Where and how to return your rental car at Nashville Airport

BNA's rental car return is straightforward: you drive to the rental car facility on the lower level of the terminal, park in your company's designated return lot, turn in your keys and paperwork, and leave. The entire process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. All major rental companies—Enterprise, Hertz, Budget, Avis, National, and others—operate from the same facility, so you won't need to navigate to a separate off-airport location.

The rental car facility sits directly beneath the main terminal building. When you exit the airport on the lower level, follow signs marked "Rental Car Return" or "Car Rental." You'll drive into a covered structure where each company has its own return lane. Pull into your rental company's lane, park in an available spot, and an attendant will meet you to process the return.

Have your rental agreement, keys, and any receipts for fuel or tolls ready before you park. The attendant will inspect the car for damage, check the mileage and fuel level against your contract, and process your paperwork. If you prepaid for fuel or damage waiver, this is when discrepancies get flagged. Once everything checks out, you're free to leave.

Key Takeaways

  • Return your car to the rental facility on the lower level of the terminal, not to a separate off-airport location.
  • Each rental company has its own return lane in the covered structure, so follow signs to your specific company.
  • The return process takes 10 to 15 minutes if the car is in the condition stated on your contract and fuel level matches what you agreed to.
  • Bring your rental agreement, keys, and any receipts for fuel or tolls to speed up the return inspection.
  • If you rented through a third-party booking site, have that confirmation email available in case questions arise about your contract terms.

What happens during the inspection

The attendant will walk around the car and note any new damage—dents, scratches, broken lights, or interior stains. They compare what they see to the damage checklist you signed when you picked up the car. If damage is new and wasn't listed on your original agreement, the rental company will charge you for repairs. This is why taking photos of the car's condition before you leave the lot matters: you have proof of what was already there.

The attendant also checks the fuel gauge and compares it to the fuel level on your contract. If you agreed to return the car full and it's not, you'll be charged for a fill-up at the rental company's rate, which is usually higher than what you'd pay at a gas station. If you prepaid for a full tank and return it less than full, you lose that money. The mileage is recorded and checked against any mileage limits in your contract.

If everything matches your agreement, the attendant hands you a receipt and you're done. If there are discrepancies—damage, fuel level, or mileage overage—the attendant will explain the charges before you leave. You'll receive an itemized receipt showing what you're being charged for.

Returning after hours or on weekends

BNA's rental car facility operates during airport hours, which means it's open early morning through late evening every day. If you're returning your car outside normal business hours, you'll use the after-hours return process. Most companies have a designated after-hours lot where you park the car, leave the keys in a find drop box, and leave your rental agreement on the dashboard or in the drop box as well.

After-hours returns are riskier because no attendant inspects the car when ready. The inspection happens the next business day, and if damage is found, the rental company contacts you by phone or email with charges. You won't see the damage or have a chance to dispute it in person. To protect yourself, take photos of the car's condition before you leave it, including the fuel gauge and odometer reading. Email those photos to the rental company with your return confirmation number.

Check your rental agreement or the company's website before you return to confirm whether after-hours return is available for your specific company. Some companies charge an extra fee for after-hours return; others don't.

Fuel and prepaid service charges

How you handle fuel depends on what you agreed to when you rented the car. The most common option is "full to full"—you pick up the car with a full tank and return it full. If you return it less than full, you pay the rental company's per-gallon rate, which is typically $6 to $8 per gallon, much higher than gas station prices. The charge appears on your receipt at return.

Some rental companies offer a prepaid fuel option where you pay for a full tank upfront at a lower rate. If you choose this, you can return the car with any amount of fuel left—you don't get a refund for unused fuel. This option makes sense only if you're confident you'll use most of the tank.

If you purchased a damage waiver, roadside information, or GPS rental, those charges are already on your contract and won't change at return. Tolls you incurred during your rental may be charged separately, either at return or billed to your credit card later, depending on the rental company's policy and whether you opted into their toll service.

What to do if there's a dispute about charges

If the attendant charges you for damage you don't believe you caused, or for fuel you believe you returned, ask to see the damage photos or fuel gauge reading they recorded. Request a copy of the itemized receipt showing exactly what you're being charged for. Do not sign anything you disagree with—get the attendant's name and the date and time of the return, and contact the rental company's customer service within 24 hours.

