Budget Car Hire
Fort Lauderdale

Once you land at FLL and collect your luggage from baggage reclaim, you will need to go to the airport’s consolidated Rental Car Centre (RCC). To get there, exit the terminal on the lower level and follow the signs for Ground Transportation. You will then board a free shuttle bus that takes all passengers directly to the RCC, where the Budget counter is located.

The Budget pick-up counter at FLL is not located inside any of the airport terminals. It is in the dedicated Rental Car Centre (RCC), a separate multi-level facility serving all major car hire companies. After collecting your bags, you must take a short shuttle bus ride from your arrival terminal to reach this central location and complete your pick-up.

No single terminal is significantly closer to the Budget counter, as all rental services are consolidated in the off-site Rental Car Centre (RCC). The airline you arrive on does not affect your access or the time it takes to get there. All four terminals at FLL are served by the same efficient shuttle bus system that continuously loops between the terminals and the RCC.

After clearing immigration and customs with your luggage, you will exit into the public arrivals area of the terminal. From there, the process is the same as for domestic arrivals. Look for overhead signs directing you to Ground Transportation and the Rental Car Centre shuttles. These shuttle stops are located outside on the arrivals level, and they will take you directly to the building where the Budget counter is.

The most common point of confusion for first-time visitors is assuming the rental counters are in the baggage reclaim area. Many travellers look for the counter inside the terminal without realising they must first leave the building and take a shuttle. The key is to look for the signs to the Rental Car Centre shuttle stop as soon as you have your bags.

A practical meeting point is the baggage reclaim carousel for the last person due to arrive. This ensures everyone has their luggage before you proceed together. Alternatively, meet at a pre-security coffee shop or seating area in that person’s arrival terminal. Once your whole group is together, you can head to the Rental Car Centre shuttle stop as one party.

The smoothest approach is to use a luggage trolley, which you can get in the baggage reclaim area. Load all your bags and the folded pushchair onto the trolley to make the walk to the shuttle stop easier. The Rental Car Centre shuttles are low-floor buses designed to accommodate luggage and pushchairs, so you can wheel the trolley right up to the door for easy loading.

The FLL Rental Car Centre is typically open 24 hours, so late-night pick-ups are routine. To get out efficiently, it’s wise to enter your destination into your phone’s navigation app while you are still at the counter or in the car. The airport road system can be less intuitive in the dark, so having GPS guidance ready from the moment you exit the garage will prevent wrong turns.

During peak travel times, it’s realistic to allow 60 to 90 minutes from when your plane lands to when you’re driving away. This accounts for disembarking, walking to baggage reclaim, waiting for your luggage, and taking the shuttle to the Rental Car Centre. The final step at the rental counter can also involve a queue during busy periods, so this buffer is advisable.

The most straightforward route is to leave the airport and follow signs for US-1 North (Federal Highway). Continue on US-1 for a few miles, then turn right onto SE 17th Street, which becomes the A1A causeway. To avoid issues, stay in the middle or right lanes on US-1 as you approach the turn for SE 17th Street, as the left lanes often lead to different interchanges.

A simple route is to take US-1 North from the airport towards downtown Fort Lauderdale. The most common mistake happens when trying to turn onto Las Olas Boulevard from US-1. It’s best to use GPS, as you will likely need to turn right onto SE 8th Street and then make a quick left to get onto Las Olas properly, which can be easy to miss without guidance.

The most reliable artery is US-1 North (Federal Highway), which takes you directly from the airport area into the heart of downtown. To handle the one-way streets near your destination, it’s strongly recommended to have your hotel’s address entered into a navigation app before you leave the rental facility. The app will provide turn-by-turn directions that account for the one-way grid.

The simplest drive is to take US-1 South from the airport for a few miles. You can then turn left (east) on either Hollywood Boulevard or Sheridan Street to head over the Intracoastal Waterway to the beach. Expect traffic to be heaviest on these eastbound causeways during late afternoons and at weekends, as many people are heading to the beach and Broadwalk.

After leaving the Rental Car Centre, head north on US-1 (Federal Highway). Within two to three miles, you’ll find several large shopping centres on your right containing major supermarkets, pharmacies, and other shops. Stopping at one of these plazas is very convenient and keeps you moving in the general direction of Fort Lauderdale’s main hotel and beach areas.

