Car Hire at Vermont Airport

Burlington International Airport (BTV) is the state's main hire hub, with counters from every major hire brand positioned on the terminal's main floor beside baggage claim, connected to the vehicle lot via a covered skywalk — budget 30 to 45 minutes for the full pickup process during peak periods. Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport (RUT) operates differently: hire counters are off-site, advance reservations are required, and you'll need to call the hire company directly upon landing to arrange collection. Vermont's main highways carry no tolls, though a handful of seasonal mountain roads — including the Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road and Mt. Equinox Skyline Drive — charge cash tolls at a gate and are typically open late spring through early fall. Fuel runs around US$3.70–3.80 per gallon statewide; return the tank full to avoid the hire company's fuel service charge, which typically runs two to three times the pump price. Winter driving from November through April demands attention: most vehicles come with all-season tyres, and hire agreements generally prohibit tyre chains, so AWD availability is worth requesting if you plan mountain routes. A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pickup for the authorisation hold, which typically runs US$200–400 depending on vehicle class and brand. Drivers whose licences use a non-Latin script — Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese — must also carry an International Driving Permit.