By car
Car rentals are the most convenient for of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.
Car Rental Companies include:
Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266.
Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212.
Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700.
Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665.
E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331.
Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131.
Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389.
Starlight Toll free: 1-888-952-5466The main freeways in Tampa are Interstate 275, Interstate 4, the Veterans Expressway (toll FL 589), and the Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (toll FL 618). Some of the main east-west roads through town are Kennedy Boulevard (SR 60), Gandy Boulevard (SR 694), Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) and Fowler Avenue (SR 582), while some of the north-south roads are Dale Mabry Highway (US 92) and Florida/Nebraska Avenue (US 41). Traffic is especially bad during the rush hours: from about 7:30 to 9:30 AM and 3:30PM to 7:30PM. During these times, try especially to avoid I-275, especially between I-4 and SR 60 (by the airport) as this section runs by downtown and is currently being rebuilt.

By bus
HART, provides extensive bus service throughout Hillsborough County. There are three types of routes offered: "local", "Commuter Express", and Trollies (see below). Local routes are ones which have many stops in a small region. Commuter Express lines are long-distance lines namely providing service from suburbs into Tampa. Only local to local & commuter express to local transfers are allowed. Fares are $1.75 for local routes and $2.75 for commuter express lines. Four small routes (83, 87, 88, & 89) have a 50¢ fare with no transfers. Riders over 65, 17 and under, on Medicare, or disabled are half-price: 85¢ for "local" routes and $1.35 for "commuter express" routes. Bus transportation in the Tampa area is not popular and one can expect plenty of room in busses.
PSTA, offers service in Pinellas County (the county west of Tampa Bay, home to Clearwater and St. Petersburg) similar to what HART offers in Hillsborough.

By Streetcar
Tampa also has the TECO Line Streetcar [17] that runs from Dick Greco Plaza downtown to Centennial Park in Ybor City with 8 stops along the way (10 total stops). The line is useful for tourists and convention goers. The line runs by many local shops, restaurants, and attractions including the convention center/ Embassy Suites, the St. Pete Times Forum, Channelside, the Florida Aquarium, and through Ybor City. There are 3 types of streetcars in operation: 9 "Birney Safety" replicas (picture, right), one "Breezer" open-air replica (picture, left), and one original "Birney" car (#163, not pictured) which operated in Tampa from 1923-1946 and went through 10,000 man-hours of restoration. Even if you're not using it for transportation, the streetcars are a fun way to see some of the city's historic and cultural sights.
As of June 2010, a one-way fare is $2.50. A 1-day, unlimited rides pass for both streetcars and trollies are available for $5, since this is the cost of 2 rides (not synonymous with "round-trip"), it's highly recommended. Riders over 65, 17 and under, on Medicare, or disabled are discounted to $1.25 each trip or $2.50 for 1-day unlimited. Children under 4 are free, but if taller than the fare box ID is required. Exact change is required, streetcar drivers do not provide change. Three-day and one year passes are available from Hart bus line ticket vendors, not from the streetcars. Service is available: 11AM-10PM Monday-Wednesday, 11AM-11PM Thursday, 11AM-2AM Friday, 9AM-2AM Saturday, and noon-8PM on Sunday. Streetcars arrive every 15 minutes, except service 9-11AM & midnight-2AM every 30 minutes.
Ticket vending machines are located at some stops, and do give change. As of June 2010, all stops are having machines installed which should be in place by the end of 2010. By December 2010, the streetcar will be extended to Whiting Street in the heart of Downtown Tampa, with a stop at the Ft. Brooke Parking Garage.

By Trolley
Tampa also two-line trolley system serving the Central Business District. Unlike the streetcars, which are electric and run on a fixed track, the trollies are simply small, diesel busses styled to look like a streetcar. The purple line runs north-south from I-275, through downtown to the northern end of Harbor Island. It has service every 10 minutes at 17 stops([18]), Monday through Friday from 6-9AM and 3-6PM. The green line trolley runs only on Friday and Saturday nights from 6PM-2AM. It has service every 10 minutes at 17 stops along the Hillsborough River (west side of CBD), the northern tip of Harbor Island, and along Channelside Drive (between Franklin St. and Kennedy Blv.). As of June 2008, rides are $0.25 (no transfers), $3.25 for a 1-day pass, and $5 for a 1-day streetcar/trolley pass. Riders over 65, 17 and under, on Medicare, or disabled are discounted to $1.60 for a 1-day trolley pass or $2.50 for a 1-day trolley/streetcar pass. Children under 4 are free, but if taller than the fare box ID is required. Only $1 bills are accepted.