The drive is extremely short and well signposted. As you leave the airport area, immediately get into the lane for I-595 East towards Port Everglades. The port has its own dedicated exit. Plan for possible traffic back-ups at the port’s security entrance, especially on major cruise departure days, so allow an extra 20–30 minutes for this final approach.

For a low-stress experience, drive from the rental facility straight to your cruise terminal’s luggage drop-off area at Port Everglades. Unload all passengers and bags with the porters. Then only the driver should take the hire car back to the FLL return centre. From there, the driver can take a short, inexpensive taxi or ride-share back to the cruise terminal to rejoin the group.

During spring break, driving conditions change dramatically. Expect significant congestion, frequent road closures along A1A near the beach, and a high volume of pedestrians and cyclists. Parking becomes extremely scarce and difficult to find. The best strategy is to park at your hotel or in a garage away from the main strip and rely on walking, water taxis, or ride-shares to get around the busiest areas.

The most effective strategy for parking near Fort Lauderdale Beach Park at popular times is to arrive early in the morning, ideally before 10 am. If the metered on-street parking is already full, your best alternative is the Las Olas Beach Garage. It’s a large multi-level car park a short walk from the park and offers a reliable option when on-street spaces aren’t available.

Visitors typically park in one of the several municipal parking garages located throughout the district. The City Park Garage (also known as the Arts & Science District Garage) is a popular choice, as it provides central access to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, museums, and the Riverwalk itself. These garages offer hourly rates and are a secure place to leave your car while you explore on foot.

A highly practical plan is to park your hire car once for the entire day. The large public parking garage at the Galleria Mall is an excellent option, as there is a Water Taxi stop located right behind the mall. Alternatively, you can park in a downtown garage near Las Olas Boulevard and walk to the nearby stop, allowing you to explore the shops before or after your boat tour.

On a busy weekend afternoon, expect slow-moving traffic along A1A and intense competition for parking. Circling the blocks looking for a metered space is often frustrating and time-consuming. Your most efficient and least stressful option is to head straight for the Las Olas Beach Garage, which is built to handle high volume and is just steps from the sand.

Adopt a ‘park once’ strategy for a more enjoyable day. Drive to a central location like downtown and leave your car in a public garage near Las Olas Boulevard. From there, you can explore the shops, galleries, and restaurants on foot. Then use the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi to travel between the downtown Riverwalk area and the beach, effectively turning the boat into your transport for the day.

The most direct route is I-95 South. To minimise traffic, travel outside peak commuter hours, typically 7.00 am to 9.30 am and 4.00 pm to 6.30 pm on weekdays. Leaving Fort Lauderdale after the morning rush and heading back before the afternoon rush begins is the best way to ensure a smoother, faster drive.

The simplest route is to take I-95 South to exit 4, which connects to I-195 East (the Julia Tuttle Causeway) and leads directly into Miami Beach. While the motorway portion is straightforward, the most stressful part is usually the final few miles. Once you’re in South Beach, you’ll encounter heavy traffic, numerous one-way streets, and a high volume of pedestrians, which requires extra attention.

To avoid the worst northbound congestion, plan to leave Fort Lauderdale either before 7.00 am or after 9.30 am on a weekday. The drive up I-95 North is generally clear in the middle of the day. For your return trip, aim to leave Palm Beach before 3.30 pm to get ahead of the southbound evening rush-hour traffic that builds around Fort Lauderdale.

A successful day trip to Key Largo requires a very early start. Plan to be on the road leaving Fort Lauderdale no later than 7.00 am to get ahead of traffic and maximise your time in the Keys. To avoid a late, tiring drive back, plan to leave Key Largo by 3.00 pm at the latest, which helps you miss the worst of the evening traffic returning to the Miami-Dade area.

The drive is straightforward on the Florida Turnpike until you reach Florida City, which is the last place with plentiful, familiar options for fuel, food, and supplies. Once you’re on the Overseas Highway (US-1) into the Keys, the road narrows, speed limits drop, and passing opportunities are limited. Expect the pace to slow considerably, and plan your stops in larger towns such as Key Largo or Islamorada.

