How to pick up and return a hire car at Canberra Airport (CBR)

Canberra Airport (CBR) is the Australian Capital Territory’s only commercial airport and handles both domestic and international flights for the capital. Read on to learn which rental car providers service the airport, where their hire desks are, and how to pick up and return your hire car.

International or domestic?

Canberra has a single terminal, with domestic departures on level two and international departures on level three. Both domestic and international passengers arriving at Canberra Airport will exit onto the ground floor of the terminal building.

How to pick up your hire car

Once you’ve disembarked from your flight, cleared customs and immigration (if flying internationally), and collected your luggage, the car rental desks are a short walk away. When flying into Canberra Airport, it’s prudent to provide your flight number when booking an airport rental car as this means your hire car provider will be aware if there is a delay to your flight.

Find your on-airport rental desk

Canberra Airport’s on-airport rental car providers maintain their desks just outside the main terminal building. There are no off-airport rental car providers serving the airport, so if you’d prefer to collect your hire car from elsewhere you’ll need to arrange a rental car in Canberra rather than at the airport.

On-airport pickup

Exit Canberra Airport’s main terminal building through the doors opposite Baggage Claim 4, then turn left, and the rental car desks are located across the road. The hire car parking area is located behind the branch offices.

Finalise your rental agreement and collect keys

You’ll need to complete any paperwork and inspect the vehicle before you’re able to drive away, but once these steps are complete, you’ll be handed the keys to your rental car. Learn more about a picking up an airport rental car.

What should I do if the desk is unattended?

If the rental car desk is unattended when you arrive, staff may have left a sign with instructions or a contact number. If you can’t find a sign, head to the rental car parking area (located behind the rental car desks), where more staff should be available. You can also check your booking confirmation email for the provider’s contact details, and if you’re still unable to reach anyone, call us on 1300 722 920. Rental desks that are unattended for short periods of time are not uncommon, so there’s usually no need to be concerned.

How to return your hire car

On-airport return

Canberra Airport is approximately a 15-minute, or 8-kilometre drive from the centre of Canberra, and while the M3 provides the most direct route, Parkes Way and Morshead Drive offer a more scenic drive along the northern bank of Lake Burley Griffin. Once within the airport precinct, follow the signs to the rental car parking area, and once you’ve parked your hire car, head to your depot and return the keys to the staff.

Set aside at least 30 minutes for returning your hire car to allow staff enough time to inspect the car and complete the necessary paperwork. Airports generally recommend arriving two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, so factor the time required to return your hire car into this.