Los Angeles Airport Car Rental
Even if you are a “public transit fan” or value the comfortable taxis and the lavish airport transfers, you’ll be tempted to rent a car at Los Angeles Airport. Angelenos are car lovers after all, and prefer car rides over all other transit options. Moreover, LAX Airport is a major air hub, being listed among the busiest airports in the world. Hence, it comes as no surprise that LAX houses a wide variety of car rental companies, from local agencies to international providers. That being said, prices tend to be competitive, and the provided services are considered of high quality.
So, you can check out some of the reasons why Los Angeles airport car rentals are LAX passengers’ number one choice for airport rides and for all journeys during their stay in LA:
They Guarantee Independent Rides
Buses and trains are the most affordable ways to travel around LA and provide adequate services. Nevertheless, they entail a lot of hassle and make journeys more time-consuming. On the other hand, the convenient LA taxis and airport transfers offer hassle-free services but are rather expensive, especially for multiple trips, and require planning as well. Alternatively, when renting a car at Los Angeles Airport, you can travel wherever you want, whenever you feel like it.
They Offer Utterly-Tailored Traveling Experiences
When renting a car from Los Angeles Airport, you can adjust your traveling experience to your exact needs. Verily, rental cars at LAX Airport guarantee customized rides. From the car type and model to any required additional products, you can optimize your journeys in LA. Naturally, the car class and the extra amenities may raise the final fees. Still, nothing can be compared to the flexible compact cars for rides in the city center or the spacious SUVs for journeys in the surrounding areas.
They can Save you Time
Public transit means may be cheap, but they are nowhere near being fast and hassle-free. When opting for a train or bus ride, passengers have to pick the most suitable line, find the closest bus stop or station, disembark at the right stop, and find their way from there to their journey’s end. In contrast, you can drive your car rental to the exact location of your destination. Even though you may face traffic jams and difficulties in parking the car (depending on the destination), your ride will still be more relaxed and stress-free.
They are Rather Affordable
It goes without saying that buses and trains are a less expensive alternative. Still, Los Angeles airport car rentals totally justify their cost while being a top value-for-money option. Conversely, LA taxis and private transfers end up being more expensive than car rentals, especially when used for all the rides during the journey to LA.
Los Angeles Airport Car Rental Companies
LAX International Airport hosts a vast majority of car rental companies. Thus, both domestic providers and international companies operate at LAX. However, there are no car hire providers inside the terminal buildings, but all the car rental offices are to be found off-airport at the Car Rental Center, a 3-5-minute ride from LAX terminals. Hence, passengers wishing to rent a car at LAX Airport have to catch the free airport shuttles heading to the Car Rental Center. Shuttles call at all terminals on the Arrivals level. As a matter of fact, their stops lie just outside the baggage claim zones, marked by the “Purple Car Rental Shuttle” signs. You’ll find 5 shuttle stops in total at Los Angeles Airport: outside T1, between T2 and T3, between TBIT and T4, right outside the T5’s Arrivals, and between T6 and T7. Shuttles run every 5-10 minutes.
Explicitly, the car rental companies present at the Car Rental Center are:
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Dollar
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Fox
- Hertz
- National
- Sixt
- Thrifty
- Zipcar
Furthermore, other car rental agencies are located at the Remote Rental Car Depot, within a longer distance from LAX Airport. Verily, those car hire companies are to be found at the junction of Century and Airport Boulevards. Passengers wishing to reach them have to use the free Shuttles G, which link the airport to Aviation/LAX Station. The free shuttles run every 15-20 minutes (with fewer routes from 01:00 am to 04:00 am), departing from the stops lying outside the Arrivals halls of all terminals (you can easily spot the stops by the PINK LAX Shuttle signs). The companies that provide their services at the Remote Rental Car Depot are:
- Able Car Rental/Allied Rent A Car
- Ace Rent A Car
- Airport Van Rental
- Green Motion Car Rental
- Midway
- Next Car of Los Angeles
- NÜ Car Rentals (starting on August 1st)
- Priceless of Los Angeles
- State Van Rental
- U-Save Car & Truck Rental
Tips & Hints for Los Angeles Airport Car Rentals
- You can easily rent a car once you land at LAX Airport. Still, it is highly advisable to pre-book your rental car from Los Angeles Airport to secure the lowest prices and have access to a wide variety of vehicle models.
- Various car rental companies offer their services at Los Angeles International Airport. If you can’t make up your mind, you can check previous customers’ reviews.
- The necessary documents to rent a car at LAX Airport are: ID/passport, a credit card in the driver’s name (some companies may accept debit cards as well), a driver’s license, and an International Driving Permit (in case the license isn’t issued in the U.S. or isn’t written with Latin characters).
- The minimum age to rent a car at Los Angeles Airport is usually 21 years, while a 1-year driving experience is also required. Some car rental companies set higher age limits overall or for certain car types. In general terms, young drivers (21-24) usually pay an extra fee.
- The best car rentals at Los Angeles Airport are the compact models if you are planning on staying in downtown LA and the SUVs or full-size cars if you want to explore the nearby areas.
- The average price of a LAX car rental is 66$/61.70€.
- The fleets of LAX car rental companies consist mostly of automatic vehicles.
- Full insurance isn’t obligatory. Still, it is recommended. On the other hand, many credit cards offer car rental insurance coverage.
- Please keep in mind that the LAX domestic terminals tend to get crowded from 05:00 am to 08:00 am, 11:00 am to 02:00 pm, and from 05:00 pm to 07:00 pm, whereas the LAX terminals serving international flights are busy from 11:00 am to 03:00 pm, and from 06:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
- Before you start your ride with your Los Angeles airport car rental, you should take some pics to capture any existing damages.
- You should opt for the fuel-to-fuel option, as LAX car rental companies usually overcharge gas.
- You are going to be charged per 24 hours. Hence, you should return the vehicle during that period of time. Otherwise, you risk getting charged for an extra day. Please remember that the freeways around LAX Airport tend to get congested during rush hours.
- You can drop off your car rental 24/7. The drop-off location is usually the same as the pick-up point. When the car rental offices are closed, passengers leave the keys in the company’s lockbox. Nevertheless, you should bear in mind that the free shuttles from and to the Car Rental Center run only during the car rental desks’ opening hours.
- The LA freeways have a name (usually indicating the direction) and a number. Freeways heading from east to west usually have even numbers, whereas the ones heading from north to south have odd ones.
- Angelenos drive on the right side of the road.
FAQs
How much is a car rental at LAX Airport?
The prices of LAX car rentals depend on various factors. Verily, the car class, the rental duration, the time of the year, and the extra amenities (among others) affect the final fare. Overall, the price of a compact car is around 66$/61.70€.
Does LAX have a rental car center?
The car rental companies operating at Los Angeles Airport don’t have desks inside the terminals. Verily, they are located at the Car Rental Center, lying a 3-5-minute ride from the terminal complex. Free airport shuttles handle rides from and to the Car Rental Center, departing from the Arrivals levels of LAX terminals.
Is it a good idea to rent a car at LAX?
Car rides are widely preferred by Angelenos. Therefore, they are a popular transit option for LAX passengers as well. Car rentals guarantee independent, fast, and comfortable journeys, especially if you intend on exploring LA’s nearby destinations.