DEN Car Rental: Shuttles, Companies, Addresses and Tolls

Rental companies operate on airport property, but not inside the terminal. You take a courtesy shuttle between Jeppesen Terminal and the company lots, both when you pick up and when you come back.

The shuttles stop on Level 5, Island 4. Use doors 505 to 513 on the east side or doors 504 to 512 on the west side.

The airport says more than 10 major companies serve DEN. Prices change, so compare on each company's own site.

Walk out from baggage claim on Level 5 and look for Island 4. The airport's pickup map also lists rental cars at Island 4, at doors 504, 505, 506, 507, 510, 511, 512 and 513. If you arrive on a concourse, take the train to the Jeppesen Terminal and go up to Level 5. On Concourse A, you can also cross the bridge and take the elevator to Level 5.

DEN does not publish a shuttle frequency, ride time or operating hours. The companies do, in part: Avis and Payless say the bus ride takes about 5 to 7 minutes, Budget says the lot is 5 to 6 minutes away, Sixt says about 7 minutes, and Enterprise says its shuttle picks up approximately every 10 minutes. Each company runs its own shuttle bus, so board the one with your company's name.

National and Alamo say their shuttle is outside baggage claim at Curb #4, which differs from DEN's Island 4. Follow the signs for Rental Cars, and ask the company if you cannot find the bus.

If you get lost, the Ground Transportation Information Counter is in the central area of Level 5. It is open 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM daily, and its number is (303) 342-4059.

These are the 11 companies on the airport's list, with the phone numbers it publishes. Addresses come from each company's own page. For Dollar, Thrifty and Fox, no lot address is confirmed here, so ask them before you drive there.

• Avis: (303) 342-5500. 25500 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Open 24 hours; the return counter is always open.
• Budget: (303) 342-9001. 24050 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Open 24 hours.
• Enterprise: (800) 261-7331. 23842 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Open 24 hours, with after hours returns.
• National: (877) 222-9058. 24530 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249.
• Alamo: (877) 222-9075. 24530 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Alamo says it accepts returns 24 hours a day.
• Hertz: (800) 654-3131. 24890 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Hertz says its shuttles run 24 hours a day.
• Sixt: (888) 749-8227. 23410 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Sixt says its shuttle runs 24 hours a day.
• Payless: (303) 342-9444. 25340 E 78th Ave, Denver, CO 80249. Open 6 a.m. to midnight.
• Dollar: (303) 317-0598.
• Thrifty: (800) 367-2277.
• Fox: (800) 225-4369.

The airport's ConRAC project page says five brand families are on site (Avis, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz and Sixt) and several others operate off site. It does not say which, so confirm your company's address on your reservation.

DEN has a partnership with Turo. Turo pickups and returns are allowed at four places:

• East Garage
• West Garage
• East Economy Surface Lot
• West Economy Surface Lot

Curbside pickup or return is strictly prohibited, and so is washing the vehicle on airport property. Parking fees for the host's car are not published on the car share page, so ask your host.

DEN's rental page has a Tolls and E-470 link and a rental car map, but no list of fees. The airport does not publish rental taxes or airport charges, so the total on your company's quote is the figure to trust.

E-470, the toll road near the airport, is cashless. E-470 says you have three choices. First, add the rental car to your ExpressToll account before you drive: log in at ExpressToll.com, add the vehicle, check the Rental Car box and enter the plate, state and rental dates, or call (303) 537-3470. You then pay only the tolls. Second, take your company's toll plan, which adds daily fees that vary by company. Third, do nothing: cameras photograph the plate, the rental company gets the bill and passes it to you, which can take two to six weeks and may include admin fees. Some cars have non-removable ExpressToll transponders that enroll you in the company's plan automatically, so ask at the counter.

Follow the Car Rental Return signs as you approach the airport. Budget's directions are to take I-70 to Peña Boulevard, take the Rental Car exit, turn left, then turn right on 78th Avenue. Enterprise, Alamo and National offer after hours returns: park in the return lanes, leave the keys on the dash and an agent closes the contract. Avis has a return counter that is always open.

Plan extra time for the shuttle back to Jeppesen Terminal, about 5 to 7 minutes according to Avis and Payless. Budget's shuttle runs until about 12:30 a.m. or the last flight arrival, then stops until about 3:30 a.m., so a very late or early return needs another way to the terminal.

DEN announced a site for a future consolidated rental car facility (ConRAC) in October 2023. It would sit on the employee lot along 78th Avenue, north of Peña Boulevard and east of Jackson Gap.

The airport says no decisions have been made on financing or delivery, and it is also considering a transit system between the terminal and the facility. Nothing changes for your trip today. Questions go to conrac@flydenver.com.