Can You Pick Up a Rental Car Early? Answers by Company

Rental car counters at an airport

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]
  • Find a Rental

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]
  • Find a rental

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]
  • Find a rental

Budget logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Dollar Car Rental logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Enterprise logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Fox Rent A Car Logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Getaround logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Hertz logo

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]
  • Find a rental

National Car Rental logo

National Car Rental

Payless Car Rental logo

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]
  • Find a rental

SIXT logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Thrifty Car Rental logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Turo logo

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]
  • Find a rental

Zipcar logo

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]
  • Find a rental
  1. ACE Rent a Car customer service via live chat[][]
  2. Thrifty Car Rental customer service (800) 847-4389[][][][]
  3. Sixt customer service via Facebook chat[]
  4. Alamo Rent a Car customer service (888) 233-8749[][][][]
  5. Avis Rent a Car location customer service representatives[][][][]
  6. https://support.zipcar.com/hc/en-us/articles/220676347-How-do-hourly-daily-rates-work-[]
  7. ACE Rent a Car (877) 822-3872[][][]
  8. Alamo Rent a Car customer service via Facebook chat[][][]
  9. Avis Rent a Car customer service (800) 352-7900[][][]
  10. Budget customer service (800) 214-6094[][][]
  11. Dollar Car Rental customer service (800) 800-5252[][][]
  12. Dollar Car Rental location customer service representatives[][][]
  13. Enterprise Rent-A-Car customer service via live chat[][][][][]
  14. Enterprise Rent-A-Car customer service via live chat[]
  15. Fox Rent A Car customer service via live chat[][][]
  16. https://help.getaround.com/hc/en-us/articles/205662954-Changing-a-Trip[]
  17. Getaround customer service via Facebook chat[]
  18. https://en.getaround.com/help/articles/3efdd7e2abdc#drivers[]
  19. Hertz customer service (800) 654-4173[][][]
  20. Hertz customer service via Facebook chat[][][]
  21. National Car Rental customer service (844) 393-9989[][][]
  22. Payless Car Rental customer service (800) 729-5377[][][]
  23. SIXT customer service via Facebook chat[][][]
  24. Thrifty Car Rental location customer service representatives[][][]
  25. Turo customer support via live chat[][]
  26. https://help.turo.com/extending-or-shortening-your-trip-BypBE4eVc[][]
  27. https://help.turo.com/en_us/trip-pricing-ByXmVNgN5[]
  28. Turo customer support via live chat[]
  29. Zipcar customer service via Facebook chat[][][]
  30. https://support.zipcar.com/hc/en-us/articles/4415648675091-How-do-I-modify-or-cancel-my-booking-[][]
  31. https://www.zipcar.com/[]

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