Thrifty Car Rental - Cleveland - Hopkins International Airport Introduce
For residents of Northeast Ohio and visitors flying into the region, securing reliable transportation is often the first step in any journey. Thrifty Car Rental at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) serves as a major hub, providing a wide array of vehicle options to facilitate travel across Cleveland and the broader Ohio landscape. As a key player in the airport’s transportation sector, this location focuses on offering competitive pricing for a diverse fleet, aiming to make car rental accessible for various budgets and needs. The agency is positioned to serve a high volume of travelers, from those needing an economical option for city driving to those requiring a larger SUV for family adventures or a truck for specific tasks.
This Thrifty branch distinguishes itself not only by being situated at the primary gateway to Cleveland but also by its commitment to inclusivity, proudly identifying as a women-owned business. It’s important for local users to understand the full scope of services, particularly at a major airport location, where pricing structures and processes can sometimes be more complex than neighborhood locations. While the 'budget' nature of the business aims for cost-effectiveness, customers often report the importance of diligently reviewing all final charges before completing the transaction to prevent unexpected surcharges. Being informed about policies and optional coverages, such as the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), is key to a smooth experience.
The Thrifty Car Rental agency is perfectly situated to cater to air travelers and local Ohio residents utilizing the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). Its address on Maplewood Avenue places it within the consolidated rental car area.
As an airport location, the process typically involves arriving at the terminal and following signage to the consolidated rental car facility. The pick-up instructions indicate that, while the address is on Maplewood Ave, the rental counter itself is accessed via a shuttle service from the terminal, so travelers should follow the signs for car rental shuttles upon deplaning. This process is standard for major airport facilities in Ohio and ensures a dedicated, efficient system for getting customers to their vehicles.
The hours of operation are extensive to match flight schedules, generally running from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays, with slightly earlier weekend closures at 4:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Travelers should confirm the precise hours for their dates, especially for late-night arrivals or early-morning departures.
Critical accessibility features are integrated into the facility, ensuring all customers can navigate the service area comfortably:
- Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: Provides easy access to the rental counter and associated facilities.
- Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Ensures convenient parking spots for customers with special mobility needs in the rental car area.
As a car rental agency, the Thrifty CLE location offers a comprehensive suite of services designed for both personal and business travel needs across Ohio. The fleet is diverse, accommodating solo travelers, families, and larger groups.
- Diverse Vehicle Fleet: Customers can select from a wide range of car classes, ensuring a fit for every itinerary and budget. This includes:
- Economy and Compact cars (e.g., Chevrolet Spark, Ford Focus) for fuel-efficient city travel.
- Mid-size and Full-size sedans (e.g., Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Jetta) for comfortable cruising across Ohio.
- SUVs (e.g., Jeep Wrangler, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Suburban) ranging from compact to full-size, ideal for families and cargo.
- Specialty Vehicles, such as minivans, trucks, and, depending on availability, luxury or specialty cars.
- Optional Protection Products: They offer several forms of optional coverage to protect the renter, including the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), which is crucial for customers who want to eliminate financial responsibility for damage or loss to the rental vehicle (subject to the rental agreement's terms). Other options include Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) and Personal Protection Plans (PPP).
- Multiple Payment Options: For ease of transaction, the location accepts major Credit Cards and NFC Mobile Payments. Notably, Debit Cards are also accepted, though they are subject to strict corporate policies regarding credit checks and security holds, which renters should verify beforehand.
- Customer Support: The listed national phone number serves as a central point of contact for reservations and support, helping customers manage bookings and address issues, such as clarifying unexpected fees like 'LDW'—which stands for Loss Damage Waiver—or other charges.
The Thrifty Car Rental at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport offers several features that are particularly valuable to local and incoming Ohio customers.
- Active Military Discounts: The agency extends special benefits to those who have served. Active military personnel, veterans, and their families who are members of the Veterans Advantage program may qualify for a 5% car rental discount and other perks, such as coupons for free upgrades. This is a significant point of value for our dedicated service members in the Ohio community.
- Women-Owned Business Designation: The branch proudly identifies as women-owned, contributing to the diversity of businesses at the airport and in the Greater Cleveland area. This identity highlights a commitment to diverse representation in the corporate landscape.
- Airport Convenience: Being located at CLE means direct access for air travelers. The dedicated shuttle service to the consolidated rental car facility streamlines the transition from plane to car, saving valuable time.
- Online Check-in Options: Thrifty provides an online check-in service at over 60 major airports, which could include CLE. This feature allows all customers (not just loyalty members) to skip some of the counter process, and in some cases, select their exact car and head straight to the vehicle, greatly enhancing the speed of pickup.
To ensure the best rates and service, all customers are encouraged to contact the central reservation and support line for the Thrifty system, as is common with airport branches.
Address: 19601 Maplewood Ave, Cleveland, OH 44135, USA
Phone (Toll-Free Reservations/Support): (877) 283-0898
Mobile Phone (Toll-Free Reservations/Support): +1 877-283-0898
Thrifty Car Rental at CLE is a worthwhile option for Ohio residents and visitors primarily due to its combination of a large fleet at competitive prices and airport accessibility. For the budget-conscious traveler, the opportunity to rent an economy or compact vehicle at a lower daily rate is a major draw. The explicit inclusion of military discounts through the Veterans Advantage program provides an excellent value proposition for service members. Furthermore, the modern accessibility features (wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking) demonstrate a commitment to serving all community members who rely on air travel.
