KAYAK’s insights & trends for Fort Walton Beach car hire
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Fort Walton Beach with confidence.
How far in advance should you book car hire in Fort Walton Beach?
You should book your car hire in Fort Walton Beach around 88 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the most popular car to hire in Fort Walton Beach?
Hires in the SUV category (Class Standard SUV or similar) are the most popular option in Fort Walton Beach, costing R879/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as R511/day.
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Fort Walton Beach?
The cheapest month to hire a car in Fort Walton Beach is January at an average cost of R635/day. July is the most expensive month to hire a car in Fort Walton Beach when prices are R1 107/day on average, which tends to be 22% above the yearly average hire price for Fort Walton Beach.
Which car hire company in Fort Walton Beach has the most locations?
Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 2 locations in Fort Walton Beach, more than any other car hire company.
Fort Walton Beach car hire price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right car hire in Fort Walton Beach by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
4x4
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Small cars
R529 - R1 123
All Car Types
R927 - R1 443
How much does it cost to hire a small car in Fort Walton Beach?
How much does it cost to hire a medium car in Fort Walton Beach?
How much does it cost to hire a large car in Fort Walton Beach?
How much does it cost to hire an SUV in Fort Walton Beach?
How much does it cost to hire a van in Fort Walton Beach?
How much does it cost to hire a pickup truck in Fort Walton Beach?
How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in Fort Walton Beach?
Small car hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R772 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average R529 per day, which is about 32% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 34% cheaper than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R1 315 per day. The best time to book is October, when prices average R704 per day, which is about 47% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 12% more expensive than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R1 428 per day. The best time to book is October, when prices average R743 per day, which is about 48% less than the yearly average. Large cars are typically 19% more expensive than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach but offer more comfort for longer trips.
SUV hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R1 127 per day. The best time to book is November, when prices average R837 per day, which is about 26% less than the yearly average. SUVs can be 3% cheaper than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach, providing extra space and capability for groups or road trips at a reasonable price.
Van hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R1 533 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average R1 188 per day, which is about 23% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 25% more expensive than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R1 113 per day. The best time to book is February, when prices average R911 per day, which is about 19% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are 4% cheaper than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach, making them a practical choice for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car hire in Fort Walton Beach typically costs around R1 734 per day. The best time to book is October, when prices average R1 128 per day, which is about 35% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 34% more expensive than the average car hire in Fort Walton Beach but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Good to know
Most popular car type
Medium
Fort Walton Beach car hire experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
Insights shared by verified travellers who hired a car in Fort Walton Beach
They seemed to be very low on Car rental availability in the Destin area, so book before you go. But don't prepay to save money. If you prepay and something happens and you don't pick up on you set day they cannot give you credit back for that missed day. If you're flying in pay the extra and have pick up at the airport not an offsite location.
Verified travelerJul 2024
Rent a safe vehicle witha company directly. No 3rd party service.
KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Fort Walton Beach
Most travelers come to Fort Walton Beach to seek out its white sand beaches and fish in the tropical waters along North Florida’s Gulf Coast. Renting a car in Fort Walton Beach will give you the flexibility to explore every mile of the beautiful shoreline, from the June White Decker Public Beach Park, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, or the Henderson Beach State Park. In addition, you have numerous golf courses throughout the area just a short drive away, as well as parks, museums, and aquariums. A trip to Pensacola, home to one of the world’s biggest naval museums, the National Naval Aviation Museum, is also worth a visit. The area has a large offering of waterfront dining to try some of the area’s fresh seafood, but you will need a car to get to many of these places. Renting a car will also ensure that you have all the space to lug your beach, fishing, or golf gear and get fully into vacation mode.
The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) is the main airport serving Fort Walton Beach. Car rental offices can be found next to the airport’s baggage claim. Simply proceed to level one of the airport. Once you have the keys to your Fort Walton Beach rental car, take the Interstate 85-S for an 8-mile drive south to Fort Walton Beach.
While driving in Fort Walton Beach, be sure to use your headlights from dusk until dawn, according to Florida state rules. If you experience problems, dial *FHP for Florida Highway Patrol. There are a few cycling routes to be aware of around Hurlburt Road, so keep an eye out for cyclists. Be wary when driving in the evenings, and always have a designated driver if planning to consume alcohol.
Rush hour in Fort Walton Beach mostly affects Highway 98, especially during school season. The most congested driving time is between the hours of 7am and 8am, but the highway can remain blocked up until 10am. Keep this in mind if you’re on a schedule or trying to catch a flight.
Medium hire cars in Fort Walton Beach are around 33% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Fort Walton Beach
What type of car is recommended for driving in Fort Walton Beach?
