Data
Airport car rental fees, compared
The quoted base rate is rarely what you pay. On-airport rentals add a concession recovery fee and a customer facility charge that booking sites bury. Here they are side by side across 50 airports in 10 countries, with peak season and climate. Sourced and free to cite, with a link back.
50
airports compared
10
countries
44°C
hottest pickup: Phoenix in July
497 km
longest popular drive: Salt Lake City to Zion National Park
| Airport | Country | On-airport surcharges | Peak season | Summer high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris (CDG) | France | French rates include roughly 20% VAT, but CDG pickups add an airport premium-location surcharge on top of the base rate, plus a young-driver surcharge for drivers under 25 that varies by company. | July and August are the most expensive months due to peak tourist demand, while January and February are the cheapest. | 24°C (August) |
| Reykjavik (KEF) | Iceland | Iceland has no US-style facility charge, but counters commonly upsell optional sand-and-ash protection and gravel protection on top of the base rate, each a few thousand ISK per day. | Demand and prices peak in summer (June through August) and are lowest in the winter off-season from November through March. | 13°C (July) |
| Dublin (DUB) | Ireland | Dublin rentals carry a large damage excess (often 1,600 to 3,000 euros by car class), a young-driver surcharge for under-25s, an airport location surcharge, and a big credit-card hold to cover the excess. | Prices and demand peak from June through August, with July the busiest, and are lowest in the winter months outside the May-to-September window. | 19°C (August) |
| Cancun (CUN) | Mexico | Mexican law requires third-party liability insurance in the rate, but Cancun counters frequently claim it is not included and pressure renters into buying it on the spot, sometimes with other add-ons. | Mid-December through March and spring break is busiest and priciest, while June through October is quietest, with resort rates commonly 40 to 60% below peak. | 32°C (August) |
| Auckland (AKL) | New Zealand | New Zealand quotes include GST, but airport pickups carry a separate airport concession fee charged on pickup that recovers the fee rental firms pay the airport operator. | Summer (December through February) is peak season with the highest prices and lowest availability, while winter (June through August) has the lowest prices. | 23°C (January) |
| Faro (FAO) | Portugal | Faro's in-terminal desks add a location surcharge estimated at roughly 15 to 25% versus off-airport rates, and local operators list young-driver, senior-driver and out-of-hours fees for pickups between 8pm and 8am. | July and August are the busiest and most expensive months as Algarve tourism peaks, while late November through early March is the quietest and cheapest period. | 32°C (August) |
| Lisbon (LIS) | Portugal | Portugal's 23% VAT is included in quoted rates. Airport pickups carry a location surcharge versus city branches, plus young-driver fees for under-25s and out-of-hours fees outside desk hours. | Demand and prices are highest in July and August and lowest in January and February. | 29°C (August) |
| Porto (OPO) | Portugal | Portugal's 23% VAT is included in quoted rates. Airport rentals carry a location surcharge versus city-centre pickup, plus young-driver surcharges for under-25s and out-of-hours collection fees. | Demand and prices are highest in July and August and lowest in January and February. | 25°C (August) |
| Alicante (ALC) | Spain | Rates include Spanish VAT. Airport desks typically carry a concession fee that off-airport branches avoid, and the fuel policy and any young-driver surcharge add to the headline price. | Prices and demand on the Costa Blanca are highest in July and August and lowest from January through March. | 32°C (August) |
| Barcelona (BCN) | Spain | Spanish VAT is included in quoted rates. Some brands apply a surcharge for their premium in-terminal location, and drivers under 25 face a young-driver fee set by several suppliers. | July and August bring the highest demand and prices, while winter months see the lowest rates. | 29°C (August) |
| Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) | Spain | Rates include Spanish VAT. Drivers aged 21 to 24 are charged a young-driver surcharge by most agencies, and nearly all require a full-to-full fuel return to avoid a refueling fee. | Demand and prices peak in December around Christmas and New Year, and again in July and August; the quietest, cheapest months fall outside those windows. | 30°C (August) |
| Madrid (MAD) | Spain | VAT is included in listed rates. Most suppliers use a full-to-full fuel policy; returning the car without a full tank triggers a refueling charge plus a flat service fee, and under-25 drivers pay a young-driver surcharge. | July and August see the highest demand and prices, with December also elevated; the cheapest period runs from January through March. | 35°C (August) |
