How to pick up and return a hire car at Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Great value rental cars from Brisbane Airport’s most trusted car hire providers
Brisbane Airport (BNE) has two terminals — international and domestic — set around two kilometres apart. The International Terminal (T1 or Terminal I) handles international flights, and the Domestic Terminal (T2 or Terminal D) looks after all domestic flights. The terminals are around two kilometres apart, and the travel time between them is approximately ten to 15 minutes using either a transfer bus or train service. Which terminal you need depends on your flight destination, airline, and rental car provider. See below for clear instructions on how to find Brisbane Airport’s car hire desks and where to pick up your rental car at each terminal.
International or domestic?
If you’re flying internationally, you’ll be using T1. Domestic flights operate from T2, and which terminal you need to go to depends on if you’re flying international or domestic.
| Airlines | T1 | T2 |
| All international flights | ✅ | ❌ |
| All domestic flights | ❌ | ✅ |
Transferring between terminals
As the international and domestic terminals are around two kilometres apart, be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to transfer between Brisbane’s international (T1) and domestic (T2) terminals.
While it is possible to walk between the terminals, most elect to use the bus or train.
Terminal Transfer Bus: Runs every 10 minutes between T1 and T2 between 04:00 and 01:30. The trip takes around five minutes and is a free service.
Airtrain: This train service runs every 15 minutes between T1 and T2, between 05:04 and 22:04 on weekdays and 06:04 and 22:04 on weekends. The trip takes around five minutes but is not a free service.
How to pick up your hire car
At Brisbane Airport, both on- and off-airport rental car providers are available, and regardless of which you’re using, when booking an airport rental car it’s a good idea to supply your flight number so that the provider knows if your flight is delayed and can plan accordingly.
Find your rental desk: On- or off-airport
Brisbane Airport has both on-airport and off-airport depots, so knowing which type of provider you have booked with is the first step in determining where you need to go to collect your rental car.
On-airport
On-airport rental cars desks are located Arrivals Hall of the International Terminal on Level 2, and on Level 1, near the baggage claim at both the Virgin and Qantas ends of the Domestic Terminal.
How to pick up your hire car at Brisbane International Terminal
How to collect your off-airport hire car at Brisbane Airport Terminal 1
Collecting your rental car at Brisbane Airport Terminal 2
How to reach off-airport rental cars from Brisbane Airport Terminal 2
Off-airport
Brisbane Airport’s off-airport rental car depots do not maintain desks at Brisbane Airport itself, meaning you need to arrange transport to their depot, either by using a shuttle transfer, taxi, or rideshare. Off-airport depots serving Brisbane Airport are located in two clusters, so it’s important to be familiar with your depot location beforehand.
Rental car shuttle transfers tend to leave regularly, although not always on demand, so there may be some waiting involved. In some cases the last shuttle transfer is 20 minutes before the depot closing hours, so if you have a late arrival time, it is important to check with your depot regarding their shuttle bus hours.
| Provider | Shuttle cost | Shuttle hours | T1 | T2 |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Free | Mon-Sun 07:00-21:00 | Follow signs to the bus, rideshare, shuttle services. | Bus zone B1/B2. |
| East Coast Car Rentals | Free | Mon-Fri 07:00-21:30 Sat 07:00-17:00 Sun 07:00-19:00 | Bus, rideshare services bays 3 & 4. | Buses & coaches A-B, meeting zone A. |
| Everything Fleet | Free | Mon-Sun: 07:00-21:30 | Bus, rideshare services bays 3 & 4. | Bus zone A-B. |
Finalise your rental agreement and collect keys
Once you reach the correct hire car desk, you’ll Once you reach the correct hire car desk, you’ll need to finalise the paperwork, inspect the vehicle, and collect your keys. Learn more about a typical airport rental car pickup process.
What should I do if the desk is unattended?
Hopefully the car rental provider has left a sign with instructions or a contact number which you can call to let them know that you’ve arrived. If not, make your way to the rental car parking area where a rental attendant should be able to assist you. If the desk is unattended and there’s no sign, check your booking confirmation email for a contact phone number. If you have no luck contacting staff, call us at 1300 722 920. Don’t be alarmed — unstaffed rental desks are not unusual — but rest assured there’s usually staff in the hire car parking area.
How to return your hire car
On-airport
Both of Brisbane Airport’s terminals are a 20 to 25 minute drive from downtown Brisbane, with the primary access point being Moreton Drive approaching the airport from the southwest. If you’re driving to the airport during weekday peak hours (typically 07:30-09:30 and 16:30 to 18:00), be sure to allow extra time in the case of traffic congestion.
It’s also a good idea to allow at least 30 minutes for processing the paperwork and returning your vehicle at an on-airport depot, and at least an hour for an off-airport depot — the latter can take a bit longer due to the extra time involved with taking a shuttle transfer to the terminal. Be wary of returning your vehicle too close to your flight departure time — you’re best to be at the terminal two hours before departure for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight.
T1
For rental car returns to T1, follow the signs to the International Terminal, then follow the “Rental Cars” lane markings. Once you have dropped off your vehicle, you can walk to the international terminal, or if you’re heading to either domestic terminal, you can use the free bus transfer service to get there. Learn more about how to return an airport rental car.
T2
For domestic car hire returns, follow the signs to the Domestic Terminal, then follow the “Rental Cars” lane markings.
Off-airport
Off-airport depots serving Brisbane Airport are located either to the south or southwest of the airport in the suburbs of Pinkemba or Hendra respectively. After returning your vehicle, the drive time from the depot to Brisbane Airport ranges from seven to 15 minutes depending on the depot, terminal you are travelling to, and traffic conditions.
As traffic congestion around Brisbane Airport can be an issue, be sure to allow sufficient time (in most cases 30 minutes should be adequate) to return your airport rental car, and, as shuttles do not typically leave upon demand, allowing a further 30 minutes for the shuttle transfer to Brisbane Airport is prudent.
In most cases, shuttle services are free.
| Provider | Shuttle bus | Depot location | Depot hours | Drive time to T1 | Drive time to T2 |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Free, last shuttle 20 minutes before closing time. | 22 Serpentine Rd, Hendra | Mon-Fri 07:00-21:00 Sat & Sun 08:00-18:00 | 8 min | 10 min |
| East Coast Car Rentals | Free | 132A Hedley Ave, Hendra | Mon-Fri 06:00-22:00 Sat & Sun 06:00-19:00 | 7 min | 11 min |
| Everything Fleet | Free. | 1392 Kingsford Smith Drive, Pinkemba | Mon-Sun: 07:00-22:00 | 9 min | 12 min |
Frequently asked questions
On picking up and returning a rental car at Brisbane Airport
Can I walk between the terminals at Brisbane Airport?
It is possible, but as the terminals are around two kilometres apart, most choose to use one of the provided transport options — the Terminal Transfer Bus or the AirTrain.
Can I walk to Brisbane Airport’s off-airport depots?
While in theory this is possible, as it’s not an easy, scenic, nor pleasant walk, we don’t recommend it. You’re far better off to use either the shuttle transfer provided by rental providers, catch a taxi, or use a ride share service to reach any off-airport depot.
Are shuttle buses to off-airport providers free?
Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast Car Rentals, and Everything Fleet offer a free shuttle bus service to their off-airport depots.
Do all car hire providers have rental desks in every terminal?
No. Check your booking confirmation to see which terminal you’re expected to attend to collect your rental car. If you fly into one terminal cluster but your rental car has been booked at the other cluster, use the free shuttle bus to transfer from one terminal to the other. Off-airport providers don’t maintain desks at the terminals, instead you’ll need to use their shuttle services (or a taxi or ride share) to reach their depot.
How long should I allow for dropping off my car and getting to my flight?
Passengers are typically recommended to arrive at Brisbane Airport two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
If you’re using an on-airport provider, allow at least 30 minutes to process any paperwork and return the vehicle. In peak season it’s prudent to allow longer in case the rental desks are busy.
For off-airport providers you should allow at least an hour, primarily because the shuttle services from the depots to the airport don’t always depart on demand, meaning there may be some waiting time before you’re on the way to the airport.How long should I allow to get from my flight to the car hire desk?
Passengers arriving on international flights into Brisbane Airport should allow at least an hour from the time they land through to clearing immigration, collecting their baggage, and passing through customs. Those not on Australian passports should allow an additional 30 minutes as immigration and customs may be more time consuming.
For those arriving on domestic flights, 30 to 45 minutes should be an adequate amount of time. In peak season, when Brisbane Airport can be very busy, allowing an extra 15 to 20 minutes is a good idea. If you’re travelling with carry-on luggage only, 20 to 30 minutes should be enough time to get from your flight to either an on-airport rental car desk or the shuttle pickup for off-airport providers.
Bear in mind that if you’re using an off-airport provider, you also need to factor in transfer time from Brisbane Airport to the depot. Drive time ranges from seven to 15 minutes (depending on traffic), and you may need to wait for ten minutes or so before a shuttle arrives to pick you up. A good idea is to call your rental car provider as soon as you’re off your flight to let them know you’re on the way. In doing this, they can either dispatch a shuttle transfer so it’s waiting for you when you walk out of the terminal, or ask one already on the way to the airport to wait for you.Where are the closest petrol stations to Brisbane Airport?
Unless you have pre-paid for your fuel it’s a good idea to make sure you have refuelled your rental car before you return it to the rental car provider to avoid them needing to refuel it and charge you for the service at a premium rate.
Petrol stations convenient to Brisbane Airport include:
Ampol: 132a East-West Arterial Rd, Hendra.
Shell: 3 Great Barrier Rd, Brisbane Airport.
Shell: 1097 Nudgee Rd, Banyo.
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