A consolidated rental car facility (CRCF) or consolidated rental car center (CONRAC) is a complex that hosts numerous car rental agencies, typically found at airports in the United States.
The most important incentives for building consolidated facilities are greatly reduced traffic congestion in airport pick up and drop off areas and increased convenience for travelers. A single unified fleet of shuttle buses can serve all car rental agencies, instead of each company operating their own individual shuttle buses which may come less frequently. Congestion can be further reduced by connecting the consolidated facility to the airport terminal with a people mover.
Consolidated facilities are typically built around two areas: a customer service building where each company operates retail counters to serve renters, and a "ready/return" lot or garage where cars are temporarily parked while ready and awaiting a renter, or when recently returned and in need of servicing before the next rental.
Facilities usually also feature a Quick Turn Around (QTA) area either on-site or at a nearby location, where light maintenance of vehicles can be conducted including cleaning, fueling, and inspection of engine fluids. There can be several QTA areas operated by the different companies, or the services can be shared.
The first known consolidated facility was built at Sacramento International Airport in 1994. However, as early as 1974, four companies were already sharing facilities and shuttle buses at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, and in 1988 companies at Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport introduced common shuttle buses. These differed from modern CONRACs in that the majority of rental car companies at Dallas/Fort Worth continued to operate their own off-site facilities and shuttle buses, while at Minneapolis, only the shuttle buses and not the facilities themselves were shared (in other words, a single shuttle bus line served multiple off-site rental car companies).
Furthermore, the rental car industry has seen major mergers, creating three major holding companies that now represent ten brands commonly seen at airports, the Avis Budget Group (which operates Avis Car Rental, Budget Rent a Car, Payless Car Rental and Zipcar), Enterprise Holdings (which operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental) and The Hertz Corporation (which operates Hertz Rent A Car, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental). Because of these mergers, even in cities without a consolidated facility, many of these companies have consolidated all their brands into one location.
Locations Locale Airport Year NotesSacramento, CASacramento International Airport1994First facility in the U.S.Cedar Rapids, IAEastern Iowa Airport1996Opened New Joint Use Rental Car Facility in 1996 Minneapolis–Saint PaulMinneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport1998Had been operating common shuttle buses since 1988.Cleveland, OHCleveland Hopkins International Airport1998San Francisco, CASan Francisco International Airport1998Connected to AirTrain APM (automated people mover) system. Expanded in June 2008Ontario, CAOntario International Airport (ONT)1999Dallas–Ft. Worth, TXDallas Fort Worth International Airport2000In 1990, DFW had two rental car sites on the north and south sides of the airport. Both hosted Avis, Budget, Hertz and National.A new facility that consolidated more brands opened south of the airport in March 2000Albuquerque, NMAlbuquerque International Sunport2001Baltimore, MD–Washington, DCBaltimore/Washington International Airport2003Houston, TXGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport2003Oakland, CAOakland International Airport2003Ft. Lauderdale, FLFort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport2005At its opening, this was the largest facility in the US.Phoenix, AZPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport2006Connected to PHX Sky Train APM.Las Vegas, NVHarry Reid International Airport2007Kansas City, MOKansas City International Airport2007Anchorage, AKTed Stevens Anchorage International Airport2007Spokane, WASpokane International Airport2008Atlanta, GAHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport2009Connected to ATL SkyTrain APM.Fresno, CAFresno Yosemite International Airport2009Miami, FLMiami International Airport2010Connected to MIA Mover APM. Part of the Miami Intermodal CenterSan Jose, CASan Jose International Airport2010Nashville, TNNashville International Airport2011Memphis, TNMemphis International Airport2012Seattle, WASeattle–Tacoma International Airport2012At opening, largest facility in the US to win LEED Silver certification.New Orleans, LALouis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport2012Chicago, ILMidway International Airport2013Boston, MALogan International Airport2013Newark, NJ/New York CityNewark Liberty International Airport2013/2023Original location closed, with a new one opened in 2023 as part of new Terminal A project. Connected to AirTrain Newark monorail. Burbank, CAHollywood Burbank Airport2014Part of the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center.San Juan, Puerto RicoLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport2014Moline, ILQuad Cities International Airport2014Austin, TXAustin–Bergstrom International Airport 2015Charlotte, NCCharlotte Douglas International Airport 2015San Diego, CASan Diego International Airport2016Oklahoma City, OKWill Rogers World Airport 2016Salt Lake City, UTSalt Lake City International Airport 2016San Antonio, TXSan Antonio International Airport2018Tampa, FLTampa International Airport 2018Connected to SkyConnect APM.Chicago, ILO'Hare International Airport2018Connected to Airport Transit System APM.Kahului, HIKahului Airport2019Connected to CONRAC Tram.Honolulu, HIDaniel K. Inouye International Airport2020Palm Springs, CAPalm Springs International Airport2020Columbus, OHJohn Glenn Columbus International Airport 2021Cincinnati, OHCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport 2021Portland, ORPortland International Airport2021Windsor Locks, CTBradley International Airport2022Los Angeles, CALos Angeles International Airport (LAX)2024The building is the largest CONRAC in the world at and hosts up to 21,000 rental vehicles. It connects to the airport's terminals by an under construction people mover.Punta Gorda, FLPunta Gorda Airport 2025South Bend, INSouth Bend International Airport2025Greer, SCGreenville-Spartanburg International Airport2025Bentonville, ARNorthwest Arkansas National Airport2026Boise, IDBoise Airport2026
Facilities under construction
The Reno–Tahoe International Airport is currently building a Rental Car and Ground Transportation Center, scheduled to open in 2028.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI is currently constructing a 4-story ConRAC, scheduled to open in 2026.
Syracuse Hancock International Airport in Syracuse, NY is also currently constructing a ConRAC as part of the airport's ongoing improvement projects.
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