LGA Car Rental: Shuttles, Rental Companies and Returns

There is no rental counter inside the terminals. LaGuardia says the rental companies are located nearby and run frequent free shuttles between the airport and the rental car center.

The airport does not publish a single address or one center for all brands. Treat it as company by company. Your confirmation email should name the pickup point, and the phone numbers are listed below.

Follow the Rental Car Shuttles signs at your terminal. Terminal A is closed to the public, so use Terminal B or Terminal C.

• Terminal B: a designated spot near the ground transportation level at zone 4. Avis and Budget say to use the first curb on the arrivals level between the rental car shuttle bus signs numbered 4 and 6.
• Terminal C: a designated spot near the transportation center. Avis and Budget say to use the first curb marked for rental car shuttles on the arrivals level.

The shuttle is free. LaGuardia publishes no timetable for the rental shuttles, so ask your company how often they run. Leave extra time, especially for an early or late flight; Avis and Budget warn of construction delays.

Alamo lists its LGA rental facility at 9501 Ditmars Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY 11369. Enterprise gives the same street address (9501 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11369). Both say National, Alamo and Enterprise share the same shuttle.

Per those company pages:

• Terminal B: go down to Ground Transportation, one level below baggage claim, to pillar 5 (signs say Shuttle Pick Up). Enterprise instead names the HOV pickup zone between columns 5 and 7, so follow the Ground Transportation signs and ask staff if unsure.
• Terminal C: follow the Rental Car Shuttles signs from baggage claim to the transportation center.

Alamo and Enterprise say the facility is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Terminal B, but the shuttle is the easier choice with bags. Alamo tells you to allow extra time on arrival and return because of airport construction.

LaGuardia lists these 10 companies. Numbers are from the airport's page.

• Alamo: +1 (844) 727-2711
• Avis: +1 (718) 507-3608
• Budget: +1 (718) 639-6400
• Dollar: +1 (718) 779-7456
• Enterprise: +1 (844) 648-1612
• Hertz: +1 (718) 478-5300
• National: +1 (844) 727-2707
• Payless: +1 (718) 446-0824
• Sixt: +1 (888) 749-8227
• Thrifty: +1 (718) 779-7456

Addresses and hours from the companies' own pages:

• Avis: 25 Bowery Bay Blvd, Flushing, NY 11371; open 24 hours. Avis says the rental facility is about 1.5 miles from the airport.
• Budget: 88-08 23rd Ave, East Elmhurst, NY 11369; open daily 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Returns between 11:01 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. go to the Avis return lot.

We could not confirm addresses for Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Payless or Sixt on their official pages. The airport page gives no hours for them. Confirm the pickup address and opening hours with your company, especially for a late or early flight.

We found no separate list of off-airport rental companies on the LaGuardia site, and no LGA page for Turo or other peer-to-peer rentals. If you book a peer-to-peer car, follow the pickup instructions in the booking and do not assume a host can meet you at the terminal curb. Airports commonly limit where these handoffs can happen, so confirm the exact spot with the host before you land.

New York State uses cashless tolling, so tolls are billed electronically. Ask your rental company about its policy before you drive off. Some provide E-ZPass tags, and the company may charge an administrative fee for using a toll road.

If you do not want the company tag, you can pay by plate and the company bills you later, or use your own E-ZPass. If you use your own, do not add the rental car's license plate to your account.

Follow the signs for Rental Car Return to your company's lot. Refuel first. LaGuardia says gas stations are within two miles of the airport.

After you drop the car, take the free shuttle back to your terminal. Enterprise says to look for its marked area at the facility. Budget's own lot is open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with later returns going to the Avis lot. LaGuardia does not publish return hours, so check with your company.

LaGuardia publishes no rental prices, airport fees or taxes. Your total depends on the company and dates, so read the fee lines on your booking before you pay. The administrative toll fee mentioned above is the only charge the airport names.

Some on-airport rental companies offer vehicles with hand controls. Call your company directly to reserve one and to arrange shuttle service to or from your terminal.