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Orlando is known as the theme park capital of the world, but it also holds the title of the world’s largest rental car market. Many of the city’s rental cars originate from Orlando International Airport (MCO). Unfortunately, all of those rental cars take up too much space in airport surface lots and parking garages.

Last year, more than 57 million travelers passed through the MCO, which is expected to exceed 50 million in 2022. With the increasing number of passengers traveling through MCO each year, it is common to see airport parking garages filled to capacity, partly due to the locations of these rental car companies. The Greater Orlando Airport Authority has a solution, but it could make your next Orlando car rental more expensive.

Currently, most rental car companies operate out of a garage across the street from the terminal, but MCO is among a dwindling list of major airports with on-airport rental car facilities. Several other major airports have already switched to off-site car rental facilities, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Known as consolidated car rental facilities, this eases congestion and frees up space at the terminal.

On August 21, GOAA presented a proposed consolidated rental car facility as part of its preliminary 2024-2025 fiscal year budget.

“In light of the significant growth in traffic and as part of the evaluation of improved and expanded facilities for rental car operations and enhancement of rental car customer experience, GOAA is pursuing the design and construction of a consolidated rental car facility (ConRAC),” it said.

RELATED: How I Saved Hundreds on Car Rentals When Combining Theme Park Tickets

Click on Orlando recently spoke with Angela Stark, GOAA’s senior vice president of public affairs and community relations.

“The facility will immediately open up nearly 5,000 parking spaces in the existing A, B and C garages, which currently house rental cars,” shared Stark. She also revealed that the new facility is being planned for the south end of the airport, near Terminal C.

MCO’s proposed consolidated rental car facility is expected to open by 2032, but Orlando rental car customers will be impacted much sooner. Beginning Nov. 1, the customer convenience charge paid by most airport rental car customers will increase from $6 to $9 per day to help fund the project. When the price hike goes into effect, only one airport in the country — San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — will charge a higher CFC of $10, according to Click Orlando.

CFC’s maximum storage period is seven days, so the potential increase the customer will see is $21.

Although Orlando airport rental car costs are on the rise, there are still ways to save money on your next car rental. As with other airports, when you rent a car at MCO, you are also charged a daily toll facility fee. This can add up if you’re staying for multiple days, but you can bypass this fee entirely with Orlando’s Free Visitor Toll Pass. You’ll still be responsible for the tolls yourself, but you won’t have to pay the extra convenience fees that rental car companies automatically add to your bill.

No matter which airport you rent from, you can also save on your car rental by booking through a site like AutoSlash. AutoSlash compares prices from multiple rental companies and also includes potential coupons, discount codes and membership-related savings.

The CFC hike comes into effect from November 1. If you have a rental car booking on or after that date, you will see a $3 CFC increase on your final bill. In the coming years, you’ll likely also see some construction as MCO builds its new rental car facility, giving you plenty of time to accept that you’ll no longer be able to conveniently walk directly from the terminal to your rental car.

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