Two rental counters sit landside in Terminal 1
Just past arrivals in Terminal 1, the Car Rental Desk sits in the public hall, so you use it before or after baggage claim. Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto International Airport only has one terminal, which keeps the walk short; you’re talking 2–3 minutes from the exit of customs to the counters. Expect basic local agencies rather than big global brands, and plan on using WhatsApp or phone calls for any changes.
Open to meet the main bank of flights
Hours loosely track the day’s arrivals, with desks usually staffed from around the first morning flights into Samarinda to the last evening departures. Because schedules at AAP shift, don’t assume 24/7 coverage; late-night or very early-morning flights (before 06:00 or after 22:00) can mean a dark counter. If you land on a Garuda or Lion Air trunk flight in the middle of the day, you’ll almost always find someone on duty.
Pricing, deposits, and paperwork
Daily rates in Samarinda often start around the low hundreds of thousands of rupiah (think IDR 300,000–500,000 per day), and many agencies prefer cash or local debit cards over foreign credit cards. Some contracts include a driver by default, which can add another IDR 150,000–250,000 per day. Expect to show your passport, return ticket, and sometimes an International Driving Permit if you plan to self-drive rather than hire with driver.
Pickup, drop-off, and driving out of AAP
Cars usually park in the small lot directly opposite the Terminal 1 arrivals doors, less than 100 meters from the counters. Staff either walk you to the car or drive it up to the curb, so factor 10–15 minutes between signing and actually leaving. The airport road feeds into routes toward Samarinda city in roughly 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic along the Mahakam-side corridors.
Practical tip
Signal around AAP is decent, so before you leave the terminal, download offline maps for Samarinda and confirm the rental company’s WhatsApp number; it saves you if you need to extend a day or adjust drop-off on short notice.