William Lipovsky
Short Answer — Most rental agencies allow you to pick up your rental car early as long as the vehicle is available, though time limits and fees vary by company. It’s best to call ahead to ensure availability and to find out if the location has any special instructions or restrictions.
Can You Pick Up a Rental Car Early?
You may be able to pick up your rental car early, though policies vary by rental company, location, and availability.
Most car rental companies don’t limit how early you can pick up a vehicle. However, it’s best to call ahead to find out if the vehicle you reserved is ready and available for early pick-up.[1][2]
Keep in mind that if you pick up the vehicle early, you may also need to return it early to avoid paying for an additional day[3][4][5] (or additional hours with Zipcar[6]).
Early Pick-Up Policies by Company
Below, we list each major rental company’s early pick-up policy, including how early you’re allowed to pick up a vehicle without incurring additional fees.
We confirmed this information by contacting representatives from each company and viewing policy documentation online.
ACE Rent a Car
- How early can you pick up a rental car? Varies by location[1][7]
- Early pick-up fee: May vary by location, but usually none[7]
- Restrictions: None[7]
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Alamo Rent a Car
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as the vehicle is available[4][8]
- Early pick-up fee: None if you adjust your return time to match the earlier pick-up time; if you don’t return the vehicle early, you’ll pay for an additional day.[4][8]
- Restrictions: You must call ahead to confirm.[4][8]
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Avis Rent a Car
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as the vehicle is available[9][5]
- Early pick-up fee: None if you adjust your return time to match the earlier pick-up time; if you don’t change the return time, you’ll pay for an additional day.[9][5]
- Restrictions: None, though it’s best to call ahead to confirm.[9][5]
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Budget
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit[10]
- Early pick-up fee: None[10]
- Restrictions: You must call ahead to change the pick-up time on your reservation.[10]
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Dollar Car Rental
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as the vehicle is available[11][12]
- Early pick-up fee: None if you adjust your return time to match the earlier pick-up time; if you don’t return the vehicle early, you’ll pay for an additional day.[11][12]
- Restrictions: None[11][12]
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Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as the vehicle is available[13]
- Early pick-up fee: None[13]
- Restrictions: None[14]
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Fox Rent A Car
- How early can you pick up a rental car? Up to an hour early, as long as the location is open and the vehicle is ready[15]
- Early pick-up fee: None[15]
- Restrictions: None[15]
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Getaround
- How early can you pick up a rental car? Up to an hour early[16]
- Early pick-up fee: None within an hour of your reservation time; if picking the vehicle more than an hour early, adjust the times in your reservation and pay the difference.[17]
- Restrictions: If the rental isn’t a Getaround Connect car and doesn’t have instant booking, time adjustments must receive approval from the vehicle owner.[18]
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Hertz
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit, though there is a fee for picking up a rental more than an hour early.[19][20]
- Early pick-up fee: Fees vary and will appear in your rental agreement.[19][20]
- Restrictions: None[19][20]
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National Car Rental
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as it’s available[21][13]
- Early pick-up fee: None[21][13]
- Restrictions: None[21][13]
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Payless Car Rental
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as it’s available[22]
- Early pick-up fee: None[22]
- Restrictions: None[22]
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SIXT
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit as long as the vehicle is available and ready[23]
- Early pick-up fee: None if you adjust your return time; if you don’t return the vehicle early, you’ll pay for an additional day.[23]
- Restrictions: None[23]
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Thrifty Car Rental
- How early can you pick up a rental car? Varies by location[2][24]
- Early pick-up fee: Varies; call ahead for more information.[2][24]
- Restrictions: Call ahead for instructions and availability.[2][24]
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Turo
- How early can you pick up a rental car? Depends on the vehicle’s host[25][26]
- Early pick-up fee: There’s no extra charge for early pick-up on the same day as your original reservation. If you extend your reservation, you’ll pay for an additional day.[27][25]
- Restrictions: You can pick up a rental up to an hour early without changing the reservation if the vehicle’s host agrees; to pick up a vehicle more than an hour early, submit a trip change request through Turo. Hosts decide whether or not to approve reservation changes.[28][26]
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Zipcar
- How early can you pick up a rental car? No limit, as long as the vehicle is available[29][30]
- Early pick-up fee: Early pick-up may increase your rental costs; you’ll see your new total when you adjust your pick-up time.[29][31]
- Restrictions: To find out if your reservation is available for early pick-up, try to change the pick-up time in the Zipcar app.[29][30]
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