Best Car Rental DIA

So you are planning a trip to Colorado and flying into Denver International Airport which everyone around here calls DIA even though the code is DEN. You are probably super excited to get out to the mountains and do some skiing or snowboarding or just look at the snow while drinking hot coco. I get it because i live here and it is awesome. But there is one thing that stresses everyone out and that is figuring out how to get from the airport to the mountains safely without spending a million dollars or waiting in line for three hours.

Most people just assume they should hop on a shuttle or rent a car from one of the big names like Hertz or Enterprise or whatever. And yeah you can do that but let me tell you from experience it is not always the best idea especially in the winter. If you are reading this you probably googled something like best place to rent a car from Denver Airport and honestly the answer is not what you think.

The problem with big rental car companies

Okay so here is the deal with the big rental agencies at the airport. You get off your plane and you are tired and you just want to get your car and go. But first you have to get on a shuttle bus that takes you to the rental car lot which is like miles away from the terminal. Then you get there and there is a line of like fifty people all trying to get their cars too. You stand there for an hour and finally get to the counter and the person types on their computer for ten minutes and then tells you they are out of the SUV you reserved.

So they give you a minivan or a sedan and say it is an upgrade but you know it is not because you are trying to drive over a mountain pass in a blizzard. And the worst part is the tires. This is the thing that nobody talks about until they are sliding off the road into a ditch. Most rental cars from the big companies have what they call all season tires. They will tell you they are fine for snow but they are lying. All season tires are basically three season tires they are okay for rain and dry roads but when it gets really cold and snowy they turn into hard plastic hockey pucks that have zero grip.

I have seen so many tourists stuck on I-70 spinning their wheels because they thought their rental car was ready for winter but it wasn’t. It is scary and it is dangerous and it ruins your vacation. Plus Colorado has this thing called the Traction Law. When it snows you are legally required to have snow tires or four wheel drive and if you crash without them you get a huge fine. The big rental companies do not guarantee snow tires. You might get lucky but you probably wont.

Why you need real snow tires

If you have never driven in Colorado winter conditions you might think I am being dramatic but I am really not. The roads here get gnarly. We have steep hills and sharp curves and ice that you cant even see called black ice. When you are driving down a mountain and you hit a patch of ice you need your tires to grip the road so you dont slide off the edge.

Real snow tires are made of a different kind of rubber that stays soft even when it is freezing cold. They also have special tread patterns that bite into the snow. Some of them even have little metal studs in them that dig into the ice like claws. It makes a huge difference. Driving with snow tires feels like you are glued to the road compared to sliding around on all seasons.

So if you are looking for the best place to rent a car from Denver Airport you need to find a place that guarantees snow tires. And that is where Winter Wagon comes in.

Winter Wagon is different

Okay so full disclosure this is the Winter Wagon website but I am writing this because we actually care about people getting to the mountains safely. We started this company because we saw how bad the rental car situation was for skiiers and travelers. We wanted to offer something better.

We are not like the big corporate rental agencies. We are a smaller local company and we specialize in winter driving. All of our rental cars are Subaru Outbacks or Imprezas or similar vehicles that are amazing in the snow. And the best part is that every single one of them comes with studded snow tires. We dont charge extra for them and we dont make you hope you get them. They are standard on every car because we know they are neccessary.

When you rent from us you dont have to worry about whether your car can handle the drive. You know it can. We maintain our cars specifically for mountain driving so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

How it works renting from us

We also tried to make the pickup process way easier than the big guys. We know you dont want to wait in line or deal with grumpy counter agents. So we do things a little differently.

When you book a car with Winter Wagon we communicate with you directly. We are real people not bots. You can text us or email us and we will actually reply. When you land at DIA your car will be waiting for you in the parking lot. We use a lockbox system so you can just walk up to the car get the key and go. No lines no counters no shuttles to remote lots.

It is super convenient. You just get your bags walk to the parking garage find your car and hit the road. We send you all the instructions beforehand so you know exactly where to go. And if you have any issues we are just a phone call away.

We also offer a delivery service if you want us to bring the car to you somewhere else but most people find the airport pickup super easy.

Comparing the options

I made a little chart to show you the difference between renting from a big agency and renting from Winter Wagon. It helps to see it side by side so you can make the right choice.

What about the cost?

You might be thinking that because we offer better cars and better tires we must be way more expensive. But actually we are pretty competetive. When you factor in the hidden fees that the big companies add on later we often come out about the same or even cheaper.

Plus think about the cost of getting stuck or crashing. Tow trucks in the mountains are not cheap. And missing a day of skiing because you are stuck on the side of the road costs you money too. Renting a car that is actually capable of driving in the snow is an investment in your safety and your happiness.

We try to keep our prices fair because we want people to come back. We have a lot of repeat customers who rent from us every year because they know it is the best way to travel.

Tips for driving in the mountains

Even with a great car and snow tires you still need to be careful when you are driving in the mountains. Here are a few tips from a local to help you out.

• Take it slow: Seriously there is no rush. The speed limits are for dry roads. If it is snowing you should be going way slower.
• Don’t tailgate: Leave a lot of room between you and the car in front of you. It takes longer to stop on snow even with good tires.
• Use your gears: If you are driving down a steep hill try to shift into a lower gear instead of riding your brakes. This keeps your brakes from overheating.
• Check the weather: Before you leave the airport check the weather report for the mountains. If there is a huge storm coming you might want to wait a bit or take it extra slow.
• Pack supplies: It is always a good idea to have some water and snacks and maybe a blanket in the car just in case you get stuck in traffic for a long time.

Why we are the best choice

Look I know there are a lot of options out there. You could take a shuttle but then you are stuck without a car when you get to the resort. You could rent from a big company and roll the dice on the tires. Or you could rent from Winter Wagon and know that you are getting a safe capable vehicle from people who actually care.

We are skiers and snowboarders too. We drive these roads every day. We know what it takes to stay safe and we want you to have an awesome trip. We maintain our cars like they are our own because basically they are.

If you are flying into Denver and you need a rental car dont overthink it. Just book with us and save yourself the stress. You will thank me when you are cruising up the pass passing all the minivans spinning out in the ditch.

Real stories from customers

We get texts from customers all the time telling us how glad they were they rented from us. One guy named Mike told us he saw five cars slid off the road on his way to Breckenridge and he just cruised right by them in his Outback. He said he would never rent from anyone else again.

Another family from Florida was super nervous about driving in the snow because they had never done it before. We gave them some extra tips and made sure they were comfortable with the car before they left. They had a great trip and said the car made them feel super safe.

These are the kinds of things that make us happy. We want you to have a good time in Colorado. We want you to love the mountains as much as we do. And that starts with having a good experience getting there.

So what should you do?

If you are planning your trip right now and looking for the best place to rent a car from Denver Airport you should definitely check out our availability. We are a small company so we run out of cars pretty fast especially during the holidays and spring break.

Don’t wait until the last minute or you might be stuck with whatever is left at the big agencies. Go to our booking page and see if we have a car for your dates. It is super easy and takes like two minutes.

And if you have questions just ask us. We are happy to help you figure out your travel plans even if you dont end up renting from us. We just want everyone to stay safe out there.

Driving in Colorado is an adventure but it should be a fun adventure not a scary one. With the right car and the right tires it is actually pretty enjoyable. The views are amazing and there is nothing like driving through a snow storm in a warm car knowing you are safe.

So yeah that is my take on it. Avoid the lines avoid the bad tires and rent from a local company that knows what they are doing. We would love to help you with your trip.

Would you like me to check the availability for your travel dates to see if we have a car ready for you?