Stanly saved my trip!!! Having never been to Alaska before, it never occurred to me that there are unbelievably difficult stipulations to car rental without a major credit card or A LOT of cash on hand. I made a reservation with another car rental agency originally, but was disgusted when I got to their desk at the airport to find out they don't accept a debit card. I literally have a valid license, full coverage insurance, proof of a return flight, and money in the bank, but NO ONE would help me. The ones that would even halfway offer to take a debit card, wanted anywhere from $250 to a $500 deposit, and two even said they would have to run a credit check first .... WHAT?! When all hope was just about lost, I found A-1 Car Rental, and crossed my fingers. Not only was Stanly completely understanding, he was kind to me, when I was on the verge of full panic. My trip would be ruined without the ability to get around. Not only did Stanly work with my situation ( debit card ), he didn't charge me an unrealistic deposit to go with it, and he came and picked me up from the hotel!!!! He was honest, up front, and gave a very reasonable rate on his vehicle. Also, he made sure everything's was ok on the car before I left the lot ( checking lights, brakes, signals, tires and heat, etc.). It was the middle of winter and I could tell he wanted me to know the car was safe. I got a lot of attitude from a lot of places that I called, but Stanly earned my business in Alaska for life! People need to know that it's different in Alaska, they have different rules than the lower 48, but if you find yourself in the same predicament as I was in, or just need a reputable car rental - CALL A-1 Car Rental!! read more

I've rented from A-1 numerous times since 2009. I travel for business many times per year and consider myself a demanding customer. Let's be clear about a couple of things. First, A-1 is a budget car rental company that offers older, high-mileage, sometimes slightly dinged-up vehicles at prices far less than the national brands. If you're looking for a late-model, nearly new vehicle then go elsewhere. On the other hand, if you want reliable transportation that you can use on Alaska's many dirt and gravel roads, A-1 is the place. Second, Stan (the owner) has a gruff, straightforward demeanor that some people find off-putting until they get to know him. Those who take the time to listen to Stan's well-informed suggestions discover that he excels at matching customers with the vehicle that is right for their needs while offering helpful travel tips that enhance their Alaska experience. Over the years, I've introduced many friends and colleagues to Stan. All have been pleased with the vehicles they've received and the service Stan provides. One of my favorite "Stan stories" is from our family vacation two years ago. We rented a large van and Stan picked us up at the airport--as is his custom. The kids were tired and cranky from the long flight. Stan immediately ran across the street to his home and got cold sodas for them. Two years later, the kids still ask if I will be seeing "Mr. Stan" when I come to Alaska. In short, customers who understand A-1's business model and are capable of adjusting their expectations accordingly will find that Stan offers great value and a quintessentially Alaskan rental car experience. I highly recommend A-1. read more

Stan is one of life`s characters as we say in England, a great guy, he made our Alaska holiday for us. We had been quoted online,£1500 for 3 weeks car hire when we tried to book a car from the airport before we left England. Then we were introduced to A1 car rental, please do not forget it is budget cars at budget prices,if you want a new car you have to pay top prices, Reading some of these negative reviews makes me wonder if they went to the same A1 Car Rentals as we did. I can only speak for us,but Stan was excellent, nothing was too much trouble for him in picking us up and dropping us off, and advising us on places to visit on the two occasions we rented a car from him during our 3 week stay. Our car was 6 years old, had a couple of dents in the doors on the passenger side, but it drove perfectly. In fact it was the only time when we have rented a car, we were so happy with the service we bought Stan a bottle of wine. If you want to book a car from Stan, tell him Tom and Val from Turkey recommended you.... Tell him to WRITE DOWN your booking details when you contact him..so there will be no problems when you turn up to collect your vehicle. In Stan`s line of business I am sure there are many people out there who he would rather not deal with, people who mess him around, don`t bring cars back or collect then when they are supposed to etc,....so before you criticise somebody ,..walk a mile in their shoes.... Then you can say what you like, because you are a mile away,and you also have their shoes....ha ha P.S., Don`t forget the bottle of wine at the end of the rental... ha ha read more

We decided to visit Alaska and eventually settled on A1 for our rental. Our travel plans put us driving over 2500 miles, from Seward all the way up the Dalton to the arctic ocean - including 1000 miles of gravel road with no help for stranded motorists. Additionally, we took our four month old son, so reliability was critical. Most rental companies restrict the roads you're able to travel in Alaska, A1 does not. We told Stan our travel plans and he put us in his most reliable 4WD vehicle. On the way back from Seward we noticed a bit of a vibration (probably an unbalanced tire) - Stan asked us to stop by on our way through Anchorage to swap us out with another vehicle. We finished our long roadtrip without incident and dropped the car off at 4AM to make our way to the airport - Stan greeted us right as the Uber pulled up and was only there to offer us a ride to the airport. Seriously, this was the best business transaction I have ever had. I literally trusted Stan with my family's lives and he did everything he could to make our trip to Alaska as enjoyable and safe as possible. Ignore the negative comments about his demeanor, he may be a little rough around the edges during the 30 seconds you spend talking to him but that doesn't change how reliable or inexpensive his vehicles are. I'll send every friend and family member who asks his way. read more

