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Most people only think about the return when they are already running late for the flight. At Austin-Bergstrom there are two very different ways to give a car back, and which one you get was decided the day you booked.
The counter way
If you rented from a company with a counter, the car goes back to the consolidated rental car facility off Presidential Boulevard, before the terminal. You follow the Rental Car Return signs, find your company's lane, wait for the walk-around, unload the bags, and take the shuttle to the terminal. On a quiet Tuesday that is twenty minutes. On a Monday morning in March or the Sunday after ACL it is closer to an hour, which is why the standard advice is to be at the facility two and a half hours before a domestic departure.
The curbside way
If the car was delivered to you, it is collected the same way. You tell us the departure time, we meet you at the departures curb on the upper level, walk around the car together, and you walk in. About ten minutes. There is no facility, no shuttle and no return lane; the car is only ever where you are. The AUS page explains the arrival side, and the skip-the-counter guide the whole trip.
Fuel and charge on return
Bring the car back the way it came: a fuel car with roughly the tank it had, an electric one with a reasonable charge. We confirm the exact expectation in writing before you pay anything, so there are no surprises at the curb.
Returning somewhere other than the airport
You do not have to end at AUS. If the last night is at a hotel downtown or a house in Round Rock, we collect there and you take a ride to the airport, or we collect at the curb; it is the same price. Groups in a van often prefer the hotel collection so nobody has to drive the van to the airport at 5 a.m.
The cars most people return at AUS
- Toyota Corolla or similar at $98 a day and Honda Civic or similar at $98 a day: the business week.
- Hyundai Santa Fe or similar at $131 a day and Ford Explorer or similar at $164 a day: the family week.
- Ford Transit Van or similar at $296 a day: the group.
What you need to rent
A valid driver's license, a major credit or debit card and to be 21 or older; there is no young-driver surcharge. Basic liability coverage is included and the refundable deposit is explained before you pay. Delivery anywhere in Greater Austin and at the AUS arrivals curb is included, with no airport concession fee and no facility charge.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I return a rental car at AUS?
With a counter company, plan on arriving at the rental car facility at least two and a half hours before a domestic flight: the return lane, the inspection and the shuttle to the terminal add up. With a curbside return at departures, the usual airport arrival time is enough.
Where is the rental car return at Austin airport?
The consolidated rental car facility sits off Presidential Boulevard on the way into the airport; the signs say Rental Car Return and the shuttle runs from there to the terminal.
How does a curbside return work?
You tell us the departure time, we meet you at the departures curb of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, walk around the car together for a few minutes, and you walk in to check-in.
What if my flight is very early or very late?
Tell us the time when you book. Curbside returns work around the flight, not around office hours.
