5 Best Fort Lauderdale Airport Car Rental Companies — Browse Tips on Renting a Car in Fort Lauderdale in 2024

If you’ve ever flown to Florida for a cruise or to the Caribbean and had a layover, chances are you’ve been to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. This major airport in the Miami metro welcomes travelers from all over the world for fun in the Florida sun, no matter if you’re just swinging by on a short layover or you’re flying into FLL to go further on into the state. Fort Lauderdale’s airport is an excellent alternative to Miami International Airport if your end destination is Miami. It’s equally a nice choice if you’re planning a road trip down the Overseas Highway, through the Florida Keys.

Of course, to do any of that, you’ll need a rental car. To help you pick your perfect option, here are the best rental car companies at Fort Lauderdale Airport. Plus, we’ll also give you tips for driving your rental car around the Sunshine State. 

Which Car Rental Companies are Best at Fort Lauderdale Airport?

Fort Lauderdale Airport boasts a stand-alone Rental Car Center next to Terminal 1. The building houses 12 different rental car providers. Here are the best of those options, based on reviews from travelers on Google and Kayak. 

1. Alamo Rent A Car

Travelers consistently appreciate Alamo’s affordable pricing and convenient services all over the country, and things are no different at Fort Lauderdale Airport. There, reviewers rave about the great deals, good service, and the plethora of amenities. It’s all designed to make your rental experience easier. 

At the Fort Lauderdale outpost, you can use the self-service kiosk to speed things along. There’s no need to rely on a team member. You can also use accelerated check-in to get on the road quicker. You can even skip the counter and head straight to the lot to pick up your vehicle. The process is equally easy, fast, and convenient when you bring your car back to the airport, too, thanks to after-hours return service. 

Pros: Good prices on rentals and fast, convenient pick-up and drop-off.

Cons: Negative reviews seem to focus on cleanliness and older cars.

Phone: (833) 479-1101

Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Google Rating: 4.4 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.6 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Alamo

2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car 

Whereas Alamo is known more so for its affordable fees, Enterprise is known for its stellar customer service, though that customer service comes at a price. However, if you can swing it, you’ll see what everyone is raving about when you rent with this brand. Reviewers mention things like staff offering to help carry luggage, personalized experiences, and patient staff members in what is sometimes a very stressful environment. 

However, Enterprise isn’t free from all faults. For example, this particular location does not offer the pick-up service that the brand offers at some other locales. Additionally, unhappy reviewers mention receiving rental vehicles that are in less than great condition. 

Pros: Excellent service from attentive and patient staff. 

Cons: The cars aren’t always as luxurious (or in just good shape, period) as you might expect for the price.

Phone: (833) 479-1099

Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Google Rating: 4.4 stars

Kayak Rating: 8.2 (Very Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Enterprise

3. Sixt Rent a Car

While the Sixt team at FLL may not get as grand of reviews as Enterprise or Alamo, the brand still does pretty well and, when you consider the price, it makes sense why you might go with Sixt if you can’t find a suitable rental from Alamo. 

Sixt offers a range of vehicles, including luxury vehicles. Reviewers praise just about every part of the rental process, from the staff to the cars to the pricing. 

The one downside? Sixt does receive a fair number of customer complaints related to extra charges that customers aren’t aware of until they look over their bills at the end of their trips. 

This, unfortunately, isn’t a Sixt problem relegated to the Fort Lauderdale location, either. You’ll hear customers complaining about similar issues all over the country. 

The point? Just make sure you read all the fine print before you drive away with your vehicle. Otherwise, you could end up paying for extras that you didn’t sign up for, like extra insurance or upgrades. 

Pros: Standard rental experience with agreeable pricing, courteous staff, and satisfactory cars. 

Cons: If you’re not careful, you could incur charges that you weren’t expecting. 

Phone: (888) 749-8227

Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Google Rating: 3.9 stars

Kayak Rating: 7.3 (Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Sixt

4. Hertz

While, like Enterprise, Hertz can be a little pricier, reviewers admit that, if you can find a deal on your Hertz rental, you’ll benefit from this brand’s nice selection of cars. It’s also worth noting that Hertz is open quite a bit longer than some of the other rental car companies on our list, which is nice to know if your flight is scheduled to come in late or ends up running late. 

If you do end up renting with Hertz, make sure to sign up for the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, which will give you access to some amenities that you’re sure to appreciate. Think along the lines of free additional drivers with each rental, priority access to rental cars, and skip-the-line privileges during pick-up. 

