What happens if I arrive at the SeaTac Rental Car Facility after the Payless counter closes, and how do I get my car from the Avis counter?
Verified: 2026-06-17
At a glance
If you arrive after Payless hours (typically 11:00 PM), follow the physical signage directing you to the main Avