Car Rental at the Savannah Airport (SAV)
Nine rental car brands share three counters in baggage claim at the Savannah airport, with the cars in a covered garage next door.
Savannah Airport Car Rental Companies
Pick your own car from the row, SUVs included; renters praise quick pickups and staff who fix problems.
A quick handover and clean cars; the shared counter can have a line when several flights land.
Newer cars and a quick return; on busy afternoons the wait is for the car, not the counter.
New cars and frequent upgrades on the manager’s-choice rate; expect offers of extras at the counter.
Fast pickup and a five-minute return; when its desk is closed, renters join the Hertz line.
Open latest, until 12:30 a.m.; the counter also serves Budget and Payless, so lines can be long.
Run locally rather than by Hertz itself, and it closes earliest; call the local desk if you land late.
Clean cars that look new, but renters are often sent to the Avis line and describe long waits.
The budget brand of the Avis group; renters describe disputes over charges and bookings not honored.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport car rental is all in one place: every company’s counter is in baggage claim, and the cars are in the covered garage and lots next to the terminal, a short walk with your bags. The stars on each card are that counter’s own Google rating, not the brand’s, and they differ a lot: the same brand can be well run at one airport and short-staffed at another. Tap the stars for what renters say.
Which Rental Cars at the Savannah Airport Share a Counter
| Counter | Brands | Hours (daily) |
|---|---|---|
| Avis group | Avis, Budget, Payless | Avis and Budget 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Payless 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Enterprise group | Enterprise, National, Alamo | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Hertz group | Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty | Hertz 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Dollar and Thrifty 7 a.m. to midnight |
The nine brands belong to three companies, and at the Savannah airport each company runs its brands from one counter. When a brand’s own desk is closed, its renters are sent to the family’s main counter: Budget and Payless customers to Avis, Dollar customers to Hertz. That is why the cheaper brands so often mean the longest line. If you land in the evening, check the closing time above, and know that Hertz closes at 8 p.m.
Rental Car Savannah Airport Tips for Hilton Head
Put your flight number on the reservation, and if you are delayed past the counter’s closing time, call the local desk before you land: several renters arrived after midnight to an empty counter. Photograph the car all round before you leave the garage, and check the fuel and extras on your receipt when you return it. An economy booking may come as an electric car; ask at the counter if you would rather have gas.
From the garage it is about 39 miles and 50 minutes to the bridges onto Hilton Head: I-95 north to exit 8, then US 278 east. Savannah to Hilton Head has the route and the times to avoid. Rather not drive? Savannah airport to Hilton Head compares shuttles, car services, taxis and Uber.
Car Hire at Hilton Head Airport
Staff who stay late for delayed flights; check the fuel charge on your receipt.
Flying into the island instead? Car rental at HHI’s airport is the same brands, Payless aside, with counters in baggage claim and the lot a few steps away. Car hire on Hilton Head itself is mostly these airport counters, plus an Enterprise branch down Beach City Road, so book with your flight. Hours change with the season; see Hilton Head airport for flights, parking and taxis.
Several brands are at both airports, so you can fly into Savannah and out of Hilton Head, or the other way, and return the car at the other airport. Ask about the one-way charge when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which car rental companies are at the Savannah airport?
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty. Their counters are in baggage claim, and the cars are in the covered garage next to the terminal.
Are the rental cars at the Savannah airport on site?
Yes. There is no shuttle bus: you walk from the counters in baggage claim to the covered rental garage next to the terminal.
What time do the Savannah airport rental counters close?
Avis and Budget at 12:30 a.m., Dollar and Thrifty at midnight, Payless at 11 p.m., Alamo, Enterprise and National at 10 p.m., and Hertz at 8 p.m. If your flight is delayed past closing, call the local desk before you land.
Can I rent a car on Hilton Head Island?
Yes. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty all have counters at Hilton Head Island Airport, on the north end of the island.
Can I pick up a car in Savannah and return it on Hilton Head?
Usually, since most brands are at both airports. Expect a one-way charge, and confirm it when you book.
How long is the drive from the Savannah airport to Hilton Head?
About 50 minutes to the bridges onto the island and an hour and ten minutes to Coligny at the south end, without traffic.
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