.
• Look out for stop lights—green means go, yellow signals that you must prepare to stop, and red is stop. At most intersections with stop lights, there will also be dedicated stop lights for left-turn lanes.
• Some roundabouts can be found in various neighborhoods around town – give way to traffic coming from the left.
• California law requires headlight use from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, during inclement weather (like heavy rain and fog), and whenever else outside visibility falls below 1,000 feet.
• Horn use should be reserved for emergencies or warnings.
• Traffic usually moves faster in the left lanes on highways.
• Expect to pay between $5 and $50 a day for parking in Portland. When in the city, you can use the PayTix and ParkMobile apps for contactless payment.
• NEVER cross a set of double yellow lines.
• Try the GasBuddy app to locate area gas stations and check prices. If you have a Costco membership, you can refuel there and take advantage of their very cheap gas.
• Keep your driver’s license, rental papers, and proof of insurance with you at all times. (Due to ongoing federal immigration raids in the region, you may also want to keep your passport or proof of valid passport within easy reach as well.)
• I-5 is the main north-south freeway that runs through the heart of Portland, while I-405 encircles the downtown area. I-84 ventures east from Downtown Portland to the Columbia River Gorge and beyond, I-205 largely runs parallel to I-5 from the Clackamas County suburbs to PDX Airport and Vancouver (Washington), and US 26 goes west from Downtown Portland to Cannon Beach and Seaside on the coast. These freeways can be useful for reaching more places, but expect heavy traffic during weekday rush hours (7:00 to 9:00 AM, and 4:00 to 6:00 PM).

Speed Limits

Under Oregon law, speed limits are 65 mph (105 km/h) on most multi-lane freeways (with some rural highways allowing up to 70 mph or 113 km/h), 55 mph (89 km/h) on two-lane highways, 25 mph (40 km/h) in urban and suburban residential districts, 20 mph (32 km/h) in business districts and school zones, and 15 mph (24 km/h) in alleys and narrow residential roadways.

When driving in Portland, note that the city is implementing new efforts to make neighborhood streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, including new street designs and stepped-up traffic law enforcement. Always watch for posted signs, as limits can vary.

Road Signs

U.S. road signs are typically noticeable and well-placed. They are almost always in English and use symbols for quick understanding. Speed limit signs are in miles per hour (mph). In Portland, look out for signs marking dedicated rail crossings, bus lanes, bike lanes, and school lanes, which may have special speed limits and other restrictions.

Tolls, Fees, and Restrictions

Though the State of Oregon had been preparing to begin collecting tolls on I-5 and I-205, Governor Tina Kotek cancelled those plans in 2024. As of late 2025, drivers will only run into toll charges on select roads and bridges that connect Oregon to Washington State. 

If you plan to drive to any of Oregon’s state and national parks and public lands, note that many of these parks charge vehicle entry fees. If you plan to visit Mount Hood National Forest or Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, plan on paying $5 or $10 for a pass. At Oregon State Parks, such as Rooster Rock and Ecola, expect to pay $10 per vehicle and an additional $2 for non-residents. And at select areas like Tillamook State Forest, campground fees may cost extra.

Discover Portland and the Pacific Northwest by Car

If you intend to primarily stay in the city and not venture farther than inner ring suburbs like Hillsboro and Milwaukie, you may be able to pull off a car-free trip. But if you’re thinking about exploring more of Oregon, a car can really help you get where you want to go. With a rental car, you won’t have to worry about limited rail service and pricey Uber and Lyft rides.

A car offers flexibility and freedom to discover hidden spots that are much harder to reach via public transportation in the US. This especially rings true in Oregon, from the acclaimed wineries and vineyards of the Willamette Valley, to the beautiful beaches of the Oregon Coast and the dramatic vistas of the Columbia River Gorge. 

When to Visit

Though Portland works great as a year-round destination, some areas are affected by seasonal conditions. In winter, the Cascade Mountain ski resorts open for the season, and the combination of visitor traffic and snowy/icy roads can make for tricky drives up there. On the flip side, hot summer weather inland is enough to convince many to drive west to the Oregon Coast. And in popular agri-tourism areas like the Willamette Valley and Hood River, autumn means harvest season at the wineries and fruit orchards.

For the best road trip weather, the spring and fall shoulder seasons might work out well in Portland and the coastal areas, when you stand a good chance of getting mild weather and fewer crowds. Whenever you plan to hit the open road, make sure to pack water and sunscreen, and to check weather forecasts before leaving.

Languages & Communication

English is spoken nearly everywhere in and around Portland. With that said, this city is a very multicultural city, so you may also hear Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Korean, Japanese, Hmong in certain neighborhoods. Most signage is in English, and visitors rarely face language barriers.

Currency & Payments

Since Oregon is part of the United States, the U.S. dollar ($, or USD) is used everywhere. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and contactless payments have largely become commonplace around Portland. ATMs are easy to find throughout the city and suburbs, but keep in mind that ATMs will charge extra fees if they are not affiliated with your bank, and that banks tend to be more sparse in rural areas.

Top Driving Routes in and Around Portland

• Even if you’re not planning to stay in a hotel in the city, Portland itself is worth at least a day trip to explore the urban core and its cool neighborhoods like Old Town Chinatown, the Pearl District, and Central Eastside
• Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument – About 2-3 hours north of Portland; home to the region’s most notorious active stratovolcano, this mountain park in Washington State actually tends to be a safe place to go hiking and climbing
• Hood River – Around 1.5-2 hours east of Portland; outdoorsy folks will love the wealth of recreational opportunities at the Columbia River, and foodies will love the Hood River Fruit Loop for a variety of farm-fresh treats
• Mount Hood – About 1.5-2.5 hours east of Portland; another iconic Pacific Northwest volcano (and Oregon’s tallest mountain) with the nation’s longest winter ski season and incredible year-round scenery
• Newberg & McMinnville – About 1-2 hours south; just a short-ish drive from Portland is a wine country wonderland full of award-winning Willamette Valley wineries, a burgeoning farm-to-table culinary scene, and posh luxury hotels and resorts
• Cannon Beach – About 1.5-2 hours north west; come for the spectacular scenery at Haystack Rock, and stay to explore more beautiful Oregon beaches at Ecola State Park and Hug Point
• Lincoln City – About 3-4 hours south west; this coastal artists’ village is renowned for its dazzling glass art, and there’s even more inspiration to be found along its seven miles (or over 11 kilometres) of charming beaches