Renting a car may require schedule flexibility and planning. A common question from customers is whether it is allowed to pick up the vehicle before the scheduled time.
What are the general rules for early pickups?
At most rental companies, the possibility of picking up the car before the scheduled time is not guaranteed.
This happens because:
The reservation is made for a specific time period;
Vehicle availability at that moment may not allow early pickups;
Some rental companies have policies that expressly prohibit releasing the car before the scheduled time.
Therefore, in many cases, it will be necessary to wait until the reserved time.
How to check the possibility of an early pickup?
If you need to pick up the car before the scheduled time, follow these guidelines:
Whenever possible, try to change the pickup time of your reservation. Use the Rentcars website or app to make the desired adjustments. Check our article on modifications for more details.
If that’s not possible, contact the rental company by phone using the number provided on your voucher or speak directly at the counter to check if early pickup is available.
Always confirm the rental company’s policy, as each one may have specific rules.
What is the impact on the rates and the reservation?
When bringing forward the pickup time, please note that:
The cost of the reservation will be adjusted according to the rate in effect on the day, as well as the availability and the new selected time;
Formal or informal changes to the reservation may be required to ensure the vehicle can be released.
Important
Early pickup of the rental car depends on the specific policies of each rental company and the availability of the vehicle at that time.
Keep in mind that rate adjustments may occur, and in many cases, you may be asked to wait until the originally scheduled time.
We recommend contacting the rental company to align expectations and avoid any inconvenience.