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As one of Australia's most popular destinations, it's no surprise that Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is the busiest airport in Australia. Located close to the centre of the city, there is easy access to motorways to take you in any direction. You can also find plenty of transport options to get you where you need to go, including taxis and Ubers, as well as a train service straight to Darling Harbour in the city centre.
Domestic flights into Sydney will arrive at either Terminal 2 (T2) or T3, while the international terminal is T1. You will find car hire company counters in the arrivals area of T2 and T3, opposite the baggage carousels. Here, you can check in to collect your rental car, however companies like Avis and Budget will then require you to take their free shuttle service to pick up your vehicle. Staff will direct you to the shuttle bus pick up area.
If your chosen car hire company is located off airport, like Bargain Car Rentals, then the process will be slightly different. In most cases, the car hire company will provide you a phone number to contact upon arrival at the airport to organise a shuttle bus pick up. The shuttle bay at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is located across the pedestrian crossing from Terminal 2 and 3.
Sydney Airport rental car return is straightforward, but will depend on the company you have rented from. Most of the on-airport rental companies, including Thrifty, Hertz and Europcar, require their rental cars to be returned to the car rental area on Ross Smith Avenue. You can then return to the airport in a shuttle bus.
If you have hired your car from an off-airport car hire company, like Alpha, Apex and East Coast Car Rentals, you need to return your rental car to the same car park you picked it up from, unless told otherwise.
Drop-off instructions will be confirmed with you when you pick up your vehicle as part of your rental agreement.
If you’re travelling through Sydney International, check out our Sydney International Airport page for more information.
Airport Rentals is your go-to Sydney Airport car hire comparison website. We make it easy to find a hire car by bringing leading rental brands together in one place. You can then compare and book the perfect car for your holiday or business trip.
When it comes to the cost of a hire car, no one likes surprises. That's why we show you exactly what you need to pay and when, without any added booking fees.
If you're looking for a cheap Sydney Airport car hire, Airport Rentals has you covered. We work hard to bring you great deals, to make sure you're getting the best bang for you buck. What's more, deals are automatically applied in search results, so you don't need to apply any promo codes or vouchers.
We understand that plans change, so Airport Rentals offers free cancellation on most vehicles. As long as you cancel your booking at least 72 hours prior to pick-up, any deposit you have paid will be refunded to you.
Have a question, or need help with your booking? You can contact us anytime and one of our friendly customer service team will be here to get you on the road.
You don't need to scour your emails to find your booking details, or find out where the car rental desks are at Sydney Airport. Just login to our website and all of these details will be available, as well as options to amend or cancel your booking.
You can find a range of car makes and models at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, covering all categories, including Economy, Compact, Intermediate, Large, SUV, Van, Electric and Premium options.
There are various Kia models available, like the:
Kia Picanto (Compact)
Kia Stonic (SUV)
Kia Cerato (Compact and Intermediate)
Kia Sportage (SUV)
Kia Carnival (Van), and
Kia EV6 (Electric)
Toyota is another great option with an extensive range, including:
Toyota Corolla (Economy and Intermediate)
Toyota Camry (Large and Hybrid)
Toyota RAV4 (SUV)
Toyota CHR (Hybrid), and
Toyota Hilux
MG are well represented at Sydney Airport, especially in the SUV category. Models include:
MG3 (Compact)
MG HS (SUV)
MG HS Vibe (SUV), and
MG ZS (Compact)
Tesla is arguably the most well-known electric car maker. You can hire the following models from Sydney Airport:
Tesla Model 3,and
Tesla Model Y
For a taste of luxury, you can hire these premium Audi vehicles at the airport:
Audi Q2 (SUV)
Audi Q5 (SUV)
Audi Q7 (SUV), and
Audi A6 (Large)
Remember that the exact vehicle you choose may not always be available, but you will be given a similar vehicle in the same category in most cases.
We make it easy to find a rental car by bringing leading rental brands together in one place. Here are some of the car rental companies available at Sydney Airport.
One of the most well known rental brands in the world, Hertz offers Small, Medium, Large, SUV and Electric vehicles for rent at the airport. You can find their car hire desks in T2 or T3.
Europcar have one of the larger selections of vehicles at Sydney Airport, mainly in the SUV category. However, you can also find Electric and Premium options if those suit your needs better. Like a lot of other companies, Europcar also offer long term car rental, which can work out cheaper in terms of the per day rate.
If you're looking for Small or Medium vehicles, or SUVs and Vans, Alpha has some great options. A free shuttle service is available to take you to the depot upon arrival at the airport.
Yesaway is another off-airport car hire company, with cheaper Economy and Compact models available, as well as Premium and Luxury vehicles, including the Porsche Macan and BMW X7.
Dollar has car rental operations around the world. At Sydney Airport, you can choose from Compact, SUV, Vans and Electric vehicles from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Hyundai. You will find their counter on-airport in Terminals 2 and 3.
Airportrentals.com.au offers great deals all over the world. Compare and save!
Various factors impact the cost of a hir car at Sydney Airport, however you can get a compact car for as low as $30AUD a day, while premium and luxury vehicles can get higher than $500 a day. Make a search above for up-to-date pricing and availability.
Compact and large SUVs are very popular in Australia, especially with families and people taking long road trips. There are plenty of SUV options to rent from the airport, including Hybrid and Electric models. If you plan to head over Sydney Harbour Bridge and head to the northern beaches, an SUV might be the most comfortable way to explore these locations.
We recommend booking rental cars at least a month in advance to increase your chances of getting a cheap car hire. If you're planning to travel at a popular time of year, like Summer, then book at least 3 months in advance to have the best chance of securing a deal.
Long term car rental can definitely come with cheaper prices. Sometimes a rental car company will include free days for certain rental lengths, which can make it cheaper to extend your stay. You can search different travel dates using our search widget above to see how it impacts the price.
Yes, you can. If you're looking to explore more of New South Wales, or even other state's like Queensland or Victoria, then most major rental companies will allow you to drive your car rental one-way. When making a search, untick 'Return car to same location' and enter in a different drop off location. You will then see which companies have this option available. Note that there can be an extra charge for one-way rentals.
There are lots of things that can affect car rental operations, so if the rental counter is unexpectedly closed when you arrive, there should be a sign with instructions for what to do. However, we recommend checking with your chosen rental company ahead of time what you need to do if you are delayed or the office is closed. This way you will be prepared for this eventuality.
Generally, you need to be 25 to rent a car from Sydney Airport. Some rental companies, like Ace, allow drivers ages 18-24 to hire a vehicle, but they may have a surcharge for this.
Yes, international drivers licenses are accepted by most car rental brands. If your license isn't in English, you may require an International Driver's Permit, or an English translation. You can check this requirement in the terms and conditions when you book a vehicle.
For more information, read New South Wales’ rules and regulations on driving with an overseas or interstate licence.
Airportrentals.com.au offers great deals all over the world. Compare and save!