PHX Airport Rental Car Guide Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Car Rental at Phoenix Airport

Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX) connects Phoenix - the capital of the southwestern US state of Arizona - to over 130 domestic and international destinations. The airport is located about 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix and is a hub for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, the latter for it it also serves as a base. As Arizona’s largest airport, the passenger traffic here is impressive; in 2023, PHX was the 8th-busiest airport in the US and the 25th-busiest airport in the world. With this kind of size and capacity, it is no surprise that a Phoenix welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Many first-time and repeat visitors to Phoenix opt to rent a car at the airport for a smooth and stress-free trip to Phoenix and surrounding cities. To reach the Rental Car Center, take the shuttle from the baggage claim levels of each terminal. The shuttles run 24/7 so you’ll be covered no matter what time of the day or night you arrive. The car rental agencies housed at the Center are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Nü Car Rentals, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty. Pre-booking your vehicle is highly recommended as vehicle availability for walk-in customers may be limited. 

The Rental Car Center is located at 1805 E. Sky Harbor Circle South (between 16th Street and 24th Street, south of Buckeye Road).

Downtown Car Rental at Phoenix

If you didn't rent a car at the airport facility, you can still arrange it quite easily: the city has various car rental outlets. If you are planning on visiting Phoenix for a few days, consider renting an economy car to save some money. They are also more fuel-efficient and are usually easy to park. Alternatively, if you are traveling in a large group, an SUV or a sedan would be ideal for maximum space and comfort. Luxury car hunters can opt for a Dodge Charger or similar. Many Phoenix car rental companies also provide one-way rental services, so you can drop off your vehicle at your last destination before flying out from a different airport. Although car rental companies are spread all over the city, you will find many of their branches concentrated on Camelback Road in downtown Phoenix.

Driving in Phoenix

The city's rush hour extends from 7 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm. The weekends are usually extra busy. Some of the busiest roads in Phoenix - and all of Arizona - are Bell Road and Camelback Road. Take caution when joining or leaving the highways and freeways - especially Interstate 10 (regarded as one of the most dangerous highways in the country!), Interstate 17, and US Route 60.

Keep a note of the following while driving through Phoenix:

● The speed limit can vary from 55 to 75 mph, depending on if you’re on the interstate or passing through a major city. Keep an eye out for street signs indicating the appropriate speed limit for the road you’re driving on.

● The use of cellular devices while driving is completely banned in Arizona.

● Arizona has a lot of roundabouts and no highway toll gates.

● A quirky one- make sure your license plate holder (or anything else!) doesn’t accidentally cover the state name on your license plate.

● Arizona is really strict about its drinking-and-driving laws and while the national blood alcohol concentration cutoff currently stands at 0.08%, Arizonian police officers can pull you over and cite you if they believe you’re impaired at any level.

● In case of an emergency while driving, pull over and call 911.

Phoenix has a lot of free street parking spots available. If you need to park your vehicle overnight, you can use metered on-street parking that is free between 10 pm and 8 am. There are also several parking lots available to the public, and we recommend using the ParkMobile app to find them.

Car Rental Agencies in Phoenix

Numerous car rental companies serve Phoenix, including Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Dollar, Thrifty, and National, among others. Besides renting your vehicle from the airport car rental facility, you can also visit any of the offices of these companies in downtown Phoenix. The most frequently rented cars include economy vehicles like Kia Soul and large SUVs like the Land Rover Discovery. 

Top Road Trips from Phoenix

Drive down the I-10 to Tucson, fondly called the “other big city in Arizona” by the locals in Phoenix. While there, marvel at the enormous cacti in the Sonoran Desert (which can reach an incredible height of 12 meters!) and the intriguing petroglyphs of the Hohokam people at Saguaro National Park before swinging by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to explore its abundant attractions, including a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, and a natural history museum.

To get an almost bird’s eye view of the entire city of Phoenix and its surroundings, drive to South Mountain Park and Preserve to reach the Dobbins Lookout. This scenic drive takes you up to an elevation of over 2000 feet and offers not only a great vantage point over the city but also boasts over 50 miles of incredible hiking and biking trails. It is free to enter the park and is a popular day-trip destination for Phoenix locals. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy.

You might be surprised to learn that Arizona is home to not one, but two award-winning wine regions! Drive east on Indian School Road to reach Old Town Scottsdale from Phoenix. Since it’s a relatively small town, you can walk from one winery to another on foot. Some of the best wineries in Scottsdale that we’d like to recommend are Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars and Salvatore Vineyards. If you’re driving down, make sure to pick a designated driver in advance.

FAQS about Phoenix car rental

Q: Cost of renting a car in Phoenix?

A: The average cost per day of renting a car in Phoenix is just $37 USD per day.

Q: What’s the cheapest car rental in Phoenix?

A: Prices for Phoenix car rentals start from just $25 USD per day when booking in advance with our partners Enjoy Travel.

Q: What’s the minimum age to rent a car in Phoenix?

A: To rent a car in Phoenix you must be at least 21.

Q: Can I have additional drivers on the rental agreement in Phoenix?

A: Additional drivers can be added to your Phoenix car rental agreement upon request.

Q: What’s the best car for getting around Phoenix?

A: We recommend opting for an SUV such as a Toyota RAV4 while in Phoenix because of its full control on and visibility on the roads.