Ecuador

Car Rental at Quito International Airport: The Best Companies

by Scott Dylan  |  Published February 9, 2018

Visitors to Ecuador landing in Quito Airport (UIO) looking for a rental car have five companies to choose from: Hertz, Avis, Localiza, Budget and Thrifty. All can be easily found in the arrivals area of the main terminal building.

Quito International Airport (Photo_: Michael R Perry via Flickr)

Also known as Mariscal Sucre International Aiport, UIO is located about 15 miles from the city proper. The drive into the city is stunningly beautiful, and stopping at the various vistas makes renting a car a real treat. The only thing to keep in mind when renting a car at Quito Airport is that manual transmissions are very common in Ecuador and you may have to specify if you want an automatic.

To determine the best rental companies in Quito Airport, TravelMag.com examined rates, vehicle options and customer reviews and ranked them according to three categories: most affordable, best for families and best luxury option. Here are our top picks.

MOST AFFORDABLE: LOCALIZA

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Localiza is a traveler’s best bet for cheap car rentals in Quito International Airport. Localiza’s base price includes theft protection, a collision damage waiver, free cancellation 48 hours before the scheduled pickup, and a free GPS unit, which definitely comes in handy on Quito’s winding, labyrinthine streets. The only downside is a narrow selection. Your vehicle choices are limited to a Kia Picanto compact, a Kia Sportage SUV, a Hyundai Accent sedan or a Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck—or a “similar” vehicle depending on what they have available at the time of your arrival.

BEST FOR FAMILIES: HERTZ

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Hertz is the only car rental company at Mariscal Sucre International Airport with minivans in its fleet, including the 7-seater Kia Carnival. GPS units and child seats are available for rent. If you’re not hauling around a family of seven plus a lot of luggage, Hertz has sedans and pickup trucks in its fleet as well. Or, if your family is small and you want to save a little extra money, consider going with Localiza instead.

BEST LUXURY OPTION: AVIS

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Frankly, options for luxury rental cars are somewhat limited at Quito Airport. However, of the five companies, Avis has the best selection of premium vehicles. Customers can choose from Chevy Grand Vitara SUVs, Mazda BT50 pickup trucks in 2×4, 4×4 man and automatic variants, and Mazda CX5s, Toyota Fortuners, and Ford Edges in 2×4, 4×4, manual and automatic transmission variants. While not exactly brimming with luxury names such as Mercedes and BMVs, Avis at Quito Airport offers a reasonable selection of reasonably-priced, high-end vehicles.