Quick Summary:
- A Customer Facility Charge funds airport car rental centres and shuttle systems.
- It usually appears as a separate line on quotes and agreements.
- At on-airport locations, CFC is typically mandatory and non-negotiable.
- Off-airport car hire may avoid CFC but adds time and transport.
If you have compared airport car hire prices in the United Estates, you have probably seen an extra line called a Customer Facility Charge, often shortened to CFC. It can look like a surprise add-on, but it is a common airport fee with a specific purpose. Understanding what it pays for, where it shows up, and when it can be avoided helps you compare like-for-like quotes and avoid confusion at the counter.
This guide explains how a CFC works at US airports, how it differs from taxes and other surcharges, and what choices you have if you want to reduce airport-related costs without compromising your travel plans.
What is a Customer Facility Charge (CFC)?
A Customer Facility Charge is a fee set by an airport authority and collected from car hire customers using airport rental facilities. Although it is collected by the rental company, it is generally passed through to the airport to help pay for construction, operation, or financing of car rental infrastructure.
Many US airports have moved rental counters away from terminals into consolidated car rental centres. These projects cost a lot to build and maintain, so airports often fund them partly through a per-day or per-transaction CFC applied to rentals that originate at the airport facility.
While the name is consistent, the amount is not. CFC rates vary significantly by airport and can change over time. It is also usually charged per rental day, sometimes with a maximum cap, so longer rentals can accumulate a higher total charge.
What does the CFC fund at airports?
CFC revenue typically supports airport-related car hire facilities and transport systems, rather than the rental company’s own operating costs. Exact uses vary, but common items include:
Consolidated Rental Car Facilities (CRFs): Purpose-built car rental centres where multiple brands operate under one roof, with dedicated pick-up and return lanes, customer service desks, and vehicle servicing space.
People movers and shuttles: Trams, automated people movers, or shuttle buses that move passengers between terminals and the rental centre. These systems reduce congestion at terminal curbs and make traffic flow easier to manage.
Roadway, signage, and parking improvements: Access roads to rental centres, wayfinding signs, and parking or staging areas used by car hire customers.
Debt repayment: Many airports finance these projects through bonds. A CFC can help repay this debt over a long period.
It may feel like “just another fee”, but airports view it as a way to fund infrastructure used specifically by car hire customers, rather than spreading costs across all passengers through general airport charges.
Where the CFC appears on quotes, confirmations, and contracts
CFC placement can differ depending on where you are in the booking process and how prices are displayed. When comparing car hire options, look for these common patterns:
On search results or estimated totals: Some sites include the CFC inside an “estimated taxes and fees” figure, while others show a separate line item. If you are comparing two similar rates, check whether one is bundling fees and the other is not.
On the booking confirmation: You may see wording like “Customer Facility Charge”, “CFC”, “Airport concession recovery fee plus CFC”, or “facility charge”. If it is per-day, the confirmation may show both the daily amount and the total for your rental length.
On the rental agreement at pick-up: The agreement usually lists it under taxes, surcharges, or airport fees. The language can be technical, but the key is that it is often not discretionary at an airport location.
On the final receipt: If you add days, upgrade categories, or change locations, the CFC total can change because it is often tied to the number of days and the pick-up facility.
If you want a baseline reference for how airport pricing is typically structured across the country, Hola Car Rentals provides location-specific information for car rental in the United States, which can help you interpret quotes consistently.
CFC vs other airport fees, what’s the difference?
CFC is commonly confused with other charges that also appear on airport rentals. Separating them makes it easier to spot what is unavoidable and what might change.
Airport concession fee: Airports often charge rental companies a concession fee for the right to operate on airport property. Many rental companies pass this on as an “airport concession recovery fee” or similar. This is different from a CFC, though both are associated with airport rentals.
State and local taxes: Sales tax, tourism taxes, or local rental car taxes may apply whether you rent at an airport or in town, although the rate can vary by city and county.
Vehicle licence recovery fee and similar surcharges: These can be imposed by rental companies to recover costs and can appear in both airport and off-airport rentals.
Tolls and optional products: Toll transponders, additional drivers, child seats, and insurance-related products are not the same as a CFC and may be avoidable depending on your needs.
In short, CFC is specifically linked to the airport’s car rental facilities and transport infrastructure. Other fees may also be present, but they serve different purposes and are set by different entities.
When is a CFC unavoidable?
In most cases, a CFC is unavoidable when you pick up your car hire from an on-airport location that uses airport rental facilities. If the rental counter or the pick-up process is part of the airport’s official car rental operation, the CFC is generally mandatory and charged to every qualifying rental.
It is also typically unavoidable if you pick up from a consolidated rental centre connected to the terminals by shuttle or people mover. Even though it may not be physically inside the terminal, it is still an airport facility.
Because the airport sets the charge, front-desk staff cannot usually remove it. If you see a quote that appears to omit the CFC for an airport pick-up, check the fine print carefully. It may be bundled into a different line or shown only at the contract stage as an estimate that updates later.
