Car Rental at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)

Renting a car at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is a straightforward part of arriving in Alabama, whether you're headed downtown or out toward attractions like Oak Mountain State Park or the Barber Motorsports Museum. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) keeps every major rental brand in a single dedicated facility, so there's no shuttle ride or separate building to track down once you land. This guide covers exactly where to go, which companies operate at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), and what you'll need to drive away.

Where to Find Rental Cars at BHM

The BHM Rental Car facility sits in section 1B on the ground level of the airport's parking deck, and every rental company operating at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) picks up and drops off vehicles from that same location. Since the facility connects directly to the parking deck rather than requiring an off-site shuttle, the walk from baggage claim to your rental counter stays short regardless of which company you've booked with.

Rental Car Companies at BHM

Each company operating at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) sets its own hours, so it's worth checking your specific pickup or return time against their schedule before you land, especially for early morning or late-night flights. Alamo runs from 5:00 a.m. to midnight every day of the week, while Avis varies slightly by day, opening at 6:00 a.m. on Sundays, 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays, closing at either 11:00 p.m. or midnight depending on the day. Enterprise keeps a consistent schedule of 7:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. daily, which covers most flight arrival windows without much trouble.

What You'll Need to Rent a Car

Every rental company at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) requires a valid driver's license and a major credit card in the renter's name, along with meeting the company's minimum age requirement, which typically runs around 21 with an added fee for younger drivers. International visitors face a slightly different set of rules depending on their home country's license. If your license is in English, or in a language like German or Spanish that still uses English letters, an International Driving Permit is recommended but not strictly required for translation purposes. If your license uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Russian, Japanese, or Arabic, an International Driving Permit becomes a requirement rather than a suggestion.

Keep in mind that an International Driving Permit alone isn't considered valid identification on its own. It works as a translation of your home country license, so you'll need to present both documents together at the counter regardless of which company you're renting from.

Picking Up and Returning Your Vehicle

Once you've collected your bags, following signage toward the parking deck takes you straight to the BHM Rental Car facility, where each company maintains its own counter within section 1B. Since every brand shares the same general pickup and drop-off area, comparing wait times or checking availability at a neighboring counter is simple if your first choice is running behind. When it's time to return your vehicle, the same section 1B location applies, and building in a little extra time before your flight helps account for any lines during busier periods.

Frequently Asked Questions