Quick Summary:
- Follow “Baggage Claim” signs, then look for “Ground Transportation” directions.
- Use the terminal’s “Rental Car” signage to reach desks near arrivals.
- If arriving late, check desk hours, then use after-hours instructions.
- No data, use airport Wi‑Fi or ask information staff for directions.
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) is compact compared with many major US airports, which makes finding the car hire desks fairly straightforward if you know which signs to prioritise. The key is to think in two steps, first get to baggage claim, then follow ground transportation or rental car signs to the counters. This guide walks you through the typical route from the moment you leave the aircraft, highlights what the signs look like, and explains what to do if you land late or your phone has no signal.
1) From the aircraft to the main concourse
After landing at Dallas Love Field, you’ll exit the aircraft via the jet bridge into the secure (airside) area. Most passengers will emerge into a corridor that feeds into the main concourse. At this point, you are still before security, so you will not see transport desks yet.
What to do next is simple, follow the overhead signs for Baggage Claim or Exit. In US airports, the route to rental cars almost always runs through baggage claim, even if you have no checked luggage. You may also see signs for “Arrivals” or “Ground Transportation”, but if you keep heading to baggage claim you will naturally reach the public landside area where the car hire desks are signposted.
2) Follow signs to baggage claim, even with hand luggage
Keep an eye on the overhead wayfinding boards. At DAL they are typically clear, with consistent wording. If you are unsure between two corridors, choose the one that references baggage claim, ground transportation, or exit. As you approach the escalators or lifts, you will usually be directed down to the arrivals and baggage level.
If you have checked bags, collect them first. If you have only cabin baggage, you can proceed straight on, but it still helps to walk into the baggage claim area because the next set of transport signs are usually placed there and at the adjacent exits.
3) Arrivals hall to car hire desks, what signs to follow
Once you are at the baggage claim level, look for signage that says Rental Car, Rental Cars, or Ground Transportation. Airports vary in exact wording, but these are the phrases that tend to be used at Love Field. Follow these signs towards the dedicated rental car area and counters.
As you walk, you may also see signs for taxis, rideshare pick-up, shuttles, and public transport. Those are useful reference points, but for car hire you want to stay focused on rental car directions. If you accidentally follow rideshare or taxi signage, you can usually loop back without losing much time because DAL’s footprint is relatively small.
If you are arranging car hire in Texas and want a sense of how desk locations differ by airport, it can help to compare with other terminals. For example, the layouts and signage flows at Houston IAH and San Antonio SAT can be more spread out, so DAL often feels quicker once you know the pattern.
4) What you will see at the counters
At the car hire desks, expect a row of branded counters in the public area. This is where you confirm your driver details, show your driving licence and payment card, and receive the rental agreement and vehicle location instructions.
Have your documents ready before you reach the front of the queue. In practice, that means your driving licence, a second form of ID if required, and the card used for the booking. If you booked via an aggregator or a third party, keep your confirmation details available, but if you have no data you can rely on a downloaded PDF or a screenshot taken before travel.
Queues can vary by time of day. If several flights arrive close together, the rental desks may become busy for short bursts. If you are travelling as a group and need extra space, it can be useful to know your vehicle type in advance, for instance a people carrier versus a standard saloon. To see how larger vehicles are categorised at other Texas airports, you can refer to options like minivan rental in San Antonio SAT, which gives a good idea of what “minivan” commonly means in US rental fleets.
5) Getting from the desk to your vehicle
After you complete the paperwork, the staff will tell you where to collect your car. At many airports this is either an on-site garage within walking distance or a short shuttle ride to a consolidated rental facility. The exact process can change, but the desk agent will provide clear directions.
Before you leave the counter area, confirm these four practical points so you do not need to return:
1) Where the vehicle is located. Ask whether it is walkable or requires a shuttle.
2) Which exit to use. You may be directed to a specific door for rental car shuttles or garages.
3) What to do if the vehicle is not ready. They may direct you to a bay number, a pick-up line, or a key-dispensing process.
4) Where to return the car. Returns can be signed differently than pick-ups, especially if you are heading out early.
