Quick Summary:
- After international arrival, clear immigration, then collect checked bags before customs.
- You cannot pick up car hire until you are landside.
- With a domestic connection, recheck bags after customs if required.
- Allow extra time for queues, bag delivery, and rental shuttle transfers.
When you land at Orlando International Airport (MCO) on an international flight, the order of events matters, especially if you have checked luggage or a connecting flight. The key point is simple: yes, you must clear US immigration and customs, and you must collect your checked bags, before you can go and collect your car hire. Car hire pick-up happens landside, after you have legally entered the United States and completed the arrivals process.
Below is a clear, step-by-step arrival flow for international arrivals at MCO, plus what changes if you are connecting onwards within the US, and how checked baggage affects timings.
International arrivals at MCO: the typical step-by-step flow
Most international passengers arriving into Orlando will follow a standard sequence. The exact signage may vary by terminal and gate, but the logic stays the same.
1) Follow signs to US immigration (passport control)
After leaving the aircraft, you will be directed to immigration. Here you present your passport and any required entry documents. If you are using an automated kiosk or Mobile Passport Control (when available and eligible), you will still complete the process before moving on.
2) Go to baggage reclaim and collect all checked luggage
After immigration, you proceed to baggage reclaim. Even if your luggage is tagged through to a final destination, you normally still need to physically pick it up at your first US entry point. This is because US customs rules require you to have your bags available for inspection at the port of entry.
3) Pass through customs with your bags
Once you have your bags, you go through customs. You may hand over a declaration if required, and you may be selected for additional screening. If customs needs to inspect a bag, it is easier if you keep any receipts for new or high value goods accessible.
4) After customs, decide: exit to landside or recheck for a connection
This is the moment that affects your car hire plans. If Orlando is your final stop, you exit into the public area of the airport (landside). If you have a domestic connection, you will usually recheck your checked bags at a transfer belt or counter, then head to security for your onward flight.
5) Only once landside can you head to car hire pick-up
Car hire desks, shuttles, and pick-up areas are not accessible until you have completed immigration, baggage reclaim, and customs. If your plan is to drive from MCO, you will only start the car hire part of your journey after you are fully done with border formalities.
If you want to compare car hire options at the airport before you travel, Hola Car Rentals provides MCO specific guidance on pages such as car hire at Orlando MCO and Orlando Airport car rental.
Do you have to collect your bags before car hire pick-up?
If you have checked luggage on an international arrival, you should plan as if the answer is always yes. The usual US process is immigration first, then baggage reclaim, then customs, and only then can you leave the secure arrivals area. Since car hire pick-up is landside, you cannot reach it without collecting your bags and clearing customs.
If you have only hand luggage, you will still need to clear immigration and customs, but you skip the wait at baggage reclaim. That can make the timeline much faster, especially if your flight arrives during a busy bank of international arrivals.
What if you are connecting to a domestic US flight?
If Orlando is not your final destination and you have a domestic connection, the rule that surprises many travellers is this: at your first US airport, you clear immigration and customs, and you collect your checked bags. In practice, that means your connection at MCO can be tighter than you expect because you are doing entry formalities in Orlando, not at your final city.
Here is the typical connection flow after customs at MCO:
1) Recheck checked bags (if you have them)
After customs, there is usually a place to hand your bags back to the airline for your onward domestic flight. If you have a single ticket through to your final destination, this is often straightforward. If you have separate tickets, you may need to go to the airline check-in area and meet the airline’s baggage cut-off time.
2) Go through TSA security again
You should expect to clear security again for the domestic departure area. This is normal at US entry airports.
3) Go to your departure gate
From there, it is a standard domestic departure.
Important: if you have a domestic connection, it generally does not make sense to collect a car hire at MCO until you are finished flying. If your itinerary involves a domestic flight after Orlando, your car hire pick-up would usually be at the airport where you begin driving, not during an airside connection.
Where car hire happens at Orlando Airport, and why it is always after customs
Car hire at MCO is organised for passengers who are already landside. That design is deliberate: rental desks, shuttle pick-up points, and vehicle collection areas are outside the controlled arrivals corridor. The airport’s border control process must be completed before you can access them.
Depending on the provider and pick-up setup, you may either walk to the relevant area or take a shuttle or tram. Build in extra minutes for getting your bearings, especially if you are arriving with tired children or lots of luggage. If you are travelling as a bigger group, it can help to compare larger vehicle options in advance, for example via van rental at Orlando MCO.
