Three ways a car is handed over
An in-terminal desk
The simplest case: a counter in or beside the arrivals hall, with the car in an adjacent car park. Follow the signage after baggage reclaim.
An off-airport office with a shuttle
Common for cheaper rates. A shuttle collects you from a marked stop and takes you to an office nearby — allow ten to twenty minutes each way.
A meet-and-greet agent
An agent waits in arrivals, often with a name board, and hands the car over in a nearby car park. The voucher normally gives a phone number to call on landing.
How much time to allow
From landing to driving away, a realistic figure is 45 to 90 minutes including immigration, baggage, the counter queue and the vehicle inspection. Off-airport offices sit at the higher end.
Do not schedule anything tight immediately after collection, especially on a first visit to an unfamiliar airport.
What to have ready before the counter
- Passport and driving licence for every named driver.
- The booking voucher or reference number.
- The deposit card in the main driver's name.
- The flight number, if the supplier tracks arrivals.
Before you drive away
Inspect the car with the agent present and photograph it, including wheels, glass and the roof. Airport car parks are often dimly lit, so use the flash and check that existing damage is written on the handover form.
Confirm the fuel level, the return location and the drop-off time before signing.