However, the nature of a high-volume, "budget" airport operation means renters must remain vigilant. Customer feedback strongly emphasizes the need for transparency in pricing. To mitigate the risk of a final cost significantly higher than the initial quote, customers should carefully examine the initial reservation for all mandatory taxes and fees, and be sure to clearly understand and decline any optional products (like LDW) they do not wish to purchase before the final contract is signed. Additionally, customers are wise to follow the lead of other savvy renters by thoroughly documenting the vehicle's condition with time-stamped photos at both pick-up and drop-off to avoid unwarranted damage claims. By taking these proactive steps, Thrifty at CLE can serve as an efficient and economical choice for navigating Northeast Ohio.
Thrifty Car Rental - Cleveland - Hopkins International Airport Details
From the business
- Identifies as women-owned
Highlights
- Active military discounts
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Thrifty Car Rental - Cleveland - Hopkins International Airport Photos










Thrifty Car Rental - Cleveland - Hopkins International Airport Location
Thrifty Car Rental - Cleveland - Hopkins International Airport
19601 Maplewood Ave, Cleveland, OH 44135, USA
Thrifty Car Rental - Cleveland - Hopkins International Airport Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1The reviews are accurate. I dropped our car off. They had nobody to inspect it so I took pictures of the whole car showing nothing was wrong with it. I get to the airport and get a report that the car was damaged. They took pictures of two smears on the windshield stating it was damaged. I immediately called customer service. This is fraudulent. It should be illegal. They should make sure they have someone to check out every car and should immediately fire any of these employees that have integrity issues.
July 18 · Shaun Bittner0 Stars would be more appropriate.My original total was quoted at $182.35. After getting to the rental desk, the price changed to $592. A difference of over $400 is unbelievable. Upon return, the price was reduced to $382.08, better, but still $200 above the original cost. Apart from taxes, there were still over $150 in additional charges that has no explanation beside some abbreviations. How is a customer supposed to know what LDW means even though it is an additional $36.99/day.More and more times that I use "budget" style businesses, I realize that it is definitely not worth it. I would rather know the cost upfront as done by companies like Enterprise.How hard is it to know what the cost of a rental car would be ahead of time, or even close to it if there are variables. Taxes, base rent, insurance and recovery fees do not change daily.I am over these cheap companies, because the only thing cheap about it, is their service.
September 30 · Ashvin MaharajI rented a car from Thrifty on August 14th/2025.Upon arriving at the rental pickup there was no areas designated to pick my vehicle. we drove around 3 times and finally pulled over to call Thrifty in regards to where to pick the vehicle. I called Thrifty several times with no answer? I then drove into the information area and ask the at the Hertz desk (Since there was no one at Thrifty),as to where to pick up the vehicle.( I used their time saver check in so I could "by pass the line" and pick up my car.) I was asked to go to the back of the line:-( I then walked over to the Thrifty counter and no one as there? After several minutes a lady walked out of the back room and I ask where is my car.? She said" out the door to your left".:-( The price was great, the concept of "bypass the lines", was great, the return was great! I got the receipt, and checked the bill , it is was as I expected . But then, I get another bill weeks after for almost $200.00 for toll charges for activation of Plate Pass which I never signed up for !? Why would I sign up for something like this when my toll fees added up to $.9.00! I gave 2 stars for effort, now make it right! Be careful of their many options that you have to go through and decline to get to a simple rental! Today I called (09/18/25) to protest this added charge and customer service told me to call back later the system was down and could not access my records!
September 18 · Dennis BausI am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction and disappointment with the recent rental experience I had at your Cleveland Hopkins Airport location on 19601 Maplewood Ave, Cleveland, OH 44135.On September 30, 2024, at 11:11 AM, I rented a 2019 ENCORE. Upon inspection of the vehicle prior to rental, it was evident that the vehicle was in a state of disrepair. The exterior exhibited multiple dents, scratches, and signs of wear and tear. Additionally, the interior of the vehicle was already heavily permeated with a strong odor of cigarette smoke and animal fur, which immediately triggered my allergies. This forced me to keep the windows and sunroof open for the duration of the rental to ventilate the vehicle.I rented this vehicle for a business trip to Detroit, during which I took extra precautions to mitigate any unpleasant odors. I sprayed and sanitized the vehicle multiple times, but unfortunately, the lingering cigarette smoke smell was persistent.To my astonishment, upon returning the vehicle, I was charged a smoking fee. This fee is entirely unjustified as the vehicle was already heavily scented with cigarette smoke when I took possession of it. The condition of the vehicle at the time of rental clearly indicates that the smoking fee is unwarranted.Furthermore, the exposure to the cigarette smoke triggered my allergies, causing me to experience ongoing sneezing and sniffling even after returning the vehicle. This has significantly impacted my well-being and productivity.
October 02 · Fred Lee JrReserved a minivan well in advance. When we arrived at the check in counter, no one was at the counter or in the parking lot. The other counters said the Thrifty people left at 3:30 pm. We arrived at the counter at 5:45. Earlier, when I tried the links to pre-check in and avoid the counter, the website glitched every time. I ended up having to reserve another vehicle from another company (Enterprise) for the evening and next day. Had to drive back to the airport to return my Enterprise car and retrieve the minivan we originally reserved. The counter person would not refund me for the day we could not get the mini van. TERRIBLE customer service. I will NEVER use Thrifty again. What rental car company closes up shop at 3:30 on a Saturday????
August 31 · Rocco Maccarrone
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