Timing: how long should you allow from landing to car hire pick-up?
There is no single guaranteed time because it depends on queues, staffing, the number of arriving flights, and whether your bags come out quickly. Still, you can plan with sensible ranges:
Light traffic: roughly 60 to 90 minutes from landing to being landside, if you have hand luggage only and lines are short.
Typical busy periods: roughly 90 to 150 minutes with checked bags, immigration queues, and normal baggage delivery.
Peak congestion or extra screening: 2.5 hours or more is possible, especially if several long-haul flights arrive close together or if weather disrupts schedules.
Add more time if you need to:
Wait for checked bags: baggage reclaim can be quick, but it can also be the slowest part of the process on a rough day.
Handle special items: pushchairs, wheelchairs, golf clubs, and oversized bags can arrive separately.
Travel in a group: coordinating people, passports, and bags can slow you down.
Use a shuttle transfer: if your car hire pick-up requires a shuttle, include waiting and loading time.
It is also wise to factor in stops before driving, such as getting a SIM, picking up snacks and water, or visiting a cashpoint. If you are heading straight to the theme parks area, you may want to review pick-up considerations around the airport and Disney corridor using car hire from Orlando Airport to Disney.
Checked luggage tips that make arrivals and car hire easier
Keep essential items in hand luggage
Carry travel documents, medication, a change of clothes, and any essentials you would need if a checked bag is delayed. This reduces stress and helps you continue your plans if baggage takes longer than expected.
Make your bag easy to spot
A distinctive luggage tag or strap can reduce time at the belt, especially when many passengers have similar suitcases.
Expect to handle your bag more than once
International arrivals commonly require you to pick up your bag, take it through customs, and then, if connecting, recheck it. Pack with that in mind and avoid overweight bags that are hard to lift quickly.
Know your bag details
Having a photo of your bag and its tag on your phone helps if you need to report an issue.
If you are travelling with children, mobility needs, or lots of bags
International arrival halls can be busy and you may be tired after a long flight. A few practical considerations can make the process smoother:
Families: keep passports together and decide who is responsible for each child’s documents. Consider how you will manage a pushchair at baggage reclaim and whether you need to use lifts rather than escalators.
Mobility assistance: if you have arranged airport assistance, it usually continues through immigration and baggage reclaim, but the pace can vary. Allow additional time before you expect to be at the car hire stage.
Lots of luggage: luggage trolleys can help, but you may still need to lift bags for inspection or recheck. In a larger group, it may be easier if one person waits with all the bags while another completes any remaining formalities, where permitted.
Common mistakes that delay car hire pick-up at MCO
Assuming bags transfer automatically without collection
At your first US arrival airport, you generally still collect checked bags before customs, even if they are tagged onward.
Planning a very tight timeline
International arrivals can be unpredictable. If your plans depend on being on the road by a specific time, build in buffer time for immigration lines and baggage delays.
Not checking whether your pick-up is on-site or shuttle-based
Some set-ups require an extra transfer step. Knowing this in advance helps you plan, especially late at night.
Forgetting post-flight basics
If you need a toilet break, food, or to calm children down, do it before driving. A short pause can prevent mistakes once you are behind the wheel on unfamiliar roads.
For travellers comparing suppliers, Hola also provides dedicated pages for brands such as Thrifty at Orlando MCO, which can be useful when reviewing pick-up expectations and location details.
FAQ
Do I need to clear customs at Orlando Airport before collecting my car hire?
Yes. After an international flight, you must clear immigration and customs first. Only then can you go landside and reach car hire pick-up areas.
Do I have to collect my checked bags in Orlando even if I am connecting onwards?
In most cases, yes. At your first US entry point, you collect checked bags for customs inspection, then recheck them for your domestic connection if required.
Can I pick up my car hire if my checked bag is delayed?
Usually you can, but it depends on your situation and how you plan to retrieve the bag. Many travellers prefer to resolve baggage issues before leaving the airport, as returning later can be inconvenient.
How long does it take from landing to being at the car hire desk at MCO?
It varies. With hand luggage only and short queues, it can be about 60 to 90 minutes. With checked bags and busier periods, 90 to 150 minutes is more typical.
If I have a domestic connection, should I still plan to pick up a car hire at MCO?
Usually not. If you are flying onwards, you will recheck bags after customs and pass through security for your next flight. Car hire is normally collected at the airport where you start driving.