I rented a Suzuki SUV, possibly a Grand Vitara. The model didn't matter to me. I just wanted something very reliable that I could take on dirt roads. I had a difficult time finding information on rental policies in terms of dirt roads and when I found A-1, I couldn't find a review so I took a chance. Apparently, there is a hefty surcharge for renting a car at the Anchorage airport so even though it might be convenient, I would suggest a short cab ride to a rental place outside of the airport. A-1 took me about 10 minutes to get to by cab. As a female traveling alone for three weeks, I was nervous about renting from a company I had never heard of and that didn't have online reviews. I was also nervous about breaking down or getting a flat tire. Stan, the owner, gave me two spare tires and assured me that everything would be fine. And it was! I drove north to Fairbanks, back down toward Denali and across the Denali Highway, down to McCarthy, down to Valdez, took the ferry and drove all over the Kenai Peninsula. I was on several dirt roads and didn't have one problem. The Suzuki drove like a champ and the small size meant that I saved on gas. I returned the car at 9pm and Stan had one of his employees drive me to the airport. I would definitely rent from him again and I hope I get to return to Alaska soon! read more

A-1 Car Rental gets the job done! Stanley, the owner, means business. I came to Anchorage in the summer with no car rental in place because I thought the prices online were absurd for a month-long car rental. Granted it was high season so car rentals are in high demand, I still could not find anything online that matched my criteria. Additionally, I hate the struggle in maneuvering online bookings that lack transparency in additional fees and aren't descriptive about what you're getting into. At A-1 Car Rentals, the 'Old-school' business approach is refreshing. I knew that once I communicated my needs and circumstance with a car dealer, they would be much more reasonable with the rental agreement, and Stanley went beyond meeting my accommodations. Not only was Stanley one of the few dealers that was rationale in his business decisions, but always responded immediately with a simple phone call when I had questions and was quick to resolve any issues. A-1 car rental upholds great values in always making sure the customer is taken care. I will be back next time I'm in Alaska! read more

Stan won me over. Best car rental experience of my life. We were picked up upon arrival. I was taken to the airport after the return. Stan saved us hundreds from what I was quoted by other rental agencies. He even upgraded our rental, provided extra camping and fishing gear, etc. We couldn't have had the same experience, not even close, renting from anyone else. Even on a magical trip that included bear viewing, halibut fishing, salmon fishing, Denali, walking on glaciers, and.....the car rental experience is a detail I share every time I talk about the trip....Oh, I was a little nervous because I only had a verbal confirmation of the reservation. This isn't what I'm used to, but everything exceeded any expectation and all details of the agreement were met, except the free upgrade. I'm so grateful that businesses like A-1 still exist. This experience has helped restore some of my faith in humanity. read more

We used AI car rentals to make a fishing trip up the Dalton Highway from Anchorage. After a lot of research months ahead A1 was only one of about 4 to 5 firms in Alaska that allows their vehicles on gravel roads. The others were much more expensive at a daily rate, and added charges for mileage and had CDW policies with massive excesses plus they wouldn't allow my son of 23 to drive. Stan only charged a relatively good daily rate (about $99 per day) excluding CDW with no additional mileage charges and the CDW policy had no excess. We were given a Jeep which was admittedly 4 to 5 years old but it was reliable for a trip up to Prudhoe Bay as well as the Denali Highway. Altogether we traveled about 1000 miles on challenging gravel roads. I would recommend A1 if you need a vehicle to travel on gravel roads because it worked out much cheaper than the limited number of other firms offering a service. read more

I rented a jeep in early June from Anchorage A1 car rental to travel from Anchorage to McCarthy because I didn't want to fly there. This was the only company I found that would rent a vechicle to travel on the gravel roads that are between Anchorage and McCarthy. I like to take the road less traveled. This is the second time I rented from A1 because they have cheaper rates than the big auto rental companies. The first time a couple of years ago I rented a car to visit Denali. The trip to McCarthy was 300 miles and much more scenic than from Anchorage to Denali. The A1 owner didn't charge me for for a few gravel dings to the jeep paint job because he uses vechicles that are a couple of years old but in good running condition. In a couple of years I'll rent from him again to head into the wilderness to pan for gold and hopefully pay for the trip. read more

My sister and I rented from A-1 Rental to drive the gravel road to McCarthy, the only rental company who allows the drive. We were a bit surprised when we were led to a white expedition with a black hood and a light on the roof - an ex state trooper vehicle. Not quite sure of the look, the owner convinced us it would get us to McCarthy and back. We had a wonderful trip with no car issues. Well, other than the odd looks, drivers adhering to the speed limit, and one gentleman who asked if we were parole officers. Adding to the fun of the trip. We returned a little later than planned, returning first thing in the morning and were not charged for an extra day. We would recommend A-1 to anyone who needs a vehicle for off pavement driving or a sturdy ride in winter. Would certainly rent from A-1 in the future. read more

