Compare car hire at Heathrow Terminal 3 and find current collection guidance for major rental companies serving passengers arriving at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Several major Terminal 3 car hire companies use courtesy shuttle services from outside the arrivals hall. Bus stop 17 is particularly important at Terminal 3, while some suppliers use both stops 17 and 18.

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How Car Hire Works at Heathrow Terminal 3

Car hire vehicles are not all collected directly from Terminal 3 itself. Several major rental companies use dedicated airport-perimeter locations reached by courtesy shuttle, while Sixt currently transfers its Terminal 3 customers to its Terminal 2 operation.

The correct collection point therefore depends on your rental company. Check the instructions attached to your booking before leaving the arrivals area.

Terminal 3 Car Hire Collection Route

From aircraft arrival to your rental-company shuttle.

HEATHROW T3

Arrive at T3

Complete passport control where required.

Collect Your Bags

Retrieve your luggage before entering the public arrivals area.

Check Your Rental

Confirm whether your supplier uses stop 17, stops 17 & 18 or another connection.

Take the Shuttle

Board only the shuttle specified by your rental company.

17 & 18 TERMINAL 3 BUS STOPS

Bus Stops 17 & 18 for Heathrow Terminal 3 Car Hire

Bus stop 17 is one of the key rental-car collection points outside Heathrow Terminal 3 arrivals.

Avis and Budget currently direct Terminal 3 passengers to stop 17. Hertz uses stops 17 and 18, while Enterprise and Alamo also direct passengers to 17 and 18. Sixt currently uses stop 17 for its free shuttle connection to Terminal 2.

Because not every company uses exactly the same stop, check the supplier name and your reservation before boarding.

Terminal 3 Car Hire Shuttle Stops by Company

Car Hire Company	Current T3 Collection Point	Where the Connection Goes
Avis	Bus stop 17	Central Heathrow, Northrop Road
Budget	Bus stop 17	Central Heathrow operation
Hertz	Bus stops 17 & 18	Northern Perimeter Road West
Enterprise	Bus stops 17 & 18	Northern Perimeter Road
Alamo	Bus stops 17 & 18	Enterprise-operated Heathrow branch
Sixt	Bus stop 17	Free shuttle to Terminal 2 operation
Europcar	Follow current booking instructions	Europcar Heathrow collection operation

Useful T3 detail: Enterprise and Alamo say that after leaving Terminal 3 arrivals, passengers should head straight past the exit ramp to the end of the terminal and leave through the doors on the right-hand side for stops 17 and 18.

Car Hire Companies Serving Heathrow Terminal 3

STOP 17

Avis Car Hire Terminal 3

Avis currently directs Terminal 3 passengers to bus stop 17 for the Avis Budget shuttle to its Central Heathrow location on Northrop Road.

Avis Heathrow guide →

17 & 18

Hertz Car Hire Terminal 3

Hertz currently directs Terminal 3 customers to bus stops 17 and 18 for its free shuttle to Northern Perimeter Road West.

Hertz Heathrow guide →

17 & 18

Enterprise Car Hire Terminal 3

Enterprise currently uses bus stops 17 and 18 and says its Heathrow shuttle operates approximately every 5-8 minutes.

Enterprise Heathrow guide →

17 & 18

Alamo Car Hire Terminal 3

Alamo uses the Enterprise Heathrow operation and currently directs Terminal 3 customers to the same bus stops 17 and 18.

Alamo Heathrow guide →

STOP 17

Sixt Car Hire Terminal 3

Sixt currently provides a free shuttle from Terminal 3 bus stop 17 to its Terminal 2 operation. Sixt says this shuttle runs approximately every 15 minutes during opening hours.

Sixt Heathrow guide →

STOP 17

Budget Car Hire Terminal 3

Budget uses the Avis Budget Heathrow shuttle network and currently directs Terminal 3 passengers to bus stop 17.

Budget Heathrow guide →

T3 SERVED

Europcar Car Hire Terminal 3

Europcar serves Terminal 3 through its Heathrow transfer arrangements. Check the collection instructions supplied with your current booking for the applicable pickup point.

Europcar Heathrow guide →

See all seven companies together in our Heathrow Airport car hire companies comparison.

From Terminal 3 Arrivals to Your Car Hire Shuttle

Arrivals Hall Enter the public arrivals area.

Check Booking Confirm your rental company.

Follow Directions Head towards the appropriate terminal exit.

17 / 18 Use the stop specified by your supplier.

Rental Branch Take the correct shuttle and complete collection.

SIXT customers: Terminal 3 is different from Terminal 2. SIXT currently instructs T3 customers to use its free shuttle from stop 17 to Terminal 2 rather than treating Terminal 3 as a separate SIXT rental branch.

What to Have Ready for Terminal 3 Car Hire

Driving Licence

Bring the valid physical driving licence required under your rental company's terms.

Identification

Bring the passport or accepted photographic identification required for your rental.

Payment Card

Check the card and deposit requirements for your supplier and selected vehicle category.