Pros: The rental counter is open late and there’s a great selection of amenities for rewards members.

Cons: Hertz is somewhat pricier than other car rental providers at Fort Lauderdale Airport which rank similarly in terms of customer satisfaction. 

Phone: (954) 712-5200

Hours: Daily from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Google Rating: 3.5 stars

Kayak Rating: 7.7 (Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Hertz

5. Dollar Car Rental 

Lastly, if you’re looking for a truly budget-friendly deal, head to Dollar. With cheap rates to begin with plus tons of extra ways to save if you take advantage of special rates and the Dollar rewards program, you’re sure to save some cash here. 

Unfortunately, because the rates are so cheap, you may find the staff tries to upsell you or that they tack on extra fees and costs. For this reason, be sure to check all the fine print before you pick up your rental. 

Otherwise, other complaints include dirty vehicles. 

Pros: Super-cheap pricing, so you can save more cash for your vacation.

Cons: Watch for upselling, hidden fees, and the occasional dirty car.

Phone: (954) 377-8550

Hours: Daily from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Google Rating: 3.2 stars

Kayak Rating: 7.0 (Good)

Click Here to See the Best Car Rental Deals at Dollar

Comparing the 5 Best Car Rental Companies at Fort Lauderdale Airport  

Get a quick glimpse of these five best car rental companies so you know which is best for you.

Brand/Rental Provider	Google/Kayak Rating	Types of available vehicles	Budget or Luxury?
Hertz	3.5/7.7	Cars, SUVs, luxury vehicles, trucks	Luxury
Alamo	4.4/8.6	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Budget
Enterprise	4.4/8.2	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Luxury
Dollar	3.2/7.0	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Budget
Sixt	3.9/7.3	Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, luxury vehicles	Mid-Range

Tips for Renting a Car in Fort Lauderdale 

Whichever of the five best rental car companies you go with for your trip to Fort Lauderdale, however, there are a few more things you’ll need to know. 

Know how to get to the FLL Rental Car Center 

As mentioned, there are 12 rental car companies located at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Rental Car Center. 

These include:

• Ace
• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Fox
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Sixt
• Thrifty

If you’re looking for the Rental Car Center on your GPS, you can find it at 600 Terminal Drive. 

Otherwise, passengers arriving at Terminal 1 can find the Rental Car Center by following signs to the Concourse B pedestrian bridge, which will take you to the center. 

Passengers arriving at Terminals 2, 3, or 4 will need to follow the Rental Car Center signs to the passenger pick-up area located outside the baggage claim. A free shuttle bus will pick you up from the curb and take you to the center. 

At the end of your trip, when you’re reading to return your car, just follow the signs for the Rental Car Center. No matter where you’re coming from, it will be the first building on your left once you enter the airport’s grounds.

Consider your other car rental options in Fort Lauderdale

If you’re not finding a viable car rental option among the providers located at the airport, consider renting from an off-site company. Several off-site companies provide car rental services at the airport, but they service the airport via shuttles, rather than having a rental desk and cars on-site. 

If you rent with one of these providers, you’ll still want to go to the Rental Car Center upon your arrival. However, once there, you’ll go to the area marked “Zone G” and take the courtesy shuttle to your provider’s off-airport lot. 

You can also rent a car from a rental car company that does not serve the Fort Lauderdale airport, too. Just find a local provider that offers the type of car you want, for the price you want, and make your reservation. From there, you just have to figure out how to get from the airport to your rental company’s office on your own. 

You only have a few ground transportation options from Fort Lauderdale Airport, but they’ll get the job done. To take a taxi or rideshare into Fort Lauderdale, to Miami, West Palm Beach, South Beach, or wherever, just head to baggage claim and then outside. From there, find the Transportation Podium, where your driver can pick you up. 

Consider your other transportation options in Fort Lauderdale 

Of course, while a rental car is one of your best transportation options when visiting Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area, it’s not your only option. If you decide to forgo the convenience and freedom a rental car will give you during your trip, you can also use taxis and ride-share services.

If you’re staying in Fort Lauderdale, you have the additional option of a water taxi. The water taxis travel the Intracoastal Waterway and New River, with more than a dozen stops of interest along the waterfront. While this option can be a little expensive, it’s a unique experience.

A trolley runs around Fort Lauderdale’s downtown and beachfront, with day passes costing only a few dollars. Bus service is also available. 

Brightline trains run between Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Miami. Rides are short, but the trains don’t run non-stop, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Bicycle rentals are also a popular choice for travelers who want to get in a little exercise while taking in the Florida weather.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.