A realistic plan is to visit the Shark Valley entrance of Everglades National Park. From Fort Lauderdale, it’s an easy drive west on I-595 to I-75, then south to US-41 (Tamiami Trail). Leave early to arrive when the park opens, take the two-hour tram tour or hire bikes, and explore the visitor centre. This typically takes about 3–4 hours, allowing you to be back in Fort Lauderdale before late afternoon.

Toll roads such as the Florida Turnpike and the express lanes on I-95 can be major time-savers, especially during rush hour. They offer a more consistent traffic flow compared with the general-purpose lanes. Most hire cars are fitted with a transponder system that manages tolls electronically, making it convenient to use these faster routes without needing to stop or carry cash.

Visitors are often surprised by the high speeds and aggressive lane changes on major motorways such as I-95. It’s also common for drivers to tailgate and use indicators sparingly, so keeping a safe following distance is crucial. Also be prepared for sudden, intense rain showers that can drastically reduce visibility with little warning, requiring you to slow down immediately.

When a typical Florida thunderstorm hits, visibility can drop dramatically in seconds. The first and most important step is to reduce your speed significantly and switch on your headlights. Avoid using your hazard lights while moving, as this can confuse other drivers. If the rain becomes too intense to see safely, it’s best to pull completely off the road into a car park and wait for the worst of the storm to pass.

When you arrive, pull up to the hotel’s main entrance and let the staff know you’re checking in. They’ll help you unload your luggage onto a trolley before you hand the car keys to the valet. Be sure to take any personal items or valuables you’ll need immediately, such as phones or wallets, with you. Remember to allow 10–15 minutes for the valet to retrieve your car whenever you plan to go out.

A compact or mid-size SUV often strikes the perfect balance for a Fort Lauderdale trip. This class offers plenty of cargo space for beach chairs, cool boxes, and luggage without being too large to manoeuvre comfortably. The slightly higher ground clearance is helpful, while the manageable footprint makes navigating narrow ramps and tight corners in hotel and public car parks much less stressful than in a full-size vehicle.

When packing bulky beach gear, focus on the shape and accessibility of the cargo area, not just its stated volume. An SUV or hatchback with a tall, wide opening is often more practical than a saloon’s deep boot for loading awkward items such as cool boxes and folded chairs. Also consider a vehicle with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, which gives flexibility if you need extra length for a beach umbrella while still carrying a passenger in the back.

You’ll find several convenient petrol stations on US-1 (Federal Highway) just north of the main airport entrance. These stations are on the southbound side of the road, making it easy to pull in, refuel, and then make a simple turn back into the airport complex. Their proximity to the Rental Car Centre lets you refuel just minutes before dropping off your vehicle.

As you approach the airport, pay close attention to the overhead signs and deliberately ignore the signs for ‘Arrivals’ and ‘Departures’. Instead, look specifically for signs that say ‘Rental Car Return’. Following this dedicated signage will guide you onto a separate roadway that leads directly to the entrance of the Rental Car Centre garage, completely bypassing the passenger terminal loops.

For an early-morning flight, a low-stress timeline is to arrive at the Rental Car Return garage three hours before your scheduled departure. This allows roughly 30 minutes for the return process, unloading your bags, and taking the shuttle to your terminal. That leaves a comfortable 2.5 hours to check in, get through security, and walk to your gate.

The most efficient sequence is to follow the signs for ‘Departures’ first and pull up to the kerb for your airline. Drop off all passengers and their luggage there. Once they’re safely on the kerb, rejoin the main airport road and complete one loop, but this time follow the ‘Rental Car Return’ signs to go directly to the drop-off facility.

If you miss the entrance, the most important thing is not to panic or attempt an unsafe turn. The airport road system is designed as a continuous loop. Simply continue driving and follow the signs as if you were heading back to the terminals. This loop will naturally bring you back to where you can see and follow the ‘Rental Car Return’ signs on your second approach.

Dania Pointe is an ideal stop if you have extra time. It’s a large, modern open-air shopping and dining centre just a five-minute drive from the FLL Rental Car Centre. You can grab a meal, do some last-minute shopping, or simply relax before your flight. Its close proximity and straightforward access back to the airport make it a low-risk option for killing an hour or two.