You’ve booked your ticket, packed your bags and you’re ready to go. But how exactly does the process of picking up a rental car at the airport work? What documents do you need? What does “no deposit” mean? And how do you meet the agent when you’re tired after a long flight?
This guide answers all your questions before you get to the airport, so you have no surprises.
1. Book in advance, not on the spot
The biggest advantage of booking online in advance is the price. Walk-in rates (booking on the spot) are always higher than those booked online a few days or even weeks in advance, especially during holiday periods. In addition, booking in advance guarantees the availability of the model you want, especially during peak periods (summer, holidays, long weekends).
Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details: the pick-up location, the agent’s phone number and specific instructions for the chosen airport.
2. What documents do you need
When picking up the car, the agent will ask you for:
- Identity document (valid identity card or passport)
- Valid driving licence: for citizens from outside the EU who hold an international driving permit, this must be presented alongside the national licence
You do not need a credit card. At Romanian Car Hire, we accept payment by debit card, cash or online via Stripe, with no discrimination against credit card holders.
If you are under 25 or have held your licence for less than a year, please contact us in advance to check your eligibility, as certain models may have additional restrictions.
3. How airport pick-up works and why it differs from one airport to another
This is the point where many travellers are surprised, because the procedure is not the same at all airports in Romania.
Iași Airport and Bucharest Otopeni Airport
At these two airports, the parking policy requires a slightly different procedure compared to smaller airports. Due to access restrictions and parking fees, the agent cannot wait at the terminal indefinitely.
Here is how it works: after you have landed and completed all arrival formalities (baggage, border control if applicable), you call the phone number in the confirmation email / +40 741 644 169 and let us know you are ready for pick-up. An agent comes immediately to the arrivals terminal, free of charge, and hands over the car directly there. The whole process usually takes just a few minutes.
Other airports (Bacău, Suceava, Cluj, Craiova, Brașov, Târgu Mureș)
At smaller airports, the agent is already waiting for you at the arrivals terminal holding a sign with your name on it. You do not need to call in advance, he is there when you exit the terminal.
In any situation, if you cannot find the agent or any misunderstanding arises, call +40 741 644 169 immediately. The operator will facilitate the meeting as quickly as possible.
3b. How to make pick-up even faster: fill in your details before your flight
To make the car handover at the airport as quick as possible, we recommend filling in the personal details required for the contract before your pick-up date.
When all the information is available in the system, the contract is printed in duplicate by the time the agent arrives, with no manual drafting and no time wasted. We understand that after a tiring flight, the last thing you want is to sit and fill in forms at the airport.
In the booking confirmation email you will find a button that takes you directly to the interface where you can quickly fill in your contracting and billing details, even if you did not provide them at the time of booking. It takes 2-3 minutes and saves you valuable time on arrival.
To shorten the pick-up time even further, we recommend paying for your rental online after confirmation, using the button available in the confirmation email. Any online payment is automatically refunded to the same card if the booking is cancelled, with no commission charged.
4. What is included in the price: no hidden costs
One of the most common questions from customers concerns what is included in the displayed price. At Romanian Car Hire, the price you see is the final price:
- Third-party liability insurance (RCA) (mandatory by law): included
- Full comprehensive insurance (CASCO): included, no hidden excess
- RoVigneta (national road tax): included
- 24/7 roadside assistance: included
There are no “processing” fees, no special charges added at the end and no pressure at pick-up to purchase additional insurance packages.
The only costs that may apply separately are those for pick-up or return in restricted-access areas (some airports) and, for certain premium models, a refundable deposit of up to 200 EUR, returned if the car is brought back without any incidents, clearly displayed before completing the booking.
5. No deposit and no credit card: what it means in practice
“No deposit” means no amount is blocked on your card and you do not leave any cash deposit. For the majority of models in the fleet, the car is handed over with no financial retention whatsoever.
Where a deposit is required (premium models or minibuses), the amount is shown transparently before booking and does not come as a surprise at pick-up.
“No credit card” means you can pay by debit card, cash or bank transfer, just like any other customer.
6. Returning the car: just as simple
The car is returned with the same fuel level as when it was picked up. If the tank is lower, the fuel difference is settled according to the contract, with no excessive penalties.
There is a 2-hour grace period beyond the agreed return time. If you exceed this, an hourly charge applies according to the contract.
If you need to extend your rental, contact us as soon as possible and the rate will be automatically recalculated for the additional days.
7. A few mistakes to avoid
- Do not sign any documents at an accident without contacting the agent. Call the number in the contract immediately.
- Do not ignore the fuel level at pick-up. Check it before you leave and make sure the car is returned with the same fuel level.
- Do not forget to let us know if you are running late for pick-up. The booking is not automatically cancelled, but it is polite and helpful to let us know if the delay exceeds one hour.
- Do not take the car out of the country without prior approval. This is only permitted for certain models and certain destinations, with the written consent of the agency.
Conclusion
Renting a car at the airport does not have to be complicated. With a booking made in advance, documents at hand and the phone number saved in your phone, the process takes just a few minutes, regardless of which airport you land at.
Romanian Car Hire operates at airports in Iași, Bacău, Suceava, Bucharest Otopeni, Cluj, Craiova, Brașov, Chișinău and Târgu Mureș, with agents available 24/7.
Book online at RomanianCarHire.com or call us directly at +40 741 644 169 for any questions.
And remember, our agents are always available to make sure your journey goes smoothly!
