Easiest car rental at airport

Question

Hoping to get a rental car at airport that I can walk to not take a shuttle. Ideally that I can reserve and go straight to with no waiting in line? Which rental companies have that at PSP? Any suggestions? thank you

Answer

Good question. Yes — getting a rental car right at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is actually pretty easy. Unlike many large airports, you don’t need to take a shuttle: the rental counters are in (or very near) the terminal, and the car lots are a very short walk. According to travelers, all the major rental agencies operate on-site.

Here are some of the easiest / most convenient rental companies to use at PSP, plus tips to skip as much waiting as possible:

Enterprise — Their PSP counter is located in the terminal, and as one official source notes, “Proceed to the Enterprise counter … to obtain your rental agreement and vehicle keys.”
Avis — Also has a counter in the terminal (baggage claim area), and the lot is very close — Avis says the walk from counter to car lot is only ~100 ft.
Other On-Site Options — According to the airport’s car-rental listing, PSP supports Alamo, National, Budget, Hertz, and Thrifty, all located in the terminal or immediate rental facility.
Rhino — If you like more flexible / boutique rental options, Rhino has on-site pickup at PSP (per their listing), which means you can walk from the terminal to get the car.

Things to Know / Tips to Avoid Long Lines:

Some Reddit users report that Avis and Budget desks can have very long waits, especially during peak times.
Hertz tends to be faster, especially if you join their loyalty program — people report getting out in just a few minutes.
Because the rental counters are so close to the terminal, you can often walk in immediately after baggage claim and walk out with your car quickly — there’s no need for a shuttle.
When booking, reserve in advance — not just to guarantee a car, but to pick a company / counter likely to be less crowded at your arrival time.
If you have any loyalty or status program (Hertz Gold, Avis Preferred, etc.), use it — that often gets you into a faster “priority” line.

Bottom Line: Yes — there are several car rental companies right at PSP that you can walk to from the terminal, so you don’t have to deal with shuttle buses. If you want to minimize waiting time, Hertz or Enterprise are probably your best bets (based on traveler feedback), but Avis and others are totally viable too if you reserve ahead.

Easiest car rental at airport

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