Best Car Hire Chicago Midway Airport

Renting a Car in Chicago Midway Airport? Read our guide before Hiring a Car

Chicago Midway International Airport, overseen by the Chicago Department of Aviation, is located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It is a square mile in size, bookended by 55th Street and 63rd Street near Central Avenue. Originally the airport was called Chicago Municipal Airport, but was renamed in 1942, after the Battle of Midway.

Since 1927 it has been one of Chicago's most important air hubs and remains the second largest airport in the city, second only to Chicago O'Hare Airport. It's also the 26th busiest in the nation. It serves over 22 million passengers a year.

There are plenty of car hire options at Chicago Midway International Airport, with ten different rent a car services in operation. All are located at Midway Rental Car Facility. They include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty, Corporate Rent a Car, and Payless Car Rental.

Here's everything you need to know about renting a car at Chicago Midway International Airport.

What are the age restrictions when hiring a car at Chicago Midway Airport?

• In most of the United States, car rental companies can set the minimum age for rentals. At Chicago Midway International Airport, the minimum age requirements are as follows:

  • Hertz: 20 years old, with surcharge (approximately $30/day); 25 years old without surcharge

  • Enterprise: 21 years old, with surcharge ($15/day, certain car classes only—no luxury vehicles); 25 years old without surcharge.

  • Payless, National: 21 years old, with surcharge ($25/day); 25 years old without surcharge

  • Avis, Budget, Dollar: 21 years old, with surcharge (approximately $30/day); 25 years old without surcharge

  • Thrifty: 21 years old, with surcharge (unspecified); 25 years old without surcharge

  • Alamo, Corporate Rent-a-Car: 25 years old

• Please note that, even if not specified online, car hire services can limit or refuse rentals at their discretion. The type of car you are able to rent may well be limited if you are under the age of 25—many services refuse luxury rentals to younger drivers. If you require a luxury car, contact the company directly to confirm that your reservation will be honoured.

• There is rarely an official maximum age imposed on car rentals within the United States, and the same is true for Chicago Midway International Airport. However, car rental services are able to refuse rentals at their own discretion. If you are of an advanced age, it is wise to contact the company ahead of time to ensure that your reservation will be honoured.

How much does it cost to add a second driver to your rental car at Chicago Midway Airport?

There are varying rules and policies in place for additional drivers at Chicago Midway car rental locations:

• Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Payless, Hertz, National, Thrifty, Avis: Must meet all other driver requirements; the daily fee is approximately $12-$14/day/driver

• Corporate Rent a Car: Contact for current location specific details by calling (331) 208-5100

• Dollar: Contact for current location specific details by calling (800) 800-4000

• Because Chicago Midway International Airport is located in Illinois and subject to its state laws, rental companies must allow spouses (who meet the age and license requirements) to be authorized additional drivers.

• Please note that rental services at Chicago Midway may refuse additional drivers at their discretion, and may impose more stringent age limitations on additional drivers. If the additional driver is under the age of 25, call the rental location to verify that they will qualify.

What documents are required to hire a car at Chicago Midway Airport?

USA Drivers:

• A valid driver's license for all drivers

• A valid credit card in the lead drivers name with a balance of at least $200 to put on hold

• Please note that some services will require a valid credit card from additional drivers

• Some companies may accept a debit card at the time of rental, at their discretion:

  • Please note that there will be either a flat rate (approximately $200) or a percentage of the rental fee put on hold—those funds will not be available for the duration of the rental

  • You may be required to provide additional documentation or ID at the time of the rental, including proof of address, travel itinerary/return flight bookings, etc. that coincide with the rental.

• You do not need to hold your own insurance. Insurance can be purchased at the counter. If you do have your own insurance, be aware that insurance at the counter is fully optional.

International Drivers:

The United States does not have a federal requirement for foreign visitors to have an International Driver's Permit (IDP). However, Illinois state law does not prohibit companies from requiring an International Drivers License. If you are not from the United States or Canada, contact Chicago Midway International car hire companies individually to determine their IDP policy.

• A valid driver's license from the United States or Canada

• A valid credit card in the lead drivers name with a balance of at least $200 to put on hold

• Some companies may accept a debit card at the time of rental, at their discretion:

  • Please note that there will be either a flat rate (approximately $200) or a percentage of the rental fee put on hold—those funds will not be available for the duration of the rental

  • You may be required to provide additional documentation or ID at the time of the rental, including proof of address, travel itinerary/return flight bookings, etc. that coincide with the rental.