Choosing a car rental in Fort Walton Beach is not only about freedom and flexibility but also about having your dream vacation. Book a convertible to feel the Florida sun on your face as you beach hop. Or take the road less traveled with a 4x4 SUV with tons of extra space for all your fishing gear. Or maybe this is the time to go all out on vacation and rent a luxury car to complete the trip.
What’s the speed limit in Fort Walton Beach?
The speed limit in Fort Walton Beach is 25mph, while on the highways across most of Florida the speed limit is 60mph. There are no speed cameras in the city, but Fort Walton Beach Police are known to wait in parking lots around the city to give out tickets to speeding drivers.
Where are the best places to park in Fort Walton Beach?
One of the great things about Fort Walton Beach is that there are plenty of options for free parking around the city. If you feel more secure leaving your car in a secure parking lot, the city has a paid parking app system for city parking lots. The main exceptions to free parking are along the popular Crystal Beach and Gulf Shore Drive. Here you can expect to pay a rate of $5 every 5h, with parking is forbidden from dusk to dawn.
How can I find car hires near me in Fort Walton Beach?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does a Medium car hire cost in Fort Walton Beach?
A Medium car hire in Fort Walton Beach costs R889 per day, on average.
How much does a Small car hire cost in Fort Walton Beach?
A Small car hire in Fort Walton Beach costs R865 per day, on average.
How much does a Special car hire cost in Fort Walton Beach?
A Special car hire in Fort Walton Beach costs R644 per day, on average.
Fort Walton Beach car rental reviews and directory
From beginning to end it was wonderful. Kat was awesome. Very kind and efficient 💞
2,0 Poor
Anonymous, Feb 2025
Compact
agent at the office couldn't change the hours or find a vehicle for me so I was forced to make a 2nd reservation. Experience was miserable and I received nothing just paid you for nothing. I will never rent a car through kayak again and wouldn't recommend you to others either.
6,0 Okay
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Supplier choice
KAYAK let me book a 530 pick up when the pick up location closed at 500. They gave away my car thinking I was a no show. Luckily the ppl at Hertz got me in a vehicle within a day or so, but I will never book through Kayak again. The Hertz side of the rental was Great.
2,0 Poor
Bob, Sept 2024
Intermediate SUV
I didn't like anything. You guys should be ashamed. A death in the family prevented us from taking our trip....not that anyone in your organization cares. Phone numbers provided went unanswered when dialed...then disconnected. You're only mandate appears to be making money at the expense of customers and making sure they get a total runaround when trying to salvage a horrific personal tragedy. Way to go Kayak. You made a couple hundred bucks on this one and you didn't even have to provide a service...way to go! I shall never use Kayak, or Hertz again for anything, and neither will my large extended family. I will implore as many people as I can influence not to use you.
10,0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2024
Supplier choice
Amazing! They even dropped us off at the airport.
1 out of 4
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
6,5
Okay
Cleanliness
7.0
Comfort
7.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.5
2 locations in Fort Walton Beach
Locations in Fort Walton Beach
1701 Hwy 85 N
+1 833 740 1724
Monday
07:00 - 23:00
Tuesday
07:00 - 23:00
Wednesday
07:00 - 23:00
Thursday
07:00 - 23:00
Friday
07:00 - 23:00
Saturday
07:00 - 23:00
Sunday
07:00 - 23:00
99 Eglin Parkway Ne
+1 850 243 4446
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
09:00 - 12:00
Sunday
12:00 - 15:00
Filters
Reviews
2,0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Standard
Enterprise booked my reservation for noon on October 5. Their branch closed at noon. When I called at 11:45 to let them know that I would be a few minutes late as taking our luggage took longer than anticipated, they told me to try to switch my reservation to a different enterprise branch without making any calls for me or helping in any way. I contacted another branch who let me know that they were completely out of cars and wouldn’t be able to accommodate me. When I called back to the branch that I originally booked with around 12:05, I was greeted by an automated voicemail that told me that the branch was closed and to call back during normal business hours. I called back as soon as the branch opened the next day, and they let me know that they had cancelled my original reservation and that they wouldn’t be able to honor my initial rate. Very frustrating experience that left my family without a rental for > 24 hours and cost us a fortune in Ubers.
10,0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2024
Compact
I did not appreciate Having to use a taxi to get to the rental site.
2,0 Poor
Anonymous, Aug 2024
Intermediate
They don't take debit cards. I was unable to use their services.
