Car rental at Columbus Airport
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Cheap car rentals at Columbus Airport
Top tips for renting a car at Columbus Airport
- For a convenient trip from Columbus Airport (CMH) to downtown Columbus, consider taking a car rental at Columbus Airport. A Columbus Airport car rental has several advantages that other transport means cannot afford. First, your trip will be comfortable and convenient, unlike with taxis or public buses. You will also enjoy the flexibility of planning your own journey, and even if you want to stop and grab a bite, you’re free to do so.
- If you’re not the only driver, notify your car rental provider before taking your car rental at Columbus Airport. Additional drivers are allowed for Columbus Airport car rentals. However, each other driver must pay a small fee a day and should meet the license and age requirements provided. A spouse or a domestic partner can be an additional driver, and no charge will be applied, but they must be present at the time of taking the rental.
- Several types of cars are available for renting at Columbus Airport car rentals. From cheap economy rentals to big rugged pickup trucks, CMH car rentals have them all. A cheap economy rental should suffice for business travelers or couples on vacation. For a group of friends, you should find passenger van rentals or minivans also available at Columbus Airport car rentals, and for those looking for some style, there’s a fleet of luxury cars, including convertibles available.
- The I-70 and I-71 are two of the busiest roads in Columbus and two roads that link CMH to other parts of the city. However, this means that they are two of the busiest roads during rush hour, between 7 and 9 am during the morning and 5 to 7 pm in the evenings. Plan your trips around these hours to avoid being stuck in traffic when picking or returning your Columbus Airport car rental.
- Book your rental car at Columbus Airport at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
FAQs about renting a car at Columbus Airport
What documentation will a foreign driver need to get a car rental at Columbus Airport?
If you’re visiting Columbus from a foreign nation and would like the convenience of driving yourself around town, you will need to have a valid driver’s license and a debit or credit card in your name. Your driver’s license should be in English or the Latin alphabet, but if not, an International Driving Permit will be required. Please note that the international permit on its own can’t be used to get a car rental at Columbus Airport and must always be accompanied by the driver’s license. Photocopies or pictures of your driver’s license, temporary permits, and learner’s permits are not accepted at the car rental counters at CMH.
Where are the car rental counters located at Columbus Airport?
Anyone who would like to drive off CMH in a car rental should head to the car rental desks located at the Arrivals area in the main terminal building. You should find several reputable car rental agencies offering different vehicles and rates, and you should pick one that best meets your needs. Once you’ve been given the keys to your rental, head to the ground floor of the multi-story parking building connected to the terminal building to pick up your rental car. This lot is the same one you will use for dropping off your Columbus Airport car rental.
How can I pay for car rentals at Columbus Airport?
CMH car rentals offer several means of payment for renters looking for vehicles. The most accepted payment method is by credit card with several major credit cards, including MasterCard, American Express, Visa, and Discover Network, accepted at rental desks at CMH. You can also opt to pay for your Columbus Airport car rental using a debit card, but this method has some restrictions. First, some companies require you to be at least 25 years old, and you’ll be subjected to a creditworthiness check before a deposit is placed. The other means of payment accepted are cash, money order, and prepaid cards, all of which are only taken when clearing up any balances remaining at the end of your rental agreement.
What is the best rental car company at Columbus Airport?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental company at Columbus Airport is Budget (6.3, 79 reviews).
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Columbus Airport?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Columbus Airport to off-airport locations include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
Columbus Airport car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Alamo
7.7
Good
Read 24 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.6
Value for money
7.7
One location in Columbus Airport
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Robert, Apr 2024
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Dec 2023
Minivan
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Full-size
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Mar 2021
Pros:
Staff did a very nice jobCons:
Car had been smoked in The odor became overwhelming during the rental10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Dec 2020
Pros:
Pick up and drop off were very easy.6.0 Okay
Bariki, Oct 2020
Pros:
I was not given clear direction to where to go pick up. I was in the garage for over 20min looking. After locating a person he pointed me to a vehicle that didnt have any keys... frustrated at this point i walk back to the booth and demand they get the van and bring it. That took forever.Cons:
Have an attendant on hand. It SHOULD NEVER BE THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND THE VEHICLEHertz
6.8
Okay
Read 23 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
6.7
One location in Columbus Airport
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Mike, Aug 2024
Full-size
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Aug 2024
Full-size
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Dec 2021
8.0 Very good
Ellen, Nov 2021
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Nov 2021
8.0 Very good
Tom, Mar 2021
Pros:
The staff didn't seem overly friendly but were helpful enough. They failed to mention their return method at this location which caused a little confusion when I returned the car.Cons:
I felt that they should have clearly explained their return method (or at least mentioned it).Budget
6.3
Okay
Read 58 reviewsCleanliness
6.8
Comfort
6.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.0
One location in Columbus Airport
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Sept 2024
Full-size
6.0 Okay
DONNA, Aug 2024
Full-size
8.0 Very good
Henry, Apr 2024
Compact
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Supplier choice
10.0 Wonderful
MaryJ, Mar 2024
Pickup truck
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Nov 2023
Economy
Payless
6.0
Okay
Read 36 reviewsCleanliness
6.9
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.1
Value for money
6.6
One location in Columbus Airport
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Craig, Nov 2023
Economy
2.0 Poor
John, Oct 2023
Standard SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Gary, Oct 2023
Economy
1.9 Poor
Anonymous, Jul 2021
8.0 Very good
kdanner0024, May 2021
Pros:
The drop off went very smoothly and efficiently.Cons:
