Denver International Airport (DEN) Rental Car Guide

Quick Summary

Approximately 30-45 minutes from deboarding the plane to a rental counter. All rental companies are located off site and will require a shuttle to get to. The larger companies are all located on one road, have shorter shuttle rides, and have larger, more frequently rotating shuttles. (National, Hertz, Enterprise...) The smaller companies are located further out, have longer rides, and have much smaller shuttles that rotate less frequently. (Routes, NU, Drive...)

After booking a vehicle, each company will send you instructions on how to reach their shuttle. DEN has clear signage that will assist you in getting to the shuttle pickup area. Shuttles run from Level 5 on both the east and west sides.

Time to reach rental counters

Best companies overall

National - Emerald Aisle bypasses all the headache of renting a vehicle. Choose any car at the midsize rate, get in, and go. Skipping the counter is worth spending a little more.

SIXT - By far the best fleet in Denver. (and in the U.S for that matter) Incredible pricing during off-peak seasons that rival or beat the budget brands. Generally have every type of vehicle available. Offers a counter bypass service, but lines can be long. Not as seamless as National just yet.

Enterprise - Enterprise offers one of the most consistent rental experiences in the industry, with newer vehicles, strong customer service, and reliable availability at most airports. Expect higher pricing, but a smoother, more dependable overall experience.

Best for budget travelers

NU Car Rental - Impossibly low rates. Fleet is slightly older than other companies, but they don't opt for the lowest trim vehicles. For the pricing, the cars you receive are very nice. During busier seasons, lines can be very long.

Thrifty - Offers some of the cheapest rates at most airports, making it appealing for quick trips or tight budgets. Service and fleet quality can vary, and wait times will be long during peak seasons. Sometimes upwards of 2 hour waits, but the savings are real if you’re willing to trade convenience for price.

Budget - Budget lives up to its name with consistently low prices and wide vehicle availability. Expect longer lines during peak times, but it’s a solid pick for travelers who want the lowest upfront cost without major compromises.

Best for winter trips

SIXT - The winter fleet is very good. Offers the vehicles that most travelers are looking for. Large and small 4x4 and AWD vehicles, ranging from Toyota Rav4 and Subaru, all the way to BMW X7s, Suburbans, and G-Wagons.

NU - Offer the best prices on the larger options for skiers, snowboarders, and families. They have plenty of Chevy Tahoes, Traverses, and Suburbans, all equipped with the Z71 package. Every company will take advantage of the winter weather conditions and jack the prices up, but NU won't ask you to shell out $600 per night for a Tahoe.

AVIS - We've found that Avis will typically have AWD and 4x4 vehicles ready during the winter when everyone else has sold out. The lines can be long, but we haven't been told they can't accommodate our request for a winter ready vehicle.

Shuttles from DEN to the Rental Car Center depart from Level 5 on the east and west sides.

Rental Car Center Location

Most Rental car companies are located on E 78th Avenue. The smaller companies are located a bit further out. Each of the companies require a shuttle to get to. Be prepared to take a shuttle from the airport to pick up your vehicle, and take a shuttle back to the airport after you drop off.

Best Vehicle Types for Denver

Winter (November - March/April)

AWD and 4WD SUVs are strongly recommended if you plan on driving to the mountains. You'll often see info online about a humble Corolla with snow tires plowing through the mountains, but rental car companies do not equip their vehicles with snow tires. If you're looking for snow tires, some Turo hosts in the Denver market will throw them on their vehicles. Popular options include Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Ford Explorer, and Chevy Tahoe.

When booking, look for AWD or 4x4 in the listing. Try to book well ahead of your trip to ensure you get one of these vehicles.

Summer (June–September)

Compact and midsize sedans work well for in city or suburban travel. For national parks or mountain towns, SUVs still provide better ride comfort and versatility. Sixt, National, and Avis offer some more fun vehicles during the summer season that can be had for incredible prices if you book early enough.

Family Travel

Minivans and 7-seat SUVs offer the best mix of space and convenience. These vehicle types book quickly during holidays and peak travel weekends. When booking larger SUV's, always remember you're booking a car class. You're not booking the specific car you see in the picture. A Full-Size SUV at one company is a Chevy Traverse, while at another company it's a Chevy Tahoe.

If you're looking to move people without a lot of luggage, look at the Standard Elite SUV class or the Full-Size SUV class. If you need to move people and luggage, you're looking for Full-Size Elite SUV (Suburban or similar)

AVIS, NU, Budget, and Enterprise offer 12-15 passenger vans as well, but these book out fast during peak travel seasons so book well in advance.

Toll Roads and Express Lanes

Do You Need Toll Roads in Denver?

Denver is one of the easier major cities to navigate without toll roads. You can reach the airport, downtown, the mountains, and most suburbs using free highways with no need for a toll pass. For the majority of trips, you will never need to use a toll road in the Denver metro area.

About E-470

E-470 is a toll highway that loops around the eastern side of Denver. It’s convenient for bypassing traffic and for getting between the northern and southern suburbs more quickly. It can also be used to reach Boulder, Fort Collins, or Colorado Springs faster if the main highways (I-25, I-70, and US-36) are experiencing heavy congestion.

Express Lanes on I-70, I-25, and US-36

Some major highways in Denver have optional express lanes. These are toll lanes that allow you to travel faster during heavy traffic. Renting a toll pass from your rental company can make using these lanes easier, but it isn’t required. If you’re staying close to the city or not driving during rush hour, you likely won’t need the express lanes.

When a Toll Pass Might Be Worth It

You want to frequently use the express lanes on I-70, I-25, or US-36

You’re returning to the airport during rush hour from the north or south

You want the fastest route during peak traffic or bad weather

You prefer having toll access without managing payments yourself

Paying Tolls Yourself (Cheaper Option)

You can connect a rental car to ExpressToll online and pay the normal toll rate instead of the much higher rental car convenience fees. This is a good option if you only plan to use tolls once or twice and want to avoid the daily toll pass charges.

Best Rental Car Companies in Denver

National - Fastest and Easiest

National is the top choice at DEN for one simple reason: Emerald Aisle saves you time. There’s no counter, no upsell pressure, frequent shuttles, and no waiting in line after a long shuttle ride. You can check in on the app, walk straight to the aisle, choose your own car, and drive out without speaking to anyone. For travelers who value speed and convenience, National is hard to beat.

Best for: Business travelers, loyalty members, anyone who wants the fastest pickup.

Sixt - Best Fleet, Options, and Service

Sixt offers the most premium fleet at Denver, with everything from Toyota Camrys and Hyundai Sonatas to BMW X5s, Mercedes SUVs, brand-new Escalades, and even G-Wagons at certain times. If you want something stylish, newer, or more luxurious than what most rental companies offer, Sixt is the standout. They’re also a great choice for travelers who enjoy variety and are open to upgrading. Sixt would be by far and away the best in Denver if they had a better counter bypass option.

Best for: Travelers wanting luxury vehicles or premium SUVs.

Enterprise - Most consistent

Enterprise delivers one of the most dependable rental experiences at DEN. They maintain a newer fleet, offer strong customer service, and tend to have better winter SUV availability than most competitors. They may not be as fast as National or as flashy as Sixt, but they’re consistently good.

Best for: Long-term renters, anyone wanting a smooth, predictable experience.

Budget - Good Prices, Solid Consistency

Budget offers some of the most competitive mainstream pricing at DEN while still delivering a generally reliable experience. For the price, they offer good value and manageable service times. Travelers looking to save without stepping down to the deep-discount brands will find Budget to be the right balance.

NU Car Rental

NU Car Rental is a great choice if you're willing to trade some time for major savings. Their prices are often significantly lower than the big brands, and if you’re a renter who always buys LDW (loss damage waiver) anyway, NU can be a surprisingly strong value, especially for short trips. Just be aware: they can be strict with damage inspections, so protection plans greatly reduce headaches. This has become my go to rental company in Denver for short trips, even with LDW my total is often cheaper than all the other competitors.

Best for: Budget renters, LDW buyers, travelers willing to wait for the best deal.