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Houston has two major airports, and the one closer to downtown is usually the pricier place to rent. Hobby sits about 10 miles from the city center and Bush Intercontinental about 20, yet KAYAK’s typical prices came in lower at IAH for all eight car types. The bigger saving isn’t at either airport. For one January week, most brands charged far less at a city branch.
This guide covers the real price, the taxes on the bill, the shuttle at each airport and the toll roads.
Prices
How Much Does a Rental Car in Houston Cost?
KAYAK publishes typical daily prices by car type for each airport. These are averages from user searches, not quotes. Its headline averages moved during our checks, from $39 to $44 a day at IAH and $66 to $75 at Hobby, so we use the steadier car-type figures.
| Car type | IAH, per day | Hobby, per day | Cheapest month at IAH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | $25 | $43 | January ($18) |
| Medium | $52 | $63 | September ($43) |
| Pickup truck | $61 | $65 | January ($54) |
| Large | $62 | $67 | May ($52) |
| SUV | $68 | $75 | January ($54) |
| Luxury | $85 | $91 | December ($66) |
| Convertible | $96 | $103 | January ($62) |
| Van | $97 | $106 | September ($79) |
Source: KAYAK car rental pages for Houston George Bush Intcntl Airport and Houston Hobby Airport, checked November 4, 2026.
The same week at IAH, Hobby and in the city
We ran the same KAYAK search for all three pickup types: January 12 to 19, 2027, noon to noon. The table shows each brand’s lowest total for the week, in any car class.
| Brand | IAH | Hobby | City branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz | $367 | $414 | $373 |
| Dollar | $385 | $403 | $360 |
| Thrifty | $386 | $405 | $360 |
| Budget | $392 | $398 | $258 |
| Sixt | $415 | $429 | $304 |
| Avis | $495 | $523 | $252 |
| Enterprise | $574 | $574 | $260 |
| National | $622 | $616 | $347 |
Source: KAYAK searches run November 4, 2026, for a 7-day rental. City branch means a Houston search with airport locations excluded. We did not open each checkout, so confirm taxes and fees on the final page.
Hertz was the exception, with its city total $6 above IAH. The very lowest prices also need a closer look: Street Rent a Car and Stride listed $144 a week at IAH with no KAYAK score, and U-Save listed $238 with a score of 2.0 out of 10. Enterprise scored 9.0 there, Budget 7.4 and Hertz 6.2.
When prices are lowest
DiscoverCars’ monthly averages, last updated November 3, 2026, put IAH below Hobby in 9 of 12 months.
KAYAK agrees that January is cheapest at IAH ($45 a day on its data) but names October ($59) as the priciest month. On Hobby it points to May ($42) and November ($55), so treat Hobby’s months as a rough guide.
March is the month to plan around. DiscoverCars says searches for IAH run 2.4 times the average then, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs March 2 to 21, 2027. For general timing, see the best time to book car rentals.
Fees
Which Taxes and Fees Do You Pay in Houston?
The state and county taxes apply to any rental here. The facility charge and concession fee appear on airport rentals.
For the airport concession fee, a verified Thrifty renter’s receipt quoted on KAYAK shows 11.11% at IAH. We found no official Houston Airports schedule, so read that line on your own quote.
Our arithmetic on a $350 base week at an airport: $52.50 in taxes, $28 in facility charges and $38.89 in concession fees, or $119.39 on top, before any tax on the fees themselves. A city branch skips the last two, saving $66.89. Fees alone can’t explain Enterprise’s $314 gap, so the base rate is lower too.
Extras at the counter
- Damage waiver: Enterprise’s Hobby page lists $32.99 to $39.99 a day. See how Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex card coverage works.
- Supplemental liability: $20.54 a day on the same Enterprise page.
- Drivers under 25: the minimum age is 21. Avis at IAH lists $27 a day and Enterprise at Hobby $25. See cheap rental cars under 25.
- Airport-to-airport returns: one verified Thrifty renter on KAYAK reported a $100 inter-city fee for an IAH pickup and a Hobby return, so ask first.
How-to
How Do You Get to the Rental Cars at IAH and Hobby?
At IAH, every company works from one building, the Rental Car Center at 17330 Palmetto Pines. It’s open 24 hours and sits about 4 miles from the terminals, according to Avis.
- Follow the signs. After baggage claim, follow “Ground Transportation” to exits marked “Rental Car.”
- Find your door. The airport lists A-115 at Terminal A, C-105 or C-106 at Terminal C, and E-101 at Terminal E. International arrivals at Terminal D exit through the Terminal E hall.
- Board the shuttle. Look for blue and white “Rental Car Shuttle” buses. They leave every 5 minutes from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and every 10 minutes overnight, and the ride takes about five minutes.
- Coming back. Signs on John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Will Clayton Parkway lead to the center. Buses back are split by terminal, so read the sign on the front.
