Cheap Car Rental in Dallas

Tips for renting a car inexpensively in Dallas

Looking for a cheap car rental in Dallas? With Economybookings, you can easily compare multiple providers to find the best possible deal in Texas. With so much to see and do across the Metroplex region, 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 city 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 into North Texas’ backcountry, a compact car is probably all you need to get around the Metroplex.
• Book early – Dallas is a year-round destination, but rental demand spikes during popular travel times like summer (June to August), major holidays, and large events like sports games and business conventions. Booking in advance helps secure lower prices and better vehicle selection.

Tips When Renting and Driving a Car in Dallas

• Rent a car if you plan to explore anywhere away from Dallas’ urban core, where public transport options tend to be quite limited.
• Avoid rush hour traffic on the I-20, I-30, I-35, I-635, and US 75 highways.
• You can pick up your car at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport, Dallas Love Field, and various storefronts in and around Downtown Dallas.
• Choose a small car for better mileage and easier parking around town.
• Pick a car with four-wheel drive for longer drives into rural areas.
• Inspect the car and take photos before and after rental.

Driving Tips in Dallas

• 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.
• Roundabouts are found in suburbs like Plano, and in select Dallas neighborhoods like the Bishop Arts District – give way to traffic coming from the left.
• Texas law requires nighttime headlight use, as well as whenever 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 around $1-2 per hour for parking downtown and in Dallas’ other central neighborhoods. When in the city, you can use the Parkmobile app 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.
• The I-635 beltway encircles the city, while I-35 (or 35E) is the central north-south interstate highway, and I-20 and I-30 generally run west to east. These major highways can be useful for reaching more of Dallas, Fort Worth, and the Metroplex suburbs, but expect heavy traffic during weekday rush hours (6:30 to 9:00 AM, and 4:00 to 6:30 PM).

Speed Limits

In recent years, Texas has rolled out variable speed limits, where local authorities can quickly adjust highway speed limits based on real-time road conditions. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to pay close attention to the signs for official updates on road conditions.

Otherwise, Texas speed limits are typically 15 mph (24 km/h) on city alleys, 30 mph (48 km/h) on city streets, 60-65 mph (97-105 km/h) on various regional highways, and 70 mph (112 km/h) on multi-lane interstate highways. 

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 Dallas, 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

Over the years, the DFW Metroplex has grown a vast collection of toll roads. Major toll routes include the President George Bush Turnpike across DFW’s western and northern suburbs, the D/FW Turnpike between Fort Worth and Dallas, the Dallas North Tollway to Frisco and Prosper, and the Chisholm Trail Parkway from Fort Worth to Cleburne. 

Texas’ toll roads accept several payment options, with TxTag electronic transponders being the most widely accepted. Typically, drivers without a transponder can pay online by providing their license plate number in advance or within five days of driving. However you plan to begin your Dallas trip, check with your rental car agency in advance to see if they provide a TxTag transponder and ask about their toll road coverage policies.

Discover Dallas by Car

Dallas is at the epicenter of the United States’ fourth-largest metropolitan area, one that encompasses legendary sports stadiums, wondrous art museums, chic urban neighborhoods, and a number of hidden gems in the suburbs. With a rental car, you can reach all of these and more without having to stress over limited bus service and pricey Uber and Lyft rides.

Whether you're planning a day trip to see the Stockyards and the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, a chill day at Lake Ray Hubbard, or a longer road trip to Waco, Austin, or Oklahoma City, a car offers flexibility and freedom to discover hidden spots that are much harder to reach via public transportation in the US.

When to Visit

While Dallas is usually labeled as a year-round destination, keep in mind that North Texas can experience some harsh weather throughout the year. In winter, sub-freezing temperatures and the occasional snow and ice storms can lead to rough road conditions across the Metroplex. On the flip side, hot summer weather also means the potential for severe thunderstorms. And during spring and autumn, you might encounter tornado warnings that extend into the Metroplex. 

Though overall winter weather tends to be mild, it’s always a good idea to prepare by packing warm clothes, and by staying off the roads if DFW gets hit with snow and ice storms. And whenever you plan to go, always check road conditions in advance for potential closures.

Languages & Communication

English is spoken nearly everywhere in and around DFW. At the same time, Dallas is also a multicultural city, so you may also hear Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, and Hindi in certain neighborhoods. Most signage is in English, and visitors rarely face language barriers.

Currency & Payments

Since Texas 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 are becoming more commonplace around the Metroplex. 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.

Top Driving Routes in and Around Dallas

• Even if you’re not staying at a downtown hotel, it’s still worth a drive to Downtown Dallas to see the historic Dealey Plaza, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the lively Deep Ellum entertainment district (with plenty of restaurants, bars, and clubs).
• Uptown & Oak Lawn – Directly north of downtown, Uptown has several of Dallas’ finest luxury hotels and the leafy Turtle Creek Park, and the nearby Oak Lawn neighborhood is often seen as the core of Dallas’ LGBTQ+ scene
• Bishop Arts District – Only about 10 minutes from downtown, with many of Dallas’ hippest art galleries, indie boutiques, and cutting-edge restaurants
• Highland Park – About 10-15 minutes north of downtown; this town has many of Metroplex’s fanciest fashion boutiques and fine dining restaurants, along with the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus
• Lake Ray Hubbard – About 20-30 minutes east; spanning some 21,000 acres, this is one of North Texas’ largest recreational lakes and a great place for boating, paddling, jetskiing, fishing, and simply relaxing by the water
• Arlington – About 20-25 minutes west; as home to the region’s Dallas Cowboys NFL team (at AT&T Stadium) and the Texas Rangers MLB team (at Globe Life Field), Arlington is a key destination for sports fans; it’s also perfect for family-friendly fun with the Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor theme parks 
• Fort Worth – About 30-45 minutes west; drive here for major regional treasures like the Fort Worth Stockyards, the world renowned Kimbell Museum of Art, and lesser-known yet just-as-impressive gems like the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, and the Fort Worth Water Gardens

When driving around Dallas, it’s understandable if you feel a little intimidated by the area’s massive interstate highways and gargantuan interchanges with imposing nicknames like the “Mix Master” and the “Canyon” near downtown. Follow the instructions provided by whichever navigation app you’re using, but ultimately you just need to pay attention to the road, and don’t get thrown off by roadside distractions.