6) If you land late, what happens with car hire desks
Late arrivals are common, particularly with delays or late-evening flights. The main concern is whether the car hire desk you need is still staffed. Hours vary by company and can change by season, so the safest approach is to check operating hours before you fly, then confirm again if your flight time changes.
If you land late and the desk is closed, look for after-hours instructions in three places:
At the desk itself. Many desks display a printed sign explaining the next steps, such as a phone number, a desk bell procedure, or a direction to a shared service counter.
On your reservation confirmation. Some providers include a late-arrival process, such as holding the vehicle until a certain time or instructions to contact them.
Via airport information staff. If you cannot reach the provider, the airport information point can often confirm where rental customers should go after hours.
If you are worried about late-night availability when planning travel in Texas, it is worth noting that larger airports can have different staffing patterns. For comparison, travellers sometimes choose alternatives based on flight schedules and desk hours, such as Fort Worth DFW for certain itineraries, although Love Field is typically convenient for central Dallas.
7) If you have no data, use these offline-friendly steps
It is surprisingly easy to arrive with no mobile data, especially for international visitors. You may have flight mode still enabled, a SIM that has not activated, or a temporary network outage. The good news is that you can still reach the car hire desks quickly with a few simple tactics.
Use physical signage first. The fastest solution is to rely on the airport’s wayfinding rather than maps. Prioritise “Baggage Claim”, then “Rental Car” or “Ground Transportation”. This removes the need for any connectivity at all.
Connect to airport Wi‑Fi if needed. Most airports offer free Wi‑Fi, although you may need to accept terms on a web page. If your booking confirmation is in email and you cannot access it, Wi‑Fi can be enough to retrieve it.
Take a photo of key details before travelling. If you are reading this ahead of time, store screenshots of your reservation number, the supplier name, and the pick-up instructions. That way you can present everything at the counter without logging in.
Ask a staff member the exact wording of the signs. If you feel turned around, ask, “Which way to rental cars?” and listen for the same phrases you will see overhead. That small check can save several minutes of backtracking.
8) Common navigation mistakes, and how to avoid them
Following rideshare signs instead of rental cars. Rideshare pick-up areas can be close to the exits, so it is easy to drift the wrong way. If you find yourself outside at kerbside with rideshare labels, step back inside and look for rental car directions.
Assuming rental cars are always outside the terminal doors. Some airports require a shuttle to a rental facility. Even if you see kerbside transport options, complete your counter check-in first unless your booking explicitly states “skip the counter”.
Not confirming return directions. Pick-up instructions do not always match returns. Before leaving the desk, ask how the return is signed and whether it is at the airport or a nearby facility.
9) A quick checklist before you leave the airport
Once you have your keys and locate your car, take two minutes before driving off. First, check the fuel policy on your agreement. Second, walk around the car and take timestamped photos of the exterior and any existing marks. Third, familiarise yourself with the basics, lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, and how to adjust mirrors, as US vehicles can differ from what UK drivers expect.
Finally, confirm you have the address for your first stop saved offline or written down. If you need an accessible point of reference when comparing car hire services across airports in the state, you can review an airport-specific page like El Paso ELP to see how pick-up instructions are commonly structured, then apply the same logic at DAL.
FAQ
Where do I go first after landing to reach car hire desks at Dallas Love Field? Follow signs to baggage claim and arrivals, then look for “Rental Car” or “Ground Transportation” signs leading to the counters.
Are the car hire desks inside the terminal at Dallas Love Field? Yes, the rental counters are in the public arrivals area, and staff then direct you to the vehicle pick-up location.
What if my flight lands late and the car hire desk is closed? Check posted after-hours instructions at the counter, review your confirmation for late-arrival steps, and ask airport staff where to go next.
Can I find the rental car counters without mobile data? Yes. Use airport signage to baggage claim and rental cars, connect to airport Wi‑Fi if needed, and keep screenshots of your reservation details.
What should I confirm at the desk before heading to the car? Confirm where the car is collected, whether a shuttle is required, which exit to use, and the return location and signage for drop-off.