| Malaga (AGP) | Spain | Spain includes 21% VAT in quoted rates. Airport desks usually carry a location surcharge versus off-airport branches, and refueling yourself is cheaper than a prepaid full-to-empty tank. | Demand and prices peak in July and August on the Costa del Sol and are lowest outside the summer months. | 31°C (July) |
| Palma de Mallorca (PMI) | Spain | Spanish VAT is included in listed prices. Airport branches add a location surcharge versus town pickups, and under-25 drivers face a young-driver fee that varies by company. | Demand and prices on Mallorca peak from June through August, especially August, and drop sharply outside the summer season. | 31°C (July) |
| Tenerife (TFS) | Spain | Spanish VAT is included in rates. Some brands charge a refueling fee plus the fuel-price difference if the car is not returned at the same level, so a full-to-full policy avoids that, and young-driver surcharges apply under 25. | Tenerife's peak is reversed from the mainland: demand and prices are highest in winter (December to February) for winter sun, and lowest around May, June and September. | 31°C (August) |
| Dubai (DXB) | United Arab Emirates | Dubai Airport rentals carry a separate airport surcharge that varies by company (Avis UAE lists AED 50 per terminal), and some companies add an out-of-hours fee for late-night pickups or drop-offs. | Rental demand and rates peak during the mild winter tourist season from November to March, while the hot April to October off-season sees lower demand and wider vehicle availability. | 41°C (August) |
| Edinburgh (EDI) | United Kingdom | UK car hire includes 20% VAT, and airport pickups carry a premium location surcharge on top (several brands list a daily airport surcharge), making a city-centre pickup cheaper. | Demand and prices peak in July and August, while January is the cheapest month to rent. | 19°C (August) |
| London (LHR) | United Kingdom | UK airport rentals typically add a concession recovery fee plus a location charge of roughly £8 to £15 per day, on top of 20% VAT, a structure distinct from the flat daily surcharges common at US or Gulf airports. | Demand and prices peak from June through September and again around Christmas and New Year, while January and February are typically the cheapest and quietest months to rent. | 22°C (August) |
| Manchester (MAN) | United Kingdom | UK rates include 20% VAT, and airport-location rentals add a premium surcharge versus off-airport branches, which can run noticeably cheaper per day. | Prices and demand are highest in July and August, while January is the cheapest month to book. | 19°C (June) |
| Atlanta (ATL) | United States | On-airport rentals at ATL carry an 11.11% concession recovery fee plus a customer facility charge of about $8.50 per day, on top of combined Georgia state and local rental taxes of roughly 8.9%. | Prices and demand are highest in summer (June to August), around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and during major conventions or sporting events, while January is typically the cheapest month. | 32°C (August) |
| Austin (AUS) | United States | AUS charges a customer facility charge of $6.75 per rental day with no cap, plus brands typically add a concession recovery fee of around 11% for their city lease. | Demand and prices peak in March during SXSW and again in October during Austin City Limits, with quieter, cheaper shoulder periods in spring and late fall. | 38°C (August) |
| Baltimore (BWI) | United States | BWI applies a $5.75 per day customer facility charge, plus a concession recovery fee rental companies add (commonly cited around 10 to 11.5% at the airport). | Demand and prices run highest in summer and can spike around Preakness weekend in May; January and February are generally the slowest, cheapest months. | 31°C (July) |
| Boston (BOS) | United States | Massachusetts applies a $6 per day customer facility charge to Logan rentals, plus a concession recovery fee (commonly cited around 10 to 11%) to cover the airport lease. | Demand and prices peak during fall foliage (late September through October) and in summer; January and February are typically the slowest, cheapest months. | 28°C (July) |
| Chicago (ORD) | United States | Chicago adds a 10% concession recovery fee plus a customer facility charge of roughly $8 per day with no multi-day cap, on top of Illinois and Cook County rental taxes. | June through August is the busiest and most expensive stretch; January and February see the lowest demand and cheapest rates. | 28°C (July) |
| Dallas (DFW) | United States | Texas fees at DFW include a 10% concession recovery fee and roughly a $7.50 per day customer facility charge, on top of Texas's 6.25% motor vehicle rental tax. | Demand and prices peak around Thanksgiving and spring break in March; the quietest stretch is typically mid-winter in January. | 39°C (August) |
