You’re walking off a plane at RIC. It’s a quiet airport, honestly. Compared to the madness of Dulles or Reagan National up north, Richmond International feels like a breeze. But then you hit the rental car gauntlet. If you’ve booked Hertz car rental Richmond International Airport, you’re probably expecting to just grab your keys and go. Sometimes it's that easy. Other times, you're standing at a counter wondering why the "Gold Member" line is longer than the regular one.
Richmond is a weird mix of a corporate hub and a sleepy Southern town. The Hertz desk here reflects that. It sits right in the consolidated rental car facility, just a short walk from baggage claim. No shuttles. That’s the first win. You just walk across the street to the garage. But let’s get into the weeds of what actually happens when you try to get a car here because the "official" website never tells you about the Friday afternoon rush.
Finding the Hertz Counter at RIC Without Getting Lost
Look, RIC isn't huge. You follow the signs for Ground Transportation. You’ll find the Hertz desk on the lower level, near the baggage claim area. It’s basically impossible to miss unless you’re staring at your phone trying to find a decent coffee spot (spoiler: options are limited).
If you are a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards member—and you really should be if you value your sanity—you can often bypass the main counter. Look for your name on the electronic board in the parking garage. It’ll tell you exactly which stall your car is in. You walk out, find the stall, check the car for scratches, and drive to the exit gate. You show them your ID, they scan the barcode, and you’re out. It takes five minutes.
But here is the catch.
Sometimes the "Gold Choice" area at Richmond is... thin. You might have booked a mid-size sedan and hoped for an upgrade to a small SUV, only to find three identical Malibus and a lonely Altima. Richmond isn't a massive "prestige" location like LAX. If you want a specific car, book that exact class. Don't count on the "choose any car in this row" magic being particularly magical on a Tuesday morning.
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The Real Deal on Pricing and Hidden Fees in Virginia
People get grumpy about the taxes. It’s not Hertz’s fault, but Virginia likes its rental taxes. When you see a rate for Hertz car rental Richmond International Airport, the base price is just the start. You’ve got the 10% state rental tax, the 4% local tax, and the "Customer Facility Charge" which is a flat daily fee that pays for the very building you're standing in.
Then there’s the fuel.
Unless you want to pay $9 a gallon, fill it up yourself. There is a Sheetz and a Wawa right outside the airport perimeter on South Airport Drive. They are usually the cheapest spots nearby. Do not wait until you are five miles out to look for gas; the stations right next to the airport entrance are specifically designed to trap people who forgot to fill up.
Why Hertz Often Beats the Budget Brands at RIC
You could go with a deep-discount brand. You know the ones. They usually have a desk at the far end of the hall. But at RIC, Hertz has a massive footprint. This matters because if your car has a flat tire or the AC smells like old gym socks, they actually have an inventory to swap you into. The smaller guys? They might be "sold out" for the rest of the day, leaving you stuck with a car that has a mysterious sticky spot in the cup holder.
Hertz also tends to keep a fresher fleet at Richmond. You’re likely to get something with under 30,000 miles. I’ve seen some of the "budget" competitors at this specific airport handing out keys to cars with 60,000 miles and faded paint. Richmond is a business town. Capital One, CarMax, and Dominion Energy are all based here. Hertz knows they have to keep the cars decent for the consultants flying in from New York every Monday.
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Navigating the Richmond Traffic Patterns
Once you leave the Hertz lot, you’re hitting I-604 or I-64.
Richmond drivers are... unique. They aren't as aggressive as DC drivers, but they are more unpredictable. You'll see people stop in the middle of a merge lane. Honestly, it’s frustrating. If you’re heading toward Short Pump—the massive shopping and business district in the West End—give yourself forty minutes. On paper, it’s twenty. In reality, I-64 Westbound at 4:30 PM is a parking lot.
If you’re headed to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) or downtown, take the Downtown Expressway. It’s a toll road. Your Hertz car will likely have a PlatePass transponder. Use it. It’ll save you five minutes of fumbling for change, though they will charge you a daily convenience fee plus the toll. If you’re only in town for a day, just pay the toll with a card if you can, but most Richmond tolls are moving toward all-electronic. Check the Hertz rental agreement on the desk for their current PlatePass daily rate; it changes, and it's never "cheap."
What Happens if Things Go Sideways?
Service at the Richmond Hertz desk is usually polite—it’s the South, after all. But they are often understaffed during the "banker hours" peak. If you arrive at 11:00 PM because your flight was delayed, don't expect a full crew. You might be waiting for one person to handle a line of ten.
If there's an issue with your bill later, don't call the national Hertz line first. Try the local Richmond office during business hours. They have more leeway to fix "oops" charges like an accidental fuel fee than a call center in another country.
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A Note on the "Prestige Collection" in RVA
Don't expect a fleet of Ferraris. If you're looking for a high-end luxury vehicle from Hertz car rental Richmond International Airport, your options are generally limited to Infiniti, Cadillac, or the occasional base-model BMW. If you absolutely need a Range Rover to impress a client at the Jefferson Hotel, you might be out of luck. Richmond is a "reliable SUV" kind of city, not a "supercar" kind of city.
Strategic Tips for Your Hertz Rental
- Book via the App: The Hertz app is actually decent. It lets you change your pickup time if your flight is delayed without having to wait on hold.
- The "Gold" Loophole: Even if you aren't a frequent traveler, sign up for the Gold rewards program before you book. It's free. It puts you in a different tier of service immediately.
- Check the Tires: Virginia weather is bipolar. It can be 70 degrees one day and snowing the next. In the winter, check the tread on your rental. If it looks bald, ask for a swap. You don't want to be sliding around the Carytown hills in a RWD Nissan with slick tires.
- Return Logistics: Give yourself an extra fifteen minutes for the return. The entrance to the rental return at RIC is clearly marked, but the lanes can get backed up if three flight-loads of people all show up at 6:00 AM to catch the early birds to ATL or CLT.
Richmond is a great city. It’s got an incredible food scene—go to L'Opossum if you can get a reservation, or just grab a burger at Jack Brown's. Having a car is mandatory here; the public transit isn't going to get you where you need to go unless you have three hours to spare.
Actionable Steps for a Smooth Experience
Before you fly into RIC, ensure your Hertz profile is updated with your current driver’s license and credit card info. This prevents the "verification" hold-up at the counter.
When you get to the garage, take a 360-degree video of the car on your phone. Walk all the way around, getting close-ups of the wheels and the bumpers. Hertz is generally fair, but having a timestamped video of the car's condition at the airport is the best insurance against "mystery damage" claims two weeks later.
Finally, check the trunk for the spare tire or the inflation kit. Richmond's backroads can be rough, and you don't want to find out the previous renter used the kit and didn't replace it while you're stuck on the side of a road in Henrico.
Drive safe. Keep an eye out for the speed cameras—they've started popping up more in the Richmond metro area lately, and Hertz will definitely pass that ticket (and an administrative fee) straight to your credit card.