Reservation

Keep your booking reference and current Terminal 3 collection instructions readily available.

Choosing a Hire Car at Heathrow Terminal 3

Small Cars

A practical choice for couples, solo travellers and journeys involving urban parking.

Family Cars

Compare luggage capacity as well as passenger seating when travelling with children.

SUVs

Useful when extra passenger or luggage space is important for a longer UK journey.

Automatic Cars

Particularly useful for overseas visitors who would rather not combine a manual gearbox with left-hand traffic.

For more information see our automatic car hire at Heathrow Airport guide.

Driving from Heathrow Terminal 3

Heathrow lists the Terminal 3 postcode as TW6 1QG. Drivers approaching Terminals 2 and 3 are currently directed from M4 Junction 4 or M25 Junction 15.

M4

Provides a direct route towards London and west towards Windsor, Reading and destinations beyond.

M25

Connects Heathrow with major motorway routes around Greater London and southern England.

Central London

Check current ULEZ and Congestion Charge rules before driving into areas where road-user charges may apply.

Returning a Hire Car Before a Terminal 3 Flight

Do not use the Terminal 3 passenger postcode as your rental-car return address unless your rental company specifically tells you to do so.

Most shuttle-based companies require the car to be returned to their airport-perimeter rental operation. You then use the supplier's transfer back to Terminal 3.

Allow enough time for refuelling or charging where required, locating the correct return entrance, vehicle handover and the journey back to Terminal 3 before airline check-in.

Car Hire at Other Heathrow Terminals

Use our terminal-specific guides to compare car hire collection arrangements across Heathrow.

Heathrow Terminal 2 Car Hire

Compare rental companies, bus stops 7 and 8 and collection guidance for T2 arrivals.

View Terminal 2 car hire →

Heathrow Terminal 4 Car Hire

Compare supplier collection and shuttle arrangements for passengers arriving at Terminal 4.

View Terminal 4 car hire →

Heathrow Terminal 5 Car Hire

Compare rental locations and shuttle connections serving Heathrow Terminal 5.

View Terminal 5 car hire →

Compare Heathrow Car Hire Companies

Compare Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, Sixt, Budget and Europcar in one guide.

Compare Heathrow companies →

Automatic Car Hire Heathrow

Find out more about choosing an automatic rental vehicle at Heathrow Airport.

View automatic car hire →

Heathrow Airport Car Hire

Return to our main London Heathrow Airport car hire guide.

View Heathrow car hire →

Heathrow Terminal 3 Car Hire FAQs

Where do I collect a hire car at Heathrow Terminal 3?

The collection process depends on the rental company. Several suppliers use courtesy shuttles from bus stops outside Terminal 3 to airport-perimeter rental branches.

Where are the car hire shuttle stops at Heathrow Terminal 3?

Bus stop 17 is used by several major companies. Hertz, Enterprise and Alamo currently use stops 17 and 18, while Avis, Budget and Sixt use stop 17 for their respective connections.

Where do I collect Avis from Heathrow Terminal 3?

Avis currently directs Terminal 3 customers to bus stop 17 for the Avis Budget shuttle to its Central Heathrow location on Northrop Road.

Where do I collect Hertz from Heathrow Terminal 3?

Hertz currently uses bus stops 17 and 18 for its free shuttle to Northern Perimeter Road West.

Where do I collect Enterprise or Alamo from Terminal 3?

Enterprise and Alamo currently use bus stops 17 and 18. Their published guidance says the shuttle operates approximately every 5-8 minutes.

Where do I collect Sixt from Heathrow Terminal 3?

Sixt currently provides a free shuttle from Terminal 3 bus stop 17 to its Terminal 2 operation, with the shuttle running approximately every 15 minutes during opening hours.

Can I hire an automatic car at Heathrow Terminal 3?

Yes. Automatic rental vehicles are available at Heathrow, subject to the fleet available for your dates.

What documents do I need for Terminal 3 car hire?

Requirements vary by rental company and driver, but generally include a valid physical driving licence, appropriate identification, reservation details and an accepted payment card.

What is Heathrow Terminal 3's postcode?

Heathrow currently lists Terminal 3's postcode as TW6 1QG. Use your rental company's specified address rather than this postcode when returning a hire car.

How much time should I allow to return a hire car before a Terminal 3 flight?

Allow enough time to reach the rental return location, refuel or charge if required, complete vehicle handover and travel back to Terminal 3 before airline check-in.

How We Research Heathrow Terminal 3 Car Hire

1st UK Car Rentals checks current airport and rental-company information when preparing its Heathrow terminal guides.

For this Terminal 3 guide we reviewed current collection instructions from Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo and Sixt together with current Heathrow Terminal 3 information.

We distinguish between suppliers using stop 17 and those currently specifying stops 17 and 18 rather than presenting one generic shuttle stop for every rental company.

Airport arrangements can change. Your current rental reservation and Heathrow signage should take priority on your travel date.

Fact checked: 16 September 2026.

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