• You do not need to hold your own insurance. Insurance can be purchased at the counter. If you do have your own insurance, be aware that insurance at the counter is fully optional.

Car Hire Companies at Chicago Midway Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport has three concourses (A, B, C). However, all car hiring services are located at the Rental Car Facility at 5150 W. 55th Street. Shuttles to this location run every quarter of an hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The shuttle pickup point is located at the Arrivals curb entrance, adjacent to the Baggage Claim area. The car hire companies available at Chicago Midway International Airport include:

• Alamo (800) 327-9633

• Avis (800) 331-1212

• Budget (800) 527-7000

• Dollar (800) 800-4000

• Enterprise (800) 566-9249

• Hertz (800) 654-3131

• National (800) 227-7368

• Thrifty (800) 527-7075

• Corporate Rent A Car (331) 208-5100

• Payless Car Rental (800) 729-5377

Opening Times Car Rentals Desks at Chicago Midway Airport

Please note that you will need to schedule your pick-up and drop-off times when renting your vehicle. The opening and closing hours are noted below. Hours may be subject to change based on holidays. Please contact companies individually for holiday schedules.

• Avis 6AM-2AM, Sun-Sat

• Budget 6AM-2AM, Sun-Sat

• Dollar 6AM-12AM, Sun-Fri; 6AM-10PM, Sat

• Enterprise 7AM-10PM, Sun-Fri; 7AM-8:30PM, Sat

• Hertz 6AM-1:30AM, Sun-Sat

• National 5AM-1AM, Sun-Sat

• Thrifty 6AM-12AM, Sun-Sat

• Corporate Rent A Car Please contact the location at (331) 208-5100

• Payless Car Rental 7AM-5PM, Sun-Sat

Best car hire Companies at Chicago Midway Airport?

TravelMag.com ranks Alamo #1 for value. Dollar rents at about the same rate for economy cars, but their upper tier vehicles are pricier (and Dollar, as mentioned below, has some customer service issues).

National might be a bit pricier, but they win for affordable, useful perks. Their Emerald Aisle program is particularly good for travellers who are short on time. The program allows the customer to completely bypass the counter by enrolling and reserving a midsize vehicle. On arrival, the customer simply goes to the designated Emerald Aisle/Executive area, chooses the car they want, and pays—the keys are already in the cars, and they're ready to go!

Worst car hire companies at Chicago Midway Airport?

Avis seems to be losing when it comes to customer reviews online, thanks to poor customer service and hidden fees. However, most of the companies seem to have complaints regarding long waits. If you are renting a car at Chicago Midway International Airport. It's important to allot plenty of time to pick up and drop off your vehicle.

Leaving Chicago Midway Airport

Chicago is a major US city, so expect traffic when leaving Chicago Midway International Airport. There is also likely to be construction in and around the airport, and during the winter months (and to an extent in autumn and spring) heavy snows and bad winter weather aren't uncommon. It's wise to use a GPS navigation system to direct your drive. Crowd-sourced options like the Waze app can help as well, as they're more likely to show temporary congestion and obstacles. And as with all major US cities, you should be aware of toll costs on certain roads. Toll roads are likely to streamline your trip, but they can be costly. You may be able to rent an I Pass device at the car rental company, which can save you money (via a discount) on tolls; they also make passing through toll points faster and more convenient. If not, you can obtain an I Pass device here. Please note that certain toll points may accept only I Pass or cash. US cities do not have congestion charges. However, there may be HOV/carpool lanes that are off limits during certain hours. These will be clearly marked with signs.

Speed Limits at and Around Chicago Midway International Airport

If you're traveling from Chicago Midway International Airport by car, you should be familiar with the state of Illinois' speed limit laws.

• Maximum speed on rural interstates is 65 mph (unless otherwise noted)

• Maximum speed on highways in or around major cities is 55 mph (unless otherwise noted)

• Maximum speed in urban areas is 30 mph (unless otherwise noted)

• In addition to following the posted speed limits, drivers are expected to drive at a speed appropriate to road, traffic, and weather conditions

Petrol Stations Near Chicago Midway Airport

The majority of car hire companies at Chicago Midway International Airport require you to refuel the vehicle (to the same level at which you received it) before returning it. If, after picking up your vehicle, you're anticipating a long journey by car, you'll also want to fuel up when you leave.

• Midway Gas Mart 4710 W 63rd St, (773) 582-6557

• Midway Gas 4951 S Cicero Ave, (773) 599-8960 (24h)

• Marathon 4629 S Cicero Ave, (773) 767-6520

• Mobile 5448 W 55th St, (773) 581-4875