Terminal T4 and its satellite building, T4S, opened up in 2006 as part of the expansion of Madrid Airport. They are located about 5 kms north of Terminals T1, T2 and T3. In this post, you’ll find our guide to collecting a car hire at Madrid Airport T4. For more on Madrid Airport including information about the different terminals and a guide to collecting a car hire at T1, see our blog.
Still need to book a Madrid Airport car hire?
There are two car hire locations at Madrid Airport: in T1 and in T4. So if you’re planning to pick up a rental after flying into the airport, check which terminal you’re arriving at before booking. With our search tool, you can compare prices from a wide range of suppliers at both locations. You can also filter the results to narrow your search by location (e.g. in terminal or off-airport), supplier and fuel policy amongst other factors.
Brief introduction to Madrid Airport
Here’s a quick guide to Spain’s biggest airport: Madrid Airport terminals and travel between.
Collecting a car hire at Madrid Airport T4: Who’s here?
The same brands are available within the airport site at both T1 and T4. This means that their desks are in the terminal and cars are parked in the relevant airport car park. In T4, there are six car hire desks on the floor below the Arrivals Hall:
- Avis-Budget
- Enterprise-Alamo
- Europcar-InterRent-Keddy
- Goldcar-Rhodium
- Hertz-Thrifty
- Sixt
We’ve grouped together affiliated brands as they share a desk. In addition to these, Firefly (a subsidiary of Hertz) is located in a cabin in the car park for car rentals. There are also a number of ‘off-airport’ car hire suppliers with offices a short drive away. They include Centauro and Dickmanns. If renting with one of these or another off-airport supplier, do check the instructions for collection on your booking voucher.
To find the car hire desks from the Arrivals Hall, follow the moving walkway down to ‘Rent a car’. On the other side of the floor, you’ll find the entrance to the Renfe train and Metro stations.
Here are pictures of some of their desks… the desks have moved around a little since we were last there so these are not necessarily in the right order.
Avis and Budget, Madrid Airport T4
The car hire floor of Madrid’s T4 terminal building is located below the arrivals hall. The on-airport car hire desks including Avis and Budget are here.
Hertz and Thrifty, Madrid Airport T4
Hertz and Thrifty desk in Madrid Airport T4
Europcar (also for InterRent and Keddy) and Sixt, Madrid Airport T4
Two car hire desks: Europcar-InterRent-Keddy and Sixt
Parking for Rent a car
Once you’ve completed the paperwork for your Madrid Airport car hire, use the nearby exit, which will take towards the ‘Rent a car’ parking lot. It’s one straight walkway to the car park but can feel a little long. But it does go across several railway (and metro lines).
Go through these doors to start the long walk to the car hire parking area
At the end of the walkway, you’ll find the car park on the other side of the road.
Despite the white painted lines, exercise caution here! I was nearly mown down by a minibus driver who apparently believes that they are merely for decorative purposes…
Inside the car park
Once you’ve reached your car, don’t forget to check there is nothing wrong with it and then any damage to the bodywork is correctly highlighted in the paperwork.
This sign is visible once you reach the car hire parking lot. Just follow the arrows for the car rental company you’re collecting your car from.
When it’s time to leave
Follow the black and dark-blue signs to the exit barrier.
At the exit barrier, I was greeted by this machine. Initially, I thought the car hire check-in agent had forgotten to give me an exit ticket (ok, ok, I’d started cursing…) but no, you press the button and COLLECT a ticket from this machine.
At the exit barrier, COLLECT a ticket from the machine
I don’t know if it’s a mistake, but I was issued with two tickets. You will at least need one of them so make sure you keep them somewhere that’s easily accessible.
By now I have to admit, I was getting confused. It’s the first time I’ve had to collect a ticket from an exit barrier. And I couldn’t understand what I’d need two tickets for! Anyway, in then, I did use one of them to exit the airport site…
After leaving the parking lot, follow signs to ‘Salida’ (exit). After a short drive, there is a massive exit area – complete with barriers. At the barrier, I inserted of the the tickets I’d got and it worked!
Exit barriers to Madrid Airports vast car parking area
I used one of the tickets for this machine, which worked.
What about the second ticket?
Do hold onto the other ticket. I returned this car to Alicante so didn’t need to use it. But to access the Rent a car parking lot when you’re returning the car, you will need to pass through a barrier. So keep it safe if you’re returning it to Madrid Airport.