SMF Car Rental: Rental Car Terminal and Shuttle Guide

All rental car companies at SMF are in the rental car terminal on airport property. You do not walk to your car from the terminal. You ride a shuttle.

The airport lists 10 companies on site: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty and Zipcar. One off-airport company, Airport Van Rental, is also listed.

The airport does not publish a street address for the rental car terminal. Enterprise, National and Alamo list 6327 Aviation Dr, Sacramento, CA 95837. Avis lists 6520 McNair Cir and Budget lists 6420 McNair Cir, both 95837. Follow the Rental Car Return signs after you enter the airport campus.

The rental car shuttle stops at designated spots on the ground level curbs outside both terminals. It runs 24 hours a day and comes about every 10 minutes.

Shuttles are assigned by terminal. Read the sign on the vehicle so you end up at the right terminal when you come back.

At Terminal B, airport shuttles stop at the east entrance of the ground (baggage claim) level. After you return, take the escalator or elevator up to departures.

Avis tells arriving customers to follow the signs to baggage claim, go outside to the center median and board the common rental car bus. The counters are about 30 feet from where the bus stops.

The airport says to allow 25 to 35 minutes for the wait and the ride to your terminal. Waits can run longer in the airport's peak hours: 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight.

Allow extra time on the way back if you have an early flight.

On airport: Alamo: (800) 327-9633 Avis: (916) 922-5601 Budget: (800) 763-2999 Dollar Rent a Car: (866) 434-2226 Enterprise: (800) 736-8227 Hertz: (800) 654-3131 National: (800) 227-7366 Payless Car Rental: (916) 441-4488 Thrifty: (916) 285-0648 Zipcar: (866) 494-7227

Off airport: Airport Van Rental, (916) 913-8133. It picks up customers at the rental car terminal.

The airport says you can return cars as early as 4:00 a.m. As you enter the airport campus, follow the Rental Car Return signs, then the signs for your company. Enterprise and National tell you to park in the return lanes, lock the car and leave the keys in the drop box if the counter is closed. Alamo, Avis and Budget also have an after-hours key drop box in the return area. Take the shuttle from the rental car terminal to your terminal; it runs 24 hours a day.

The airport does not publish a latest return time. Counter hours posted by the companies include 6 a.m. to midnight for Avis and Budget and 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. for Enterprise. Check your rental agreement or call your company.

Avis, Budget, Hertz and National offer vehicles for people with disabilities. Reserve equipped vehicles at least 48 to 72 hours ahead.

The airport does not rent car seats. Ask your rental company about one when you book.

The airport has no page on Turo or other peer to peer rentals. If you book one, ask the host exactly where the pickup is and whether it is on airport property.

The airport does not publish rental taxes or airport fees. Your quote from the rental company shows the full total before you book.

The airport lists the rental car facility among the places with free Wi-Fi, so you can check your reservation while you wait. It is not available in the garage or other parking lots.