Renting a Car at Will Rogers World Airport: What You Need to Know

Hertz operates a rental counter at Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), located about 7 miles south of downtown Oklahoma City. This guide covers what to expect from the Hertz location, how it compares to other rental agencies at the airport, and practical decisions that affect your rental experience and cost.

The Hertz Counter Location and Process

Hertz shares the airport's consolidated rental car facility with other major agencies. After collecting your luggage, follow signs for "Rental Cars" from baggage claim; the facility is a short walk or shuttle ride from the terminals. The Hertz counter is staffed during all commercial flight arrivals. If you booked in advance online through Hertz.com, check-in moves faster, though peak travel times (typically early morning and early evening) still create queues of 20 to 30 minutes.

Oklahoma City's airport handles roughly 7 million passengers annually, but rental demand spreads unevenly. Weekday afternoon arrivals tend to have shorter waits than weekend mornings, when business travelers and leisure visitors arrive simultaneously. Plan for 15 to 45 minutes at the counter depending on time of day.

Hertz does not operate a separate express lot at Will Rogers. Your rental vehicle is held in the shared airport lot, accessible by a brief walk or courtesy shuttle from the rental office. Retrieve keys, locate your vehicle using the lot map provided, and depart via the airport exit roads that feed into Will Rogers Boulevard and Highway 405.

Comparing Rental Agencies at Will Rogers

Four major rental chains operate at Will Rogers: Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. A fifth carrier, National, also maintains a counter. Choosing between them hinges on membership status, vehicle availability, and total rental cost, which varies by supplier.

Hertz's pricing at Will Rogers typically ranges from $35 to $65 per day for a compact or midsize sedan during off-peak periods, rising to $50 to $100 during peak summer travel or major events like the Oklahoma City Thunder season opener in October or the Cattlemen's Steakhouse conventions that bring convention traffic downtown. However, daily rates alone do not determine total cost; airport facility fees, taxes, and insurance options add $15 to $30 per day. Avis and Budget frequently undercut Hertz on advertised daily rates but charge comparable facility fees. National and Enterprise sometimes offer lower total quotes because they impose smaller facility charges, a meaningful difference on multi-week rentals.

Gold membership status or frequent renter clubs (Hertz Gold Plus, Avis Preferred, etc.) bypass the counter line and reduce processing time to 5 minutes if your vehicle is pre-assigned. If you rent from the airport five or more times yearly, joining a frequent renter program saves time across all agencies.

Insurance considerations matter more than rate shopping alone. Hertz offers collision damage waiver (CDW) at roughly $12 to $18 per day, sometimes bundled into corporate discounts. Many credit cards cover rental damage if you decline the agency's CDW, but check your specific card's terms before arriving. Some American Express and premium Visa cards exclude coverage for domestic rentals at major airports in the United States, a trap worth verifying in advance.

Vehicle Selection and Availability

Hertz maintains a fleet heavy on compact sedans (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla) and midsize sedans (Honda Accord, Toyota Camry) at Will Rogers, with a smaller inventory of SUVs and trucks. During summer months or major Oklahoma City events, compact and midsize inventory depletes first, sometimes resulting in an upgrade to a larger vehicle at no extra charge or, conversely, an offer to book a later pickup or choose a different supplier.

If you need a specific vehicle class, reserve at least two weeks in advance and call the Hertz location directly at the airport counter number to confirm availability before arrival. Do not rely solely on the online confirmation, which reflects system-wide inventory, not the Will Rogers branch's actual stock.

Automatic transmissions are standard; manual options are not stocked at Will Rogers. All rental vehicles come with full-size spare tires and basic roadside assistance included. Hertz charges an additional $5 to $8 per day for GPS navigation if you decline to use your smartphone's mapping app; most renters now bring their own phones, making this add-on uncommon.

Driving from the Airport: Navigation and Route Considerations

Exiting Will Rogers by car routes you onto Will Rogers Boulevard (State Road 3E), which merges into I-405 northbound toward downtown Oklahoma City (roughly 8 miles, 15 to 20 minutes by car) or southbound toward Norman (15 miles, 20 to 25 minutes). I-44 branches off I-405 to the west, leading toward the Tinker Air Force Base area and the suburbs of Midwest City.

Oklahoma City's street grid downtown is numbered; avenues run east-west, streets run north-south. If your destination is in Bricktown (the restored warehouse district immediately south and east of downtown) or Midtown (the pedestrian-oriented arts and dining area around NW 23rd Street), I-405 offers direct access. For midtown destinations, take I-405 north and exit at NW 23rd Street; for Bricktown, continue north to I-44 eastbound or follow local roads south from downtown.

Hertz rental vehicles are clearly marked with license plates that advertise the rental status, which may attract unwanted attention or tolls. Oklahoma City has no toll roads in the city proper, but I-44 westbound toward Tinker Air Force Base becomes a toll route beyond the city limits. Do not take I-44 westbound if toll avoidance is a priority. Stick to surface streets or I-405.

Weather and visibility in Oklahoma can change rapidly. During spring storm season (March through May), rain and occasional hail occur suddenly; the rental vehicle comes with wipers and functioning defroster, but no severe weather kit. Keep a weather app open on your phone and avoid driving into visible rain cells if possible.

Fuel and Return Logistics

Hertz offers a pre-purchase fuel option at the time of rental (paying for a full tank upfront, allowing you to return the car empty). This usually costs $1.00 to $2.00 per gallon above pump prices. For a 14-gallon sedan, that markup totals $15 to $30. Most renters decline this option and refuel independently before return.

Gas stations near Will Rogers include a Loves Travel Stop and Quiktrip locations within 2 miles of the rental lot. Refuel on the morning of return to avoid delays. Hertz charges $6 per gallon (or a $75 minimum) for fuel purchased post-return if the tank is not full, a punitive rate worth avoiding.

Return the vehicle to the same Hertz facility at Will Rogers; drop-off happens 24 hours a day. After-hours returns use an unmanned lot where you leave keys in a drop box. Receipts are emailed automatically. If you incurred any damage during the rental, document it with photos immediately to dispute charges later.

Bottom Line

Hertz at Will Rogers is convenient and competitively priced but not automatically the cheapest option. Compare Avis and Budget total quotes (including fees) before booking. Book at least two weeks ahead if you need a specific vehicle. Decline the GPS add-on and fuel pre-purchase unless your itinerary genuinely justifies them. Confirm your credit card rental coverage before arriving. These steps reduce the total cost and processing friction when you land.