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No booking fees. Free cancellation on most cars
Save by finding great deals and securing low price rentals
Finding a car rental at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is simple with Road Genius. Compare prices from dozens of suppliers all around Alabama with no reservation fees. All rental counters sit on-site at BHM, letting you grab your keys and reach downtown Birmingham in about 15 minutes. Book early to lock in low prices on everything from economy cars to family-size SUVs, with free cancellation on most deals.
Location: All rental car counters at BHM are on-site on the ground level of the airport parking deck, directly across from the terminal. After collecting your luggage, walk to the rental facility – no shuttle needed.
| Rental Company | Phone | Operating Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo | (205) 252-9325 | 5:00AM-12:00AM | Days vary |
| Avis | (205) 592-8724 | 5:00AM-1:00AM | Extended hours for delayed flights |
| Budget | (205) 592-8714 | 5:00AM-12:00AM | Weekdays |
| Dollar | (205) 591-9690 | 5:00AM-12:00AM | Weekends 7:00AM-12:00AM |
| Enterprise | (205) 591-8966 | 5:00AM-1:00AM | 7:00AM open on Sunday |
| Hertz | (205) 592-9633 | 6:00AM-1:00AM | Shorter hours on Saturday |
| National | (205) 591-4640 | 5:00AM-12:00AM | Days vary |
| Payless | (205) 591-3375 | 7:00AM-11:00PM | Limited hours |
| Thrifty | (205) 591-9690 | 7:00AM-11:00PM | Shared counter with Dollar |
On average, car rentals at Birmingham Airport cost around $65 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $32 per day.
Check downtown pick-ups too. Airport rentals carry around 10-15 % in extra surcharges. Compare BHM with Birmingham city branches—sometimes the 10-minute Uber ride is cheaper than the airport fee.
Tweak your dates and times. Shifting pick-up or drop-off by a few hours to keep the rental inside 24-hour blocks can dodge an extra "day" charge. Off-peak pick-ups (before 10 AM or after 8 PM) also mean shorter lines.
Peak events = book early, off-peak = watch & wait. Lock something in weeks ahead for summer, spring break or SEC football weekends. For quiet months like January–February prices often drop last minute, so set a free price alert and rebook if rates slide.
Stick with economy unless you really need space. Small cars are plentiful at BHM and often $30-40/day cheaper than SUVs. Bonus: better gas mileage for those I-20/59 runs.
Bring your own add-ons. Pack a child seat or use your phone's maps instead of paying $10-15/day for each extra. The savings add up fast on a week-long trip.
Refuel off-airport. Hit the Marathon on Gadsden Hwy (2.5 mi) or Shell on Airport Hwy (2.7 mi) before returning. You'll pay pump prices instead of the $9-10/gal refill fee.
Get a car so you can drive to:
Birmingham Civil Rights District – Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church
Five Points South – dining, nightlife
Birmingham Zoo & Botanical Gardens – animals, gardens
Barber Motorsports Museum & Park – motorcycle collection, racetrack
How long does the rental process take at BHM? For a standard pickup, you should plan on 15-30 minutes from the time you get to the counter to when you drive away. You can speed things up if you're an Express member or you filled out your paperwork in advance.
Can I return my car outside operating hours? Yes, you can return your car 24/7. Just park in the special return area, lock the car and put the keys in the drop box. We will email your final receipt to you.
Is there a fee for using the BHM airport rental location? Yes, renting from the airport costs more. You'll pay about 10-15% extra in fees and surcharges than you would at an off-airport location.
How early should I arrive before my flight when returning a rental car? You should give yourself at least 30 minutes to return the car. Then add the time the airport suggests you need before a flight, usually 90 minutes for flights inside the country and 2 hours for international flights.
Do I need an International Driving Permit at BHM? We strongly recommend you get an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your driver's license isn't in English. You should bring both your license from your home country and your IDP.
Can I pick up at BHM and return to a different location? Yes, you can do a one-way rental. If you drop the car off somewhere else in Birmingham, we charge a very small fee or no fee at all. For other cities, the one-way fee is usually between $50 and $150, based on how far away it is.
What happens if my flight is delayed? Most rental companies at BHM watch for flight arrival times. If you included your flight number in your reservation, they will usually hold your car. You should still call the rental company if you know your flight will be very late.
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