Quick Summary:
- International arrivals must clear immigration, collect bags, then pass customs first.
- Only after customs can you exit and follow signs to transport.
- Domestic arrivals skip customs, go straight to the terminal exit.
- Shuttle access depends on terminal, but customs is always before leaving.
If you are arriving internationally at LAX in Los Angeles, you do need to clear US customs before you can reach the car hire shuttle. The key point is that customs sits between the baggage hall and the public arrivals area. Until you pass it, you cannot legally exit the secure arrivals process, and you will not be able to reach kerbside transport or any off airport car hire facilities.
This article walks through the arrivals flow step by step, so you know exactly what happens, what you can prepare in advance, and where to go once you have finished immigration, baggage and customs.
How arrivals at LAX are organised
LAX has multiple terminals, and the process differs depending on whether you arrive on an international flight or a domestic US flight. International arrivals are funnelled through a controlled sequence, immigration, baggage claim, then customs inspection. Only after that do you enter the public area where friends, taxis, rideshare pick-up points, and airport shuttles are accessible.
For domestic arrivals, there is no customs step. You simply walk off the aircraft, follow signs to baggage claim if you checked luggage, then exit to the public area and continue to ground transport or an on airport or off airport car hire pick-up.
If you want a general overview of LAX airport car hire options and pick-up patterns, see car rental at Los Angeles LAX.
International arrivals: step-by-step from the aircraft to the shuttle
Step 1: Deplane and follow “Arrivals” or “Immigration” signs. After you leave the aircraft, you will be directed through corridors toward passport control. At LAX, you cannot bypass this area when arriving from abroad.
Step 2: Clear US immigration (passport control). You will queue for inspection, where an officer checks your passport, visa status or ESTA, and asks routine questions. If you are eligible and enrolled, some travellers may use automated kiosks or e-gates depending on current airport arrangements, but the process still counts as immigration clearance.
Step 3: Collect checked baggage. After immigration, follow signs to baggage claim. Screens show which carousel serves your flight. If your bag is missing, report it before you leave the baggage hall, because once you exit the controlled area, returning can be difficult.
Step 4: Pass through US customs. This is the decisive step for the question in the title. Customs happens after you have your bags. You will hand over any required declaration and may be directed to a short inspection, or you may be waved through. Either way, you have to pass the customs point before you can reach terminal exits, kerbside transport, or any car hire shuttle stop.
Step 5: Re-check bags if you have a domestic connection. If LAX is not your final destination and you are connecting to another US flight, you typically re-check your luggage after customs and then go through TSA security again for your onward flight. If you are hiring a car in Los Angeles and finishing your journey at LAX, you will not need this step.
Step 6: Exit into the public arrivals area. Once you clear customs, you are in the public zone. From here, you can follow airport signs for ground transportation. This is the first moment you can reach the pick-up points used by many off airport car hire providers.
Step 7: Follow signs for shuttles or pick-up points. LAX ground transport patterns have changed over time, and pick-up locations can vary by terminal and operator. In general, you should look for “Shuttles”, “Ground Transportation”, or “LAX-it” style wayfinding, then confirm the correct stop for your provider. If you are using Hola Car Rentals to compare options at LAX, the dedicated page for car hire in Los Angeles LAX helps you match providers and understand what to expect at pick-up.
Domestic arrivals: do you clear customs first?
No. If you arrive at LAX from another US city, you do not go through US customs at LAX because you have not crossed an international border. Your flow is simpler, walk to baggage claim, collect bags, then exit to the public area. From there you can go straight to car hire transport options without any customs step.
That said, if you started your journey abroad and cleared US customs at a preclearance airport, such as some airports in Canada or Ireland, you will arrive in Los Angeles as if it were a domestic flight. In those cases, the immigration and customs process is completed before departure, and you can head to your car hire arrangements after baggage claim.
Where the car hire shuttle fits in the process
The shuttle, or any other ground transport link to an off airport car hire site, is always after you have left the controlled arrivals process. For international arrivals, that means after both immigration and customs. There is no legitimate way to access a shuttle stop while still inside the arrivals corridor, because those areas are separated from the public side of the terminal.
If you are travelling with a larger group or lots of luggage, you may want to consider vehicle type before you land. A people carrier can be more comfortable than a standard saloon for Los Angeles driving and luggage space. You can review options on van rental at Los Angeles LAX.
Tips to make the arrivals-to-car-hire handover smoother
Keep key documents accessible. For immigration, have your passport and any required travel authorisation ready. For customs, know what you are declaring. Time spent searching through bags can slow you down when queues are long.
Plan for queue time, especially at peak hours. International arrivals can bunch together, and immigration lines can be unpredictable. If you have a time sensitive plan in Los Angeles, build in a buffer before you expect to reach your car hire pick-up.
Use baggage strategy to reduce delays. If you are able to travel with carry-on only, you can skip baggage claim, but you still must pass customs. If you check bags, label them clearly and take a photo of the bag and tag in case of issues.
Know who is driving and what you need. If you will be the driver, check you have your driving licence and, if needed for your situation, an International Driving Permit. Requirements can vary by rental company and country of issue, so it is worth confirming in advance.
Confirm pick-up instructions before you fly. Some providers use shuttles, others use designated pick-up zones, and arrangements can change. If you are comparing major brands for Los Angeles, you can also reference specific provider pages like Hertz car rental at LAX for a sense of how pick-up is typically structured.
What if you have a connecting flight and still want to hire a car?
If you are connecting onward from LAX, most travellers do not pick up a car between flights. You will clear immigration, collect baggage, pass customs, then re-check bags and clear TSA to reach your next gate. Picking up a vehicle would mean exiting the airport flow, collecting the car, then potentially returning for your next flight, which is rarely practical.
If Los Angeles is your final stop and you are starting a road trip right away, collecting your bags and clearing customs is the last formal step before you can leave the terminal and reach your car hire transport.
FAQ
Do I clear US customs before the car hire shuttle at LAX? Yes. On international arrivals, customs comes after baggage claim and before you can exit to any shuttle or pick-up area.
Is immigration the same thing as customs at LAX? No. Immigration is passport control, customs is where you may declare goods and have bags inspected. You must complete both on international arrivals.
If I arrive on a domestic flight, do I still go through customs before car hire? No. Domestic arrivals do not involve customs at LAX, so you can go straight from baggage claim to the public exit and then to transport.
What happens if I have a connecting flight after arriving internationally? You usually clear immigration, collect bags, pass customs, then re-check luggage and go through TSA security again for your onward domestic flight.
Can I access the car hire shuttle without collecting checked baggage? If you did not check bags, you can skip baggage claim, but you still must pass customs and exit to the public area before reaching the shuttle.
