Car Rental Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

As you drive to the airport on International Boulevard (State Route 99) or from the highway exits, follow the signs for "Rental Car Return". You'll find the rental car facility entrance is clearly marked. During busy times, you should plan for about 30 minutes to return the car and get the shuttle back to the terminal.

When you rent a car at the airport, the companies charge extra fees you won't find at their other locations. You can expect an airport concession recovery fee (about 11 %), a customer facility charge ($6 per day) and sometimes higher base rates. These extras can add about 15-20 % to your quoted base price.

Usually, yes. Rental places in downtown Seattle, the suburbs or neighbourhood offices don't charge the special airport fees. However, when you work out the total cost, you need to factor in the price and time it takes to get to those locations. You should also remember they often have shorter opening hours.

To get the best price, you should book 3-4 weeks early, check a few comparison websites, use membership discounts (like AAA, Costco Travel or corporate codes) and compare weekly versus daily prices if you are renting for five or more days. If you join the rental company’s loyalty programme, you might also get an upgrade or faster service. Rental Process & Timing:

• After you collect your luggage, follow the signs to the rental car shuttle outside baggage claim.
• Shuttles run every 5-10 minutes, 24 hours a day.
• The ride to the rental facility takes about 5 minutes.
• You should plan for it to take 30-45 minutes from when your plane lands to when you drive away.
• During busy times (like Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings) you should allow extra time.
• Most loyalty programmes let you use a faster counter or skip the counter altogether.

The shuttle ride takes about 5 minutes. The shuttles run 24/7, every 5-10 minutes. When lots of flights arrive at once the buses can be crowded, so you should allow some extra time.

We strongly recommend booking a car in advance. It's especially important during summer (June-September), over holidays or when major conventions are in town. If you book 2-4 weeks ahead, you can usually get a better price and more choice of cars than if you just walk in.

Yes. Most rental companies at SEA let you return cars 24 hours a day. If the counter is closed, follow the after-hours instructions they have posted. This usually means you will drop the keys and contract in a secure box. You should also keep your fuel receipt and take photos of the car that show the date and time.

A standard 2-wheel-drive car is all you need for driving in the city and on the motorway. But if you plan to drive in the mountains during winter to places like Mount Rainier, Stevens Pass or Snoqualmie Pass, road authorities might require you to have an AWD/4WD vehicle or use tyre chains if there is snow and ice.

All the local toll roads (like the SR-520 bridge, SR-99 tunnel and I-405 express lanes) use an electronic system. Cameras take a photo of the car's licence plate and the toll agency bills the rental company. The rental company then charges that toll to your card and adds an admin fee. This fee is usually $3-5 for each day you drive on a toll road. Some companies offer an all-inclusive toll pass, which can be a good deal if you'll be using toll roads often.