Return cars 50–100 meters from Terminal 1 check-in
Car Rental Parking at Nuremberg Airport sits directly beside Terminal 1, so most returns take under 5 minutes from engine off to the departures hall doors. Follow the clearly marked “Mietwagen / Car Rental Return” signs as you approach the terminal; the driveway feeds straight into the multi-level car rental area on the terminal side of the airfield.
This is a pure rental return facility, not long‑term public parking, and it serves all on-airport brands that hand over keys in T1. The layout is simple: you drive into the signed rental return zone, park in your company’s marked section, and then drop keys at the corresponding counter or key box, usually on the same level as the bays.
Most agencies at NUE publish 24/7 key-drop options here, even when their desks inside Terminal 1 keep shorter hours tied to flight banks. If you’re returning very early, say 05:00, or after 22:00, plan on a key-box drop in the Car Rental Parking area or in the terminal, depending on the brand stated in your rental contract.
Walking time from the last car bay to Terminal 1 check-in is typically 2–4 minutes, and the path is step-free with elevators between parking levels. If you have checked baggage over 20 kg, using the terminal trolleys stationed near the pedestrian exits of Car Rental Parking saves a bit of effort on the short walk.
There’s no need to pull a public parking ticket here; your costs are baked into the car hire agreement, and overstay charges run through the rental company, not the airport’s standard P1/P2 tariffs. For a smooth departure, take phone photos of the fuel gauge and odometer in the Car Rental Parking bay before handing over the keys.