Cheap Car Rental in Seattle

Tips for renting a car inexpensively in Seattle

Looking for a cheap car rental in Seattle? With Economybookings, you can easily compare multiple providers to find the best possible deal across Washington. Whether you're planning to explore the vibrant urban center or take a scenic drive through nearby forests and coastline, a quick comparison can save you time and money.

• 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 – These vehicle types are usually the most budget-friendly.
• Book early – Especially during peak travel seasons like summer (June to August) and the winter holiday period, advance booking helps secure lower prices and better availability.

Tips when renting and driving a car in Seattle

• The Puget Sound region has a growing public transportation system, but you will likely need a car when traveling beyond Seattle and Tacoma.
• Be aware of rush hour traffic on the region’s major freeways (such as I-5 and I-90).
• You can pick up your rental car at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but rental options are also available downtown.
• Try a small car if you plan to stay close to the city and want to save on fuel costs.
• Pick a car with four-wheel drive if you’re planning longer drives into the Cascades or the Olympic Peninsula, and check to see if your rental car provider offers bike racks or other attachable racks to store your equipment.
• Inspect the car and take photos before and after rental.

Driving tips in Seattle

• 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 can be found in Seattle and elsewhere in Washington – yield to all traffic in the circle, especially any bicyclists and pedestrians crossing.
• When driving in and around downtown, look for the signs and stay aware of one-way streets.
• Washington state law requires headlight use from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever outside visibility is below 1,000 feet.
• Horn use should be reserved for emergencies or warnings.
• Traffic usually moves faster in the left lanes on freeways and highways.
• Central neighborhoods like Belltown, South Lake Union, and Capitol Hill tend to charge for parking. For Seattle streets and city-run lots, you can use the PayByPhone app for contactless payment.
• NEVER cross a set of double yellow lines.
• Try the GasBuddy app to locate local 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.
• I-5 is the region’s main north-south freeway, while I-405 runs north-south through the Eastside suburbs, SR 167 runs south from I-405 (at Renton) to Puyallup, SR 509 connects downtown and Seattle-Tacoma Airport, and I-90 runs east from Downtown Seattle to the Eastside, the Cascades, and beyond.
• Expect the heaviest traffic during weekday rush hours, typically from 6:00 to 9:00 AM, and from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. If you’re using I-5, you may run into traffic jams throughout the day. And if you’re planning weekend outings to the Olympic Peninsula, Mount Rainier, or the wine country regions east of the Cascades, try to leave early to avoid the worst of the “weekend warrior” road trip traffic on Friday afternoons.

Speed limits

Under Washington state law, speed limits are 60 mph (97 km/h) on most freeways (with some rural highways allowing up to 75 mph or 121 km/h), 50 mph (80 km/h) on county roads, and 25 mph (40 km/h) on city and town streets.

When driving in the City of Seattle, keep in mind that the citywide default speed limit is 25 mph for most arterial streets, and many residential streets max out at 20 mph (32 km/h). Otherwise, 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). Around Seattle and its suburbs, look out for signs marking dedicated bus lanes, bike lanes, railroad crossings, and school streets, which may have special speed limits and other restrictions. And when driving up to the Cascades, check for signs that notify seasonal road closures and tire chain requirements.

Tolls, fees, and restrictions

As of 2025, Washington State has a few toll roads and lanes that service the Puget Sound metro region. In short, you can expect pay-to-use express lanes on I-405, and high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on SR 267, while SR 509 is a full toll road between I-5 and the airport. Also, the SR 99 tunnel charges a toll, and the SR 520 bridge (between Seattle and Bellevue) and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge charge tolls. For all these toll roads, the Washington State Department of Transportation lets you pay online: Check MyGoodToGo.com for more information.

If you plan to drive to any of the region’s regional parks, state parks, and national parks, monuments, or other public lands, note that many of these parks do charge vehicle entry fees. In particular, if you will be doing a road trip to North Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, or Olympic National Park, the National Park Service typically charges a $30 vehicle entrance fee. At national forest lands, you may need to pay $5 for a day pass. And at Washington State Parks, day passes typically cost $10 per person.

Also, note that the Washington State Department of Transportation operates ferries that connect Seattle to Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, and Vashon Island, along with additional routes reaching destinations like Tacoma and the San Juan Islands. Depending on which ferry you use and the size of your vehicle, fares may range from $6 to $25.

Discover Seattle by car

With Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Cascades and wine country to the east, Canada to the north, and Oregon to the south, there’s never a shortage of exciting road trips in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Within a day, you can go from snow-capped peaks in the Cascades to verdant rainforests and sandy ocean beaches on the Olympic Peninsula. (But, of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking your time to explore this region!)

In recent years, SoundTransit has developed a more comprehensive commuter rail system that extends all the way from Everett to South Tacoma, Lynnwood, Bellevue, and the airport. And with Amtrak service reaching Seattle and Tacoma, it is possible to take the train to reach as far as Vancouver (BC, Canada), Spokane, Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles. But if you want to reach places that Amtrak does not service, such as the San Juan Islands and the Pacific Coast, it helps to have your own car.

When to Visit

While Seattle is generally a year-round destination, you should keep the area’s climate and weather patterns in mind when planning your trip. During the summer season, you will typically find the warmest and driest conditions suitable for hiking and biking, and especially for aquatic activities at the lakes and the sea. Meanwhile, winter is ski season, so expect heavy traffic and snowy conditions when venturing east to the Cascades. Even during the spring and fall shoulder seasons, it’s fun to do a road trip for autumn harvest at the wineries, or springtime wildflower viewing.

Though snowfall usually isn’t heavy in Seattle, it does occasionally happen west of the Cascades, and winter snow is much more common in the mountains and in the valleys east of the Cascades. Depending on when you’re visiting and where you’re going, make sure to pack layers and appropriate protective gear, and check road conditions in advance for potential closures.

Languages & Communication

English is spoken almost everywhere around Seattle. But as Seattle has become a more multicultural city in recent years, you may also hear Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese in certain neighborhoods. Still, nearly all signage is in English, and visitors rarely face language barriers.

Currency & Payments

Since Washington is part of the United States, the U.S. dollar ($) is used everywhere. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and contactless payments are becoming more commonplace around the region. ATMs are easy to find throughout the Puget Sound region, but keep in mind that ATMs will charge extra fees if they are not affiliated with your bank. Also, note that banks generally become fewer and farther between once you reach more rural parts of Washington, especially outside popular resort towns like Friday Harbor and Leavenworth.

Top driving routes in and around Seattle

• Bainbridge Island – About a 35 minute drive/ferry ride from Downtown Seattle; a quaint and charming island town that abounds in lovely beaches, cute cafes, and buzzy boutiques.
• Snoqualmie Falls – About a 40-60 minute drive; a 270-foot waterfall near ski areas in the Cascades.
• Victoria (BC, Canada) – 1 to 3 hours including ferry; access via FRS Clipper or Anacortes.
• Mount Rainier National Park – 1.5 to 2.5 hours south; famous volcano, hiking, biking, winter sports.
• North Cascades National Park – 2.5 to 3 hours north; mountain wilderness with glaciers and lakes.
• Olympic National Park – 2 to 3 hours west; rainforests, beaches, indigenous culture, and Twilight lore.
• Leavenworth – 2.5 to 3 hours east; Bavarian-style village with nearby ski areas and hiking trails.
• San Juan Islands – 3.5 to 5 hours northwest; whale watching, kayaking, and scenic shoreline.