Car Hire Hanover Airport

Car Hire

Located just eight miles from the German city of Hanover, Hanover-Langenhagen Airport has three terminals, two of which are famous for their compact, efficient design. The usual taxi, bus and shuttle ground transportation here is enhanced by S-Bahn trains that whisk passengers to the city in a matter of minutes, although car hire in Hanover Airport is by far the best way to explore this attractive and historic region of Germany.

Who to Book With
Five international car rental companies, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, are located at the Car Hire Centre in the Arrivals area between terminals A and B. The car hire desks open from 07:00 until late Monday to Saturday, with later opening and earlier closing on Sunday. Sixt is the exception as it is open until midnight seven days a week.

Need to Know Essentials
The following paperwork needs to be shown at vehicle pick up:

- Your UK/EU or home country driver’s licence
- Your passport or utility bill to confirm your ID
- A credit card in the booker’s name
- Confirmation of booking

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Germany’s ultra-fast autobahn network, well-maintained dual-carriageways and secondary roads make getting around by car an enjoyable experience. Traffic police play an active part here, with on-the-spot fines handed out for traffic violations, especially speeding. Speed limits on autobahns are advisory only at 80mph. Speed limits in built-up areas and on dual carriageways are 31mph and 65mph, respectively. As with most German cities, there are plenty of city centre car parks in Hanover, although rush-hour snarl-ups may mean slow journey times. Petrol stations are plentiful in the city and take card payments, but their rural equivalents may be less plentiful and may prefer cash to card. Warning triangles are advisable, seatbelts are compulsory and drink-driving is taken seriously.

See our guide to Germany for more information on driving here.

Transport

Rail and road transport takes visitors to the city, with the airport boasting its own rail station in Terminal C, which serves the S-Bahn commuter network to the city centre on its Hanover Airport Line. Also available is bus and shuttle travel from stops just outside the terminals’ Arrivals exits, and taxi travel, which is the most expensive option.

Trains
S-Bahn Hanover airport trains run every half an hour between 05:00 and 23:38 from the station in Terminal C, with the journey to Central Station taking around 15 minutes and costing just £2.50. The terminals are linked to the station by escalators and elevators, and tickets must be bought at the station’s ticket machines and stamped before your journey commences.

Taxis
Taxi ranks are open 24 hours at all three terminals’ Arrivals exits, with all taxis licensed and metered. Taxi is the most expensive way to travel, but also the most convenient if you’re not looking to self-drive. The trip to Hanover takes around 25 minutes outside of rush hours and costs around £20. If you’re travelling in a group, shared shuttle buses can be hired in advance.

Taxi prices:
Hanover Airport to Hanover city centre is about £20
Hanover Airport to Burgwedel is about £35
Hanover Airport to Hamelin is about £90

Buses
Bus travel to Hanover from the airport is via bus number 470, which runs from a stop between Car Park 3 and the Maritim Airport Hotel, adjacent to Terminal C. The journey takes from half an hour, dependent on time of day and traffic conditions, and is the cheapest way to travel at about £1.50. The 24-hour service runs three times an hour during the day, with reduced services after midnight. Many Hanover hotels offer complimentary hotel shuttle buses to and from the airport.

Facilities

Terminals
Hanover Airport has three passenger terminals which are arranged according to carriers and deal with over five million passengers a year. British Airways offers a flight from London-Heathrow, Flybe offers routes from Manchester, Southampton and Birmingham, and Germanwings flies from London-Stansted. National flag carriers offering flights include Air France to Paris, Aeroflot to Moscow, KLM to Amsterdam and Lufthansa to Frankfurt, and a number of low-cost airlines offer flights to Mediterranean holiday and domestic destinations, as well as to other European cities.

Parking
Over 14,000 parking bays are provided in three multi-storey lots as well as an exclusive parking service for passengers in a hurry. Roadside displays show vacant spaces and payment is by parking machine at the entrances and exits. Rates range from £2.50 for one hour to between £15 and £20 per day, and the long-stay parking lot, P10, closes between November and March.

Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi internet access is offered in McDonalds and the Movenpick restaurants, and a paid-for service is available in terminals A and B via a T-Mobile hot spot.

Information Services
Information desks are located in the Arrivals and public areas.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +49 511 977

Accessibility
Assistance is provided for disabled passengers via advance request through your airline. Facilities at the airport’s terminals include wheelchairs, lifts, elevators and ramps, adapted toilets, dedicated seating areas and assistance from arrival through check-in to boarding for unaccompanied passengers with reduced mobility. Reserved car parking spaces are also available.

Restaurants and Bars
The airport has a good choice of restaurants, bars and cafés spread over the three terminals’ landside and airside areas. Terminal A has a Movenpick restaurant in the Departures lounge and at Gate 66, which is located between terminals A and B on Level E5. Bar Zigolini and Arabica are found in Terminal B, as is Marche, and there’s another Movenpick eatery in the Airport Plaza between terminals A and B on the Departures level.

VIP Lounges
Karl Jatho Lounge
Lufthansa Lounge

Money and ATMs
A bank and currency exchange booths are found Terminal B’s Arrivals hall, while ATMs are located in all three terminals.

Shopping
The Airport Plaza Shopping World in Departures between terminals A and B is the place to spend time and money before your flight, with its gift and souvenir stores, Harley Davidson shop, Virgin Megastore and more. In the International Departures lounges are a good selection of duty-free outlets and there’s even a mini-casino in Terminal C Arrivals hall.