2,0 Poor
Anonymous, Jul 2024
People carrier
The staff was very nice and tried to be accommodating. The first problem we encountered was the location was not at the airport where we thought it was. We had to take a long taxi ride for six of us to the second enterprise location, of course we had to pay for that. I traveled with my three daughters, my wife and my mother-in-law. We had a lot of luggage for our 10 day trip to Florida.. When we got there, we were told the minivan that we reserved was not available and they wanted to upgrade us into an SUV. That was not acceptable because it didn’t have the storage space for our luggage that the minivan would have. But we had no other option so we fit in the back as Much as we could and each family member had their carry on bag in their lap. The vehicle was not cleaned very well and the tank was empty.
10,0 Wonderful
Richard, May 2024
Intermediate
Quick check in and drop off. Very good price. Got a nice upgrade.
1 out of 5
Avis
No score available yet
One location in Fort Walton Beach
Locations in Fort Walton Beach
1701 State Road 85 North
+1 850 651 0819
Monday
07:00 - 23:00
Tuesday
07:00 - 23:00
Wednesday
07:00 - 23:00
Thursday
07:00 - 23:00
Friday
07:00 - 23:00
Saturday
07:00 - 23:00
Sunday
07:00 - 23:00
Filters
Reviews
8,0 Very Good
Anonymous, May 2026
Full-size
Washer fluid was empty, otherwise all was good.
10,0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2026
Full-size
The rental agent was very friendly and helpful.
8,0 Very Good
Anonymous, Oct 2025
People carrier
Car was dirty when we got it. French fry’s were all over the back. There was no washer fluid in the front or rear.
6,0 Okay
Paulo, Jul 2024
Intermediate SUV
the car was dirty. it wasn't parked and I was told to. customer service was just mediocre
2,0 Poor
Anonymous, Sept 2023
Intermediate SUV
Disappointing. The car broke down on the side of the highway 3.5 hours into a 14 hour drive. The roadside assistance department couldn’t come up with a solution any sooner than 6 hours of waiting on the roadside. I self-rescued and after securing a refund, Avis customer service did nothing to make up for the fact that their primary charter of renting a safe reliable car failed and had no compassion or interest in making up for the inconvenience and delays.
1 out of 3
Budget
No score available yet
One location in Fort Walton Beach
Locations in Fort Walton Beach
1701 State Road 85 North
+1 850 651 3765
Monday
07:00 - 23:00
Tuesday
07:00 - 23:00
Wednesday
07:00 - 23:00
Thursday
07:00 - 23:00
Friday
07:00 - 23:00
Saturday
07:00 - 23:00
Sunday
07:00 - 23:00
Filters
Reviews
10,0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2026
Standard SUV
Everything went smoothly.
2,0 Poor
Anonymous, May 2026
Intermediate SUV
Catr rental was great. Your insurance company sent me an invoice for $144. Then charged my card $271. Still trying to get my money back.
10,0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2026
Intermediate SUV
Everything went smoothly customer service was excellent
6,0 Okay
Anonymous, May 2026
Intermediate SUV
The inside of the windshield was absolutely filthy when I got the car. I mean REALLY bad. I had to stop at the store and buy glass wipes to clean it as I had trouble seeing through it when driving into the sun. The electric tailgate didn't work and would only open or close the gate part-way. Other than that the car was good.
10,0 Wonderful
Marybeth, Apr 2026
Intermediate SUV
Other than the long lines at Fort Walton Airport, the experience was good. Budget staff was pleasant and helpful.
8,0 Very Good
Anonymous, Apr 2026
Intermediate SUV
The car windows i could barely see out of them. The car looked as if someone had sprayed the inside windows with cleaner and just left it, the overstay was everywhere. But Budget never misses with me. I will definitely use Budget again
Free2Move
No score available yet
One location in Fort Walton Beach
Locations in Fort Walton Beach
50, Hill Ave NW
+1 850 754 9644
Monday
08:00 - 18:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 18:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 18:00
Thursday
08:00 - 18:00
Friday
08:00 - 18:00
Saturday
08:00 - 18:00
Sunday
08:00 - 18:00
Filters
No reviews available
Movly
No score available yet
One location in Fort Walton Beach
Locations in Fort Walton Beach
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, 1701-85
+44 20 3936 5033
Monday
00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday
00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday
00:00 - 23:59
Thursday
00:00 - 23:59
Friday
00:00 - 23:59
Saturday
00:00 - 23:59
Sunday
00:00 - 23:59
Filters
No reviews available
National
No score available yet
One location in Fort Walton Beach
Locations in Fort Walton Beach
1701 Hwy 85 N
+1 844 841 7824
Monday
07:00 - 23:00
Tuesday
07:00 - 23:00
Wednesday
07:00 - 23:00
Thursday
07:00 - 23:00
Friday
07:00 - 23:00
Saturday
07:00 - 23:59
Sunday
07:00 - 23:00
Filters
No reviews available
31 travellers who hired a car in Fort Walton Beach gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6,8
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