Car Rental Shuttle

Shuttles run between Terminal 1 and rental lots in 5–10 minutes

The Car Rental Shuttle at V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) connects Terminal 1 with off-airport rental car lots in roughly 5–10 minutes, depending on traffic outside the terminal. It’s the standard way to reach bigger international brands that don’t have desks inside the arrivals hall.

Pick-up is outside Terminal 1 arrivals, usually along the curb where hotel and tour buses line up in clearly signed bays. Most rental companies group their shuttles in one area, so check the placards with company names like Hertz, Avis, and Budget before you wait. Drivers normally load luggage straight from the sidewalk, which helps if you’re wrangling two or three bags.

Shuttles typically circulate from early morning flights around 6:00 to late-night arrivals after 23:00, tracking the main inbound schedule at ANU. If you land on the last flights from major hubs such as Miami or London and don’t see a bus after 15–20 minutes, use the phone numbers printed on your reservation to call the rental desk directly.

The ride itself is short, usually under 3 miles from Terminal 1 to most rental car yards clustered near the airport perimeter. Buses are basic but air-conditioned, which matters after walking through 30°C heat and Caribbean humidity. There’s no extra charge for the shuttle in addition to your rental rate, and tipping the driver EC$5–10 is standard if they haul heavier bags.

Returned cars go back to the same off-airport lots, with shuttles running you to Terminal 1 departures in about 10 minutes door to door. Build in at least 30–40 minutes before your airline’s check-in cutoff to allow for traffic on Sir George Walter Highway and a short wait for the next bus. Morning bank flights to North America and Europe between 8:00 and 11:00 are the busiest times.

Practical tip: when you book, confirm shuttle hours in writing and keep the local rental office number handy in your phone in case your arrival into ANU slips past your original ETA by more than 30 minutes.