I recently rented a Jeep Commander to drive into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and stay for 2 weeks. It served me well as the McCarthy Road was in the worse shape I've seen it in years. Yes, I rent from A-1 and Stan every year when I visit to photograph in the park. I know I'm renting a used vehicle and am happy to do so. In 8 years of renting, I've never had a breakdown. Stan's personality can initially be sharp and unlike what you might experience with big name rentals but let trust guide you. He'll pay for taxi from airport to A-1 and when I returned the car he took me to my hotel, waited for me to check in, and then dropped me off close by so I could get a meal. Be nice and get nice back. I'll continue to rent from A-1. read more

After being stranded in Anchorage AK by Enterprise Rental I contacted Stan at A1 Rental and he was at the hotel in 5 minutes as promised and took us back to his office and had us on the road 20 minutes later. He told us to fill the car up with gas and leave the keys at the front desk when we were done and he would pick up the van. I have to be honest and say that Stan is a no frills operation but his vans were in decent condition and there was no hassel. I can see why some may say he is rude but he isn't really. I call him to the point and a no nonsense kind of person. We had a great experience and would rent a car from him again if we ever make it back to Anchorage. If your reading this Stan thanks for saving our trip. read more

All in all, a very good experience! I left a message to inquire about a car rental, we played tag, so I appreciated the call backs. We wanted to poke around Alaska, so I was happy there were no limitations on what road we could travel. I was not out to impress anyone, so the fact it was not spotless didn't make a difference to me and I loved the great price! Yes, there are fees and taxes, there would be with any other rental. I appreciated them not giving me grief about dropping a second driver, when I saw there would be an extra charge. Only complaint was the cigarette lighter didn't work. They were very accommodating when we wanted to rent the car for an extra day. All in all, a very good experience! read more

Five stars for Stan and A-1. I was travelling thru Alaska, and he offered a reasonable priced car while other companies do not cover you if you do not have an insurance that works in USA, which is a huge handicap for Europeans that usually have insurances covering concrete cars and persons. He was very friendly, picking me up with his car to his bussiness and leaving me from there to my hostel once I returned the car. Just keep in mind that it is a local bussiness, and not a multi-national rental company, with their desks, time-schedules..... and even more important, he is a very honest person. I will recomend it to any friend coming to Alaska!! Thanks Stan and A1 read more

Needed a vehicle to take us from Anchorage to Wassila then on to Fairbanks to pickup additional people,then onto McCarthy, back to Fairbanks and then a return to Anchorage. We where taking 4 adults,firewood, generator and supplies to McCarthy and needed vehicle that could travel that road. Stan fixed us up with a 4 door pickup that fit our needs. The vehicles are not new vehicles but we had no problem with ours and it had plenty of power to haul the 4 adults and all the equipment. He also provided us with a spare key which most rental companies don't do. The pickup got good mileage and was very comfortable. We would rent from them again. read more

Have nothing but positive things to say about A-1 car rental. This is a small one man operation but Stan makes it work. Rented a new (120 miles) Ford Maverick for a week at a very reasonable price ($129 per day). Stan picked me up at my hotel and with a minimal amount of paperwork was on my way. At the end of the week, dropped car off and Stan drove me back to the hotel. Stan did everything he promised and more. Would not hesitate to rent from him again. His small operation is a nice departure from the impersonal, over priced big players at the airport. Way to go Stan! read more

Went up to Anchorage recently to visit my parents for Christmas. I needed a rental car but only had a debit card, no one at the airport would let me rent a car. Found A-1 Car Rental and Stanley gave what I thought was a really good deal, and I didn't have to put down a credit card. Plus, I got studded tires which made up for the fact that the car wasn't new. I'd rather be safe on the icy roads than get a new car without studded tires!! His place is pretty messy but he's actually a really nice guy, glad I found A-1 and was able to rent without a credit card or huge deposit! read more

Stan is a good guy and helps you in different ways than other companies are equipped to. He will pick you up at the airport and has vans that he will take the back seats out of and throw a mattress in so you can sleep or camp out of it This allows you to avoid some of the high costs of motels that are in worse shape than his vans.This also allows you to drive around town and pick up things that wouldn't fit in a traditional car to take out to a remote cabin via water taxi . I've been using A-1 for three years and will continue in the future read more

I found myself in need of a rental car for several days last week and was absolutely delighted to rent a car from Stanley. He was thoughtful and so helpful matching me with the correct choice for my needs. I ended up with a van that was clean, comfortable and perfect for me. I would happily use A-1 in the future and would recommend them to anyone. The cars are not new, but they are dependable, price is right and when you compare that with the gouge of the major brands, it's a great option! Plus, Stanley is a straight up great guy! read more