Car rental at LAX Airport
LAX is the busiest rental market in the country, and the collection process rewards a little planning.
Getting to the rental cars
Rental collection at LAX is off-airport, reached by shuttle from the terminal kerbside. The airport has been consolidating rental operations into a single facility connected by an automated people mover, so check your confirmation for the current pick-up instruction rather than relying on a previous visit. Allow 45 minutes from baggage reclaim, and longer in the late afternoon arrival peak.
Leaving the airport
Sepulveda north and the 105 east are the usual exits. Avoid heading onto the 405 north between 3pm and 7pm if there is any alternative — a 12-mile journey can take an hour. If your hotel is in Santa Monica or Venice, surface streets are often faster than the freeway.
Consider a smaller airport
If your itinerary allows it, Burbank, Long Beach and John Wayne all have far quicker rental collection than LAX and are better positioned for parts of the metro area. For a trip focused on the Valley or Pasadena, Burbank in particular can save an hour on both ends.
| Airport code | LAX — Los Angeles International |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Shuttle or people mover from the terminals |
| Allow | 45 minutes from baggage reclaim |
| Alternatives | Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), John Wayne (SNA) |
| Watch for | Afternoon peak on the 405; plan the first drive around it |