Picking up at Hobby
Hobby’s 10 listed brands are reached by courtesy shuttle from Curb Zone 1, outside baggage claim. Their lots are spread across Airport Boulevard, Panair Street and Monroe Road, so use the return address on your agreement. Counters keep company hours: the airport lists Alamo until midnight and Hertz until 1 a.m., which matters for late arrivals.
A freeway ramp leading out of downtown Houston.
Compare
Should You Rent at IAH, Hobby or a City Branch?
Pick your airport by flight, then compare the rental. IAH is a United hub and Hobby’s main carrier is Southwest, according to DiscoverCars.
- Lowest major, 7 days
- $367 Hertz
- To downtown
- About 20 miles
- Rental center
- 24 hours
- Lowest major, 7 days
- $398 Budget
- To downtown
- About 10 miles
- Counters
- Company hours
- Lowest major, 7 days
- $252 Avis
- Airport fees
- None
- Counters
- Office hours
A city branch works best on a longer rental when you land in daytime. METRO’s 500 Downtown Direct costs $4.50 from IAH or Hobby, which covers the first leg if your branch is downtown. Offices can close early: Google’s listing for Hertz on Louisiana Street showed a 5:30 p.m. close on November 4. On a one- or two-day rental, the ride can cancel out the saving.
Video
Video: From the Gate to Your IAH Rental Car
In this April 2026 walkthrough, a family lands at IAH, finds the Rental Car Shuttle outside baggage claim, rides to the Rental Car Center, picks up a Hertz car and drives to a gas station. We play it from the landing to the gas stop. The Hertz status tips are the creator’s own, not ours.
Video: EscapeOnTime, “The Ultimate Houston IAH Airport Car Rental Guide,” via YouTube (April 2026). Not affiliated with Greenspicks.
Driving
Driving in Houston: Tolls, Traffic and Floods
- Toll roads. Houston’s tollways include the Hardy Toll Road, Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8), Westpark Tollway and Grand Parkway. DiscoverCars calls the Hardy the most convenient link from IAH to downtown, and I-69 is the other option.
- Rental toll programs. TxDOT says you can pay through your rental agreement, with tolls and service fees billed to your card. Avis e-Toll costs $6.95 a day plus tolls, and driving on a toll road enrolls you. Ask what your company charges, or set your maps app to avoid tolls.
- Rush hour. KAYAK flags I-45 and I-69 at about 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
- Flooded roads. The National Weather Service says 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars. If a road is underwater, turn around.
- Gas. AAA put regular at $3.62 a gallon in Houston on November 4, 2026.
Day trips
Day Trips Worth Renting a Car For
- Space Center Houston: about 30 minutes from downtown and 20 from Hobby, off I-45, by its own estimate. Parking is $10 plus a service fee.
- Galveston: 70 miles from IAH, and closer from Hobby, down I-45.
- Austin: 178 miles from IAH. Our Austin bike rental guide covers the city once you park.
- San Antonio: 210 miles from IAH, better as an overnight trip.
The River Walk in San Antonio. Mileage figures above come from DiscoverCars.
Ending the trip elsewhere? Read our guide to one-way car rentals first.
Save more
How to Pay Less for a Houston Rental
- Price a city branch. 7 of 8 brands were cheaper that way.
- Book a small car. It was the cheapest type at both airports.
- Plan around the Rodeo. Book early for March 2 to 21, 2027.
- Compare final totals. Our Phoenix car rental guide shows how airport fees stack up.
- Price the full week. See our weekly car rental deals and car hire deals.
- Refill before the airport. DiscoverCars says the Shell at JFK Boulevard and Greens Road costs more than the Exxon across the street.
FAQ
FAQ: Car Rental in Houston
How much does it cost to rent a car in Houston?
KAYAK’s typical prices on November 4, 2026, were $25 a day for a small car at IAH and $43 at Hobby. In our January 2027 search, the lowest major-brand week was $367 at IAH, $398 at Hobby and $252 at a city branch.
Is it cheaper to rent at IAH or Hobby?
Usually IAH. It was cheaper for all eight KAYAK car types and in 9 of 12 months on DiscoverCars.
Where is the IAH Rental Car Center?
It’s at 17330 Palmetto Pines, Houston, TX 77032. Shuttles leave the terminals every 5 minutes by day and every 10 minutes overnight.
Do I need a toll tag for a Houston rental car?
No, but you need a plan. Rental companies bill tolls through their own programs, and Avis charges $6.95 a day plus tolls. You can also avoid tolls in your maps app.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Houston?
KAYAK and Avis list 21 as the minimum age. Drivers under 25 pay a surcharge: $27 a day at Avis IAH and $25 at Enterprise Hobby.
Do I need a car in Houston?
For most trips, yes. If you’re staying downtown for a convention, METRO’s $4.50 bus from either airport can be enough.
Prices and fees in this guide were checked on November 4, 2026, from KAYAK, DiscoverCars, Houston Airports, the Texas Comptroller, DWU Consulting and company pages. Rates change daily, so check your own dates before you book. How we check prices.
