Car Hire at Oregon Airport

Portland International Airport (PDX) is Oregon's main hire hub, where the on-site Portland Rent-A-Car Centre houses every major hire brand under one roof — reached from baggage claim via a covered South Tunnel walkway, so no shuttle bus is needed. Smaller airports in Eugene (EUG) and Redmond (RDM) have counters inside the terminal building with vehicles parked steps away, though vehicle selection can be limited outside peak summer months. Demand across the state runs highest from June through September, when advance booking is advisable to secure preferred vehicle classes. Oregon's toll network is minimal — only two Columbia River crossings, the Bridge of the Gods near Cascade Locks and the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge, use the BreezeBy electronic system; cash is also accepted at both, so a rental toll package is rarely essential here. Fuel is a more significant budget item: Oregon averages amongst the highest petrol prices in the US, typically around US$4.80–5.00 per gallon, and state law requires attendants to pump fuel for you rather than self-service. Winter driving through Cascade mountain passes between November and March often triggers mandatory traction tyre or chain requirements; hire vehicles come with all-season tyres that may qualify, but snow chains are not standard equipment and some brands prohibit customer-fitted chains. A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pickup, with an authorisation hold of roughly US$200–500 depending on vehicle class. Drivers whose licence uses a non-Latin script — Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, for example — must also carry an International Driving Permit.