Car Hire Austin Bergstrom International Airport

Car Hire

Austin has long been known as the Live Music Capital of the World. Visitors landing at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport get a taste of this music culture as soon as they land as the airport's live music stage features performances by local talents. From here, Austin and the rest of Texas can easily be explored with car hire in Austin Airport. Take advantage of the freedom to explore Austin and its beautifully rugged countryside at your own pace.

Who to Book With
There are several car hire suppliers found in Austin-Bergstrom Airport, namely ACE Car Rental of Austin, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, Thrifty, Advantage, Alamo/National and Dollar. The desks of these suppliers are found in the Arrivals area, close to the Baggage Claim area.

Need to Know Essentials
When collecting your car hire, the following must be presented:

- National driver's licence (if not in English, an International Driving Permit)
- Identification
- Credit card

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
When hiring a car, it is strongly advised you ask about insurance cover when you drive out of the state you hire in as coverage requirements varies by state. Fines for going beyond the speed limit are heavy and speed limits are enforced strictly. In Texas, the limit is 30mph for urban areas, 60mph on roads outside urban areas and 70mph on freeways. Vehicle registration must be carried as authorities may ask to see it if you are pulled over. Persons in the front and rear seats must wear seatbelts, if fitted.

Learn more about driving in the US here.

Transport

Public transport to and from the airport is provided by official taxi companies. A cab ride from the airport to the city costs £20. Buses are cheap at less than £1 to downtown Austin, while shuttle services are also available. Self-driving to the airport is easy via Interstate 35; exit at Highway 71, which leads directly to the airport.

Trains
There are no train services directly at Austin-Bergstrom International but Austin’s Amtrak station serves routes to San Antonio and Chicago.

Taxis
There are three official taxi companies operating at the airport. They are Yellow Cab, Austin Cab and Lone Star Cab. The minimum fare from the airport is around £8 with a £0.60 surcharge for airport services. Cabs accept credit cards.

Taxi prices:
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to downtown Austin is about £20
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Montopolis is about £10
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Tarrytown is about £20

Buses
The Austin SuperShuttle transports travellers between the airport and different stops in Austin. Reserving a seat on any of the shuttle service's blue vans is possible in advance. Capital Metro operates two bus lines which depart from the airport, with a one-way fare costing about £0.60. Bus number 100 (MetroAirport) departs for downtown Austin every 30 minutes from the lower level of the airport. Meanwhile, bus number 350 travels between the airport and North Austin.

Facilities

Terminals
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has one terminal building which is connected to the facility’s car parks. It has 25 gates and a stage for live music performances, attesting to Austin's moniker as the World's Live Music Capital. Even with more than nine million passengers passing through its gates in 2011, Austin is only the 38th busiest airport in the US. It is mainly a domestic airport, with only one international destination (Cancun, Mexico) served.

Parking
Parking spaces number at around 100,000 at the car parks of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The covered short-term garage is right across from the terminal building. An hour of parking here costs around £2. Parking for a day at car park A, right next to the short-term garage car park, costs £7. Car parks B to G charge around £4 for parking for one day. A free shuttle service runs between the car parks and the terminal.

Wi-Fi
Internet kiosks which provide free internet access are found in many areas of the terminal building, including at gates 8, 12 and 15, as well as near the Visitor Information Center. Paid Wi-Fi is provided by Boingo in all areas of the terminal.

Information Services
The Arrivals area has the Visitors Information Center near Baggage Claim.

Useful Numbers
General Information and Immediate Assistance: +1 512 530 2242

Accessibility
Passengers with disabilities may call the airport's hotline to arrange special assistance before travel. Phones for the hearing impaired can be found in the Baggage Claim area near the Hertz desk. Lifts, special toilets and signage with Braille are also available. Dedicated parking spaces close to the stops for the shuttle buses, which are wheelchair-friendly, are available.

Restaurants and Bars
The concourse has a number of restaurants which aim to give visitors a taste of Austin. Fara Café and Sports Bar offer salads, pastries and specialty coffees, and are found right within the ticket lobby. The West Concourse has the Salt Lick Bar-B-Que offering the quintessential Texas barbecue. Also in the West Concourse is Maudie's Tex-Mex for fusion cuisine. Saxon Pub has a location close to Gate 9 on the East Concourse.

VIP Lounges

Gate 13:
Admirals Club Lounge
United Club Lounge

Money and ATMs
Bank of America has a total of four ATMs within the terminal building: at the ticket counters, at Gate 7, at Gate 13 and at the Baggage Claim area. A Travelex currency exchange counter can be found at Gate 14.

Shopping
Shopping can be done in many areas of the airport. BookPeople G2G Travel Express can be found at Gate 11 and sells a wide selection of the latest titles on the market. Austin Warehouse District is also found at Gate 11 and sells Austin music culture-inspired clothing and souvenirs. Longhorn Limited Specialty Store sells clothing and gift items at Gate 18.