It was extremely difficult to find the Payless pick up counter. There was no signage for Payless indicating where I should go. I had to ask a family member to do some research while I wandered around. She discovered that Avis bought Budget and Payless so I went to the Avis/Budget counter. There was a small Payless sign behind the Budget counter. Definitely frustrating.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.3
Very good
Read 16 reviewsCleanliness
8.4
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.1
Value for money
8.0
One location in Columbus Airport
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
Tiffany, May 2024
Passenger van
2.0 Poor
Syed, May 2024
Standard SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Premium SUV
2.0 Poor
Melanie, Oct 2020
Pros:
No. I was sent back and forth and one manager openly derided one of his coworkers.Cons:
They could work as a single unit. It seemed like I was dealing with two separate companies.6.4 Okay
Jennifer, Aug 2020
Pros:
People were nice, even if not Covid-19 safe.Cons:
Had to check at three different rental car checkpoints before finding someone with the Enterprise group that could give us our rental car. Person who got our car wasn’t wearing a Covid-19 mask over her nose, and I had to touch the computer to finish. Lastly, the Ford we rented had a terrible navigation and audio interface, both of which were dangerous to use.10.0 Wonderful
Dennis, Jun 2020
Pros:
YesCons:
NothingNational
8.1
Very good
Read 9 reviewsCleanliness
7.9
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.9
Value for money
7.5
One location in Columbus Airport
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Sept 2024
Standard SUV
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Aug 2020
Cons:
Poorest management and the stuff needs more training3.2 Poor
Crystal, Jun 2020
Cons:
I reserved a Tahoe or equivalent but they gave me a Tacome truck with less space. The wait to check in and get vehicle was over an hour wait. The truck was dirty: the previous user had a dog in it and there was hair everywhere. The window have finger smudges on all of them and there was fish scales in the tail bed. I was definitely a lack luster experience.10.0 Wonderful
Benjamin, Dec 2019
Pros:
Staff was very friendly and the drop off super easy10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Ellen, Nov 2021
One location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
4106 International Gateway
+1 380 867 0002
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Standard SUV
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Nov 2023
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Didier, Sept 2023
Standard
4.4 Mediocre
Anonymous, Oct 2019
Pros:
Drop off was easy.Cons:
It took a long time to pick up the car (40 minutes) even though there was only one person in front of me in line. The cars weren't ready. I had absolutely no choice, and the car was not what I had ordered. It was really flashy--something I did not want at all as a woman travelling alone.6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Jul 2023
Intermediate
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Jun 2023
Full-size
One location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
4106 International Gateway
+1 614 239 1084
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Pros:
Staff was not there at the time of my pick up no help on the phone when I called dollar corporate services. Staff was late opening on the second day when I went back to get my car. Not wearing facemask. Very bad experience!Cons:
Communications between dollar rental and carrentals.com, through who I made my reservation. More punctual and professional help both at the counter in person as well as online is needed.2.0 Poor
Bonnie, Apr 2021
Pros:
Nothing. They closed before 6 pm, my flight was late. No car to pick up. Rip-off.Cons:
They could make provisions for early evening pickup. Ie 6 pm2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Mar 2021
Cons:
We made a “reservation” for a Suburban. When we got there all they had left was a little 4 door car. We have 7 people in our family so that wouldn’t work. The man working was nice enough, but he told us when you reserve with a lower cost rental company it’s hit or miss. Sometimes you get what you want, and sometimes you don’t. He showed us a long list of people he had to call to tell them they didn’t have any cars available. I would not recommend renting from Dollar because there NO GUARANTEE that you’ll get what you reserve, or any car for that matter!2.0 Poor
Jessica, Mar 2021
Cons:
They should have notified us that they close at 2pm and that, they would not be able to rent us a car. Their sign says go upstairs to the 2nd floor and someone will help you. Then upstairs it says we close at 2pm. So we had to pay double what our original reservation was and book with Hertz there on the spot.2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Feb 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
I booked a car at 7 pm. I reached at 7:30pm. Noone was there .2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Dec 2020
Pros:
didn't pick up car - mom got corona 2 days before christmas and was unable to cancel. thanks priceline, won't be going through you anymore.Cons:
not going through pricelineOne location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
4106 International Gateway
+1 614 239 1084
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2021
Pros:
Whole process smoothCons:
Line at desk to check car out10.0 Wonderful
S, Oct 2020
Pros:
easiest/fastest rental and return I have ever had!Cons:
nothing2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2020
Cons:
There was no refund on the rental, even though the charge was fraudulent. It caused me to have to manage the situation with my bank.5.2 Fair
Anonymous, Sept 2020
Pros:
Car was ok----Ford Eco SportCons:
The Thrifty location was farthest from terminal. The staff was occupied with one customer. The wait was long. The attendant did not know how to open the back of SUV. Therebwas no one there when the car was returned---not a single person and they were aware fo when I was returning. Thrify is cheap for a reason!2.0 Poor
lester, Aug 2020
Cons:
If I would hv got my car. Putting my money back in my account. Trying to get them back on the phone.2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Aug 2020
Cons:
I never got the rental. I got to the airport and they stated I needed a major credit card. I canceled the rental car and You still kept my money. I want that taken off my debit card asapOne location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
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One location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
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One location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
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One location in Columbus Airport
Locations in Columbus Airport
4600 International Gateway, Columbus, , USA Ohio
+1 914 368 0091
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Car rental locations at Columbus Airport
Good to know
Most popular car type | Intermediate |
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