Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) on March 11 officially opened the Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) Rental Car Center, as part of airport modernization efforts in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.

The state-of-the-art rental car facility, also known as CONRAC, is part of LAWA’s $5.5-billion Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), improving the overall airport interactions for travelers.

The rental car center is the second-largest concrete building in the U.S., behind only the Pentagon. It is located at 5251 W 98th Street, Los Angeles, about 1.5 miles from the main LAX horseshoe departures-arrivals loop entrance.

The Rental Car Center consolidates all 12 on-airport rental car operations into one location, centralizing car pickup and return for customers and guests. The new 6.4 million-square-foot center is an integrated facility that streamlines the rental car turnaround process, including fueling, washing, and light vehicle maintenance, to speed up the availability of rental cars for LAX guests.

"The LAX Rental Car Center marks a major step in transforming LAX and improving the travel experience," said John Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, in a news release. "It positions LAX to better serve our partners and the millions of guests expected for the 2026 World Cup and beyond."

Construction on the rental car center broke ground in September 2019, with the structure’s first concrete pour in March 2020. The structure was topped off in July 2021 and completed in early 2023, with adjacent roadways done in early 2024.

In October 2024, the rental car center welcomed three Avis brands (Avis, Budget, Payless) and began operations. The March 11 opening follows months of close coordination and planning between LAWA and rental car companies, leading to the relocation of the final nine brands to the rental car center this month.

"The new center will be a major enhancement for travelers, providing a more streamlined and convenient rental experience," said Tom Kennedy, President, SIXT North America, in the news release. "As LAX continues its transformation, this facility represents an important step forward in operational efficiency."

The following 12 rental car brands will operate at the center, and are considered "on-airport" brands with permits that allow them to pick up customers directly from LAX’s CTA via shuttle:

• Alamo Rent a Car

• Avis Rent A Car System

• Budget Rent a Car

• Dollar Car Rental

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car

• Fox Rent A Car

• Hertz

• National Car Rental

• Payless Car Rental

• SIXT

• Thrifty Car Rental

• Zipcar

Fox Rent A Car stated: "Our partnership with LAX in this world-class facility marks a new era for how our customers experience car rental — one that is faster, more convenient, and more enjoyable from the moment they land."

The LAX Rental Car Center is part of LAWA’s overall mission to upgrade, simplify, and modernize airport access points and patterns.

This announcement follows LAWA’s recently unveiled new identity and narrative at LAX, infusing all elements of the airport with the spirit of Los Angeles. The image aims to better reflect the region’s culture, neighborhoods, and creative energy into the employee and passenger experience.

LAX is undergoing a historic $30 billion transformation to modernize infrastructure.

Opening in 2026, the SkyLink, an automated people mover, will be a 100% electric train connecting terminals every two minutes, reducing vehicle emissions and providing time-certain access regardless of traffic conditions. 

The transformation also includes an enhanced Transit Center linking guests to Metro and regional transit, and a convenient new Ground Transport station serving rideshare, taxis, and economy parking.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the sixth largest airport in the U.S., serving more than 200,000 guests daily as the international gateway to Los Angeles and the Southern California region.