Most rental companies have a dispute process. Call the phone number on your receipt or your rental agreement and explain the charge. Have your photos of the car's condition ready, along with your receipt and confirmation number. If you prepaid for fuel through a third-party booking site like Kayak or Expedia, contact that site as well—they may have their own dispute process separate from the rental company's.

Disputes over damage can take weeks to resolve. The rental company may send you photos of the damage and a repair estimate. If you disagree, you can request an independent inspection or ask for the repair invoice once the work is done. Keep all documentation—your original rental agreement, return receipt, photos you took, and any email correspondence.

Returning a damaged or mechanical problem car

If your car breaks down or is damaged during your rental and you can't drive it to the return facility, call the rental company's roadside information number when ready. That number is on your rental agreement. Tell them where you are and what happened. They'll arrange a tow to the nearest rental location or to BNA if you're close enough to the airport.

You are not responsible for towing costs if the breakdown or damage wasn't caused by misuse on your part. If you caused the damage—hit a pothole, drove through water, or collided with something—your damage waiver (if you purchased one) covers the tow and repair. If you didn't purchase a waiver, you'll be charged for both.

When you return the damaged car, the attendant will document the damage and take photos. Make sure you also take photos and get the attendant's name and the date. If the damage is extensive, the rental company may not charge you at return but will send you an invoice later with repair costs. This is another situation where having your own photos and written record protects you.

Returning a rental from a third-party booking site

If you booked your rental through Kayak, Expedia, Autoslash, or another third-party site, the return process is identical—you still return the car to BNA's rental facility and deal with the rental company directly. The third-party site doesn't handle the return.

However, your contract terms may differ from what you'd get booking directly with the rental company. Some third-party sites include prepaid fuel or damage waiver in their package; others don't. Check your confirmation email to see exactly what's included. Bring that email with you to the return, because if questions arise about what you paid for, you'll need to show the attendant what the third-party site promised.

If you're charged for something you believe the third-party site covered, contact that site first. They may have a dispute process or may contact the rental company on your behalf. Keep your third-party confirmation email, your rental company's agreement, and your return receipt together for reference.

Getting to the airport after return

After you return your rental car, you'll need to get back into the terminal to catch your flight or leave the airport. The rental car facility is directly beneath the terminal, so you straightforward walk upstairs or take the elevator to the main level. Signs direct you to baggage claim, ticketing, or ground transportation depending on where you need to go.

If someone is picking you up, they can wait in the cell phone lot or the short-term parking area while you return the car and come back down. If you're taking a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, request your ride after you've returned the car and are heading back to the terminal—the pickup zone is on the ground level outside the baggage claim area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I return my rental car to a different location than where I picked it up?

Yes, most rental companies allow one-way rentals, but you must arrange this when you book. Returning to a different location usually costs extra. If you picked up at BNA and want to return elsewhere, or vice versa, contact the rental company before your trip to add that to your reservation and see the additional charge.

What if I'm running late and won't make my flight?

Return the car as quickly as you can. The rental company won't hold your flight, but the faster you return, the faster you can get back to the terminal. If you're extremely late, call the rental company's customer service line and let them know you're returning the car late—they may waive any late fees depending on the circumstances, though this isn't may provide.

Do I need to fill the gas tank before I return the car?

Only if your contract says "full to full." Check your rental agreement. If it does, fill the tank at a gas station before you drive to the airport—it's much cheaper than paying the rental company's per-gallon rate at return. If you prepaid for fuel, you don't need to fill it.

What if the attendant finds damage I didn't cause?

Ask to see the damage and request photos. Get the attendant's name, date, and time. Take your own photos of the damage and the surrounding area. Contact the rental company's customer service within 24 hours with your photos and explanation. If you have your own photos from pickup showing the car was undamaged, that's your best evidence.

How long does it take to get a final bill after I return the car?

You receive an itemized receipt at return showing charges for fuel, damage, or tolls. Additional charges may appear on your credit card days or weeks later if the rental company discovers damage during a more detailed inspection or if tolls are processed after your return. Check your credit card statement for 30 days after your return.