If you are comparing suppliers at the same airport, the CFC amount is often the same across brands because the airport sets it. The differences you see between providers are more likely to come from base rate, included mileage, fuel policy, or insurance and add-ons. If you are reviewing major-brand options, you can cross-check typical inclusions and terms for Avis car hire in the United States and National car hire in the United States to help keep comparisons consistent.
Can you avoid a CFC on US airport car hire?
Sometimes, but it depends on location and your willingness to trade convenience for cost. The most common way to avoid a CFC is to avoid picking up from an airport facility that triggers it.
Choose an off-airport pick-up location: Neighbourhood branches in the same city often do not charge a CFC because they are not using the airport’s car rental centre. However, they may have different opening hours, smaller fleets, or a less convenient return process.
Consider your arrival time and luggage: If you land late, an off-airport branch may be closed. If you have several bags or are travelling with children, the extra transfer can remove most of the benefit.
Look at the total journey cost, not just the rental: Getting to an off-airport branch can require a rideshare, taxi, hotel shuttle, or public transport. Factor in cost and time, plus the inconvenience of travelling after a flight.
One-way plans may change the calculation: Some travellers pick up off-airport and return to the airport, or the other way round. Depending on the airport rules and the return location, you may still see airport-related charges, and one-way drop fees can outweigh the saved CFC.
In practical terms, airport pick-up is often the simplest choice, and the CFC is part of paying for that convenience. For travellers prioritising space and comfort after a long flight, you may also be comparing vehicle types rather than just fees. If that is you, the guidance on SUV rental in the United States can help you weigh overall value alongside airport charges.
How to spot CFC pricing tricks and compare fairly
Because fees can be displayed differently, it is easy to think one quote is cheaper when it simply presents charges later. Use these checks to compare airport car hire properly:
Match pick-up and return locations exactly: “Airport” and “City centre” versions of the same brand can have very different fee structures.
Confirm whether taxes and fees are included: Some quotes are “pay later” estimates where taxes and airport charges are calculated at pick-up. Others bundle more costs into the displayed total.
Check the per-day nature of the fee: A CFC of a few dollars per day becomes meaningful over two weeks. If your trip is longer, the daily fee structure matters.
Watch for combined lines: Some documents bundle CFC with other airport fees. If you cannot find “CFC” by name, look for “facility charge” and check the description.
Read the rental conditions: The conditions often state that airport fees may be collected at the counter and can change. That does not always mean the company is adding new charges, it can mean airport-set fees are calculated at pick-up.
If you are comparing value-oriented providers, it can also help to understand how terms are presented across brands such as Dollar car rental in the United States. The goal is not to chase the lowest headline price, but to understand the full set of charges you are likely to pay.
Is CFC charged if you pay in advance?
Sometimes it is included in the prepaid total, and sometimes it is still shown as an estimated payable-at-counter amount that is then finalised at pick-up. The deciding factor is how the booking channel packages local taxes and airport fees, and whether the airport-set components are confirmed at booking time.
If your confirmation shows a separate “payable at destination” section, do not assume it is optional. For airport rentals, that section often contains mandatory charges like CFC and airport concession fees. The safest approach is to treat it as part of the expected total cost unless the terms clearly say otherwise.
Does the CFC change if you upgrade or extend?
It can. Because CFC is commonly assessed per rental day, extending your rental increases the total. Upgrading the vehicle class does not always change the CFC rate, but changes to your rental duration almost certainly will. Similarly, switching to a different pick-up location, especially from off-airport to airport, can introduce a CFC where there was none before.
If you think you might extend, it is worth considering the potential extra airport fees in addition to the daily rate. This is particularly relevant during busy travel periods in the United Estates, when extensions may be processed at the airport desk.
Key takeaways for travellers in the United Estates
A Customer Facility Charge is not a random surcharge, it is a structured airport fee used to fund the facilities and transport systems that make airport car hire possible. You will usually see it as a distinct line item on a quote, contract, or receipt, and it is generally unavoidable for on-airport pick-ups.
If you want to avoid it, the main alternative is using an off-airport location, but that choice often brings trade-offs in time, transport costs, and convenience. The best approach is to compare total cost and pick-up practicality together, and to read the breakdown carefully so the CFC does not catch you off guard.
FAQ
Is the Customer Facility Charge the same at every airport? No. Each airport sets its own CFC rate and rules, so it varies by location and can change over time.
Will every airport car hire booking in the United Estates include a CFC? Most on-airport pick-ups do. If the rental uses airport facilities or a consolidated rental centre, a CFC is commonly applied.
Can the rental desk remove the CFC if I complain? Usually not. It is typically an airport-set fee that the rental company is required to collect for qualifying rentals.
If I rent off-airport, will I definitely avoid the CFC? Often yes, but not always. Some locations still have facility-related fees, and your transport to the branch can offset savings.
Is a CFC refundable if I return the car early? Policies vary. Because it is frequently charged per day, the total may reduce with a shorter rental, but refund rules depend on the contract and billing method.