| Denver (DEN) | United States | DEN collects a daily customer facility charge on every on-airport rental (around $6 to $10 per day to fund the new facility) plus a concession fee of roughly 10 to 11% owed to the city and county of Denver. | Demand and prices peak during ski season (December to March) and summer national-park season (June to August); the April-May and September-October shoulder months offer the best rates. | 31°C (July) |
| Detroit (DTW) | United States | DTW adds an 11% concession recovery fee and roughly a $6 per day customer facility charge on top of Michigan's 6% state use tax on the rental. | The Thanksgiving-through-New-Year stretch is DTW's busiest and most expensive period; January and February are typically quietest. | 28°C (July) |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | United States | FLL rentals carry a concession recoupment fee of about 10%, a rental car facility charge of roughly $3.95 per day, a Florida surcharge of about $2 per day, plus a small vehicle license fee, on top of 6% state tax. | December through April is peak as snowbirds and spring breakers push rates highest, with March busiest, while August through October (hurricane season) is consistently cheapest. | 31°C (July) |
| Fort Myers (RSW) | United States | On-airport rentals add a customer facility charge of about $5 per day set under Lee County's airport ordinance, plus a concession recovery fee of roughly 11 to 12% of the rental cost. | Demand and rates peak from January through March during Florida's snowbird season; the slowest, cheapest months are the hot off-season from June through September. | 33°C (July) |
| Honolulu (HNL) | United States | HNL rentals carry a $4.50 per day customer facility charge that funded the Conrac building, plus an airport concession recovery fee of about 11.11% on the base rate. | Rental demand peaks in summer and over the Christmas and New Year holidays, while January and the spring and autumn shoulder months usually bring better availability and lower rates. | 30°C (September) |
| Houston (IAH) | United States | Texas airport rentals add a concession recovery fee of around 10 to 11%, plus at IAH a customer facility charge commonly quoted at about $3 per rental day. | Spring (March through May) brings the highest demand and rates thanks to mild weather and events, while January and the fall shoulder months are quietest. | 36°C (August) |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | United States | On-airport rentals add roughly a 10% concession recovery fee plus a customer facility charge of about $5.50 per day with no cap, on top of the base rate quoted at booking. | Prices spike during major conventions like CES and SEMA, the Formula 1 weekend and New Year's Eve, while January and the shoulder months (February to May, September to October) run noticeably cheaper. | 43°C (July) |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | United States | LAX adds an 11.11% concession recovery fee plus a customer facility charge of about $9 per day (capped at 5 days), which funds the consolidated Rental Car Center and SkyLink. | Demand and prices peak in July and August; January and February are the slowest and cheapest months to rent. | 25°C (August) |
| Miami (MIA) | United States | MIA adds a customer facility charge of around $5.35 per day with no cap plus an airport concession recovery fee, both mandatory Miami-Dade County surcharges that stack on top of the quoted rate. | Prices peak during Florida's snowbird season from December through April, with December the most expensive month, while September through early November is consistently cheapest. | 32°C (July) |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | United States | MSP charges an 11.11% concession recovery fee plus a $5.90 per day rental auto facility charge, on top of Minnesota's 9.2% rental car tax and 5% registration fee. | Travel peaks around Thanksgiving, October's MEA fall-break week, and spring break in March; the calmest period is typically January after the holidays. | 28°C (July) |
| New York (JFK) | United States | JFK is one of the few major US airports with no customer facility charge, but renters still pay a concession recovery fee plus New York State and City sales tax, which together can add $30 to $50 a day. | Rates run highest in summer (June to August) and around major holidays like July 4th and Labor Day, while January and shoulder months such as September are consistently cheapest. | 28°C (July) |
| Newark (EWR) | United States | EWR adds an $8.04 per day customer facility charge to every rental, on top of the concession recovery fee that covers the rental firms' Port Authority lease. | Prices run highest in summer and around Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, when New York-area air traffic peaks; January and February are typically cheapest. | 31°C (July) |
| Orlando (MCO) | United States | MCO's customer facility charge rose to $9 per day (capped at 7 days) in late 2024, among the highest in the US, plus a concession recovery fee of roughly 11% of the rental cost. | Prices peak in December and around spring break in March and April, and are lowest in September and January. | 33°C (July) |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | United States | PHL charges an $8 per day customer facility charge, and rental firms have historically added roughly a 10% airport access fee on top of the base rate. | Rates run highest in summer and around Thanksgiving and Christmas; January and February are typically the quietest, cheapest window. | 32°C (July) |
| Phoenix (PHX) | United States | Phoenix sets a $6 customer facility charge per rental day plus an 11.11% airport concession recovery fee on every on-airport contract, on top of state and local taxes. | Demand and prices peak from January through March during snowbird season and Cactus League spring training, and are lowest in the hot summer months. | 44°C (July) |
| Portland (PDX) | United States | PDX charges a customer facility charge of $6 per rental day up to a 10-day cap, and the Port of Portland collects a concession recovery fee of about 10% that brands pass on. | Summer, June through August, is Portland's busiest and priciest travel season; winter outside the holidays is the quietest and cheapest time to rent. | 30°C (July) |
| Raleigh (RDU) | United States | RDU adds a customer facility charge of $5 per day with no cap, on top of a concession recovery fee of roughly 10 to 11% charged by on-airport brands. | Busiest in summer (June through August, especially around July 4th) and the Thanksgiving-to-New-Year stretch; January and February see the lowest passenger volumes. | 32°C (July) |
| Sacramento (SMF) | United States | Sacramento charges a customer facility charge of $9 per day capped at 5 days ($45 maximum), plus a concession recovery fee on-airport brands cite in the roughly 8 to 11% range. | July is SMF's busiest month and summer is peak season, pushing rental demand highest; winter outside the holiday weeks is the quietest and cheapest time to rent. | 39°C (July) |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | United States | SLC applies a customer facility charge of $5 per rental day up to a 12-day cap, and brands generally add a concession recovery fee of roughly 10% tied to their airport agreement. | Demand and rates run highest from mid-December through mid-March during ski season, especially around holidays, while November tends to be the cheapest month to book. | 36°C (July) |
| San Antonio (SAT) | United States | SAT rentals carry a customer facility charge and a concession recovery fee that fund the rental car facility; the current per-day amount is not published, so confirm it at pickup. | SAT's busiest, priciest stretches are spring break in March and midsummer, when the airport sets record passenger counts; demand is lowest in deep winter. | 37°C (August) |
| San Diego (SAN) | United States | San Diego charges a concession recovery fee of roughly 9 to 13% of the base rate plus a customer facility charge of $9 per day (up to a 5-day maximum) that funds the Rental Car Center. | Prices and demand are highest in June, with January and March typically the cheapest and least busy months to rent. | 25°C (August) |
| San Francisco (SFO) | United States | SFO applies a flat customer facility charge of about $10 per rental contract plus an 11.11% concession recovery fee and California state and local taxes on top of the base rate. | Demand and prices peak from June through August, especially July, while January and February bring rates often 30 to 40% below peak season. | 24°C (October) |
| Santa Ana (SNA) | United States | SNA applies an 11% airport concession fee plus a customer facility charge, both added to the base rate for any car picked up on airport property. | Summer (July and August) and the December holidays bring the highest demand and prices; January and February are the slowest, cheapest months. | 29°C (August) |
| Seattle (SEA) | United States | The Port of Seattle tariff adds a facility charge of roughly $3.55 per day plus an $8 per-transaction fee, on top of an 11.11% concession recovery fee and Washington state and King County taxes. | Demand and rates climb from April through October alongside the Alaska cruise season, peaking June through August, while winter months outside the holidays are cheapest. | 27°C (July) |
| Tampa (TPA) | United States | TPA charges a customer facility charge of about $5.95 per day with no cap, plus a concession recovery fee of about 11.11% of the rental cost. | Prices peak from December through April during snowbird season, especially March, and are lowest from June through October, with September typically cheapest. | 33°C (July) |
Figures are the airport's published fees at the time of research and change over time; always confirm at checkout. Compiled by CarPriceRadar. Reuse with a link to this page. Per-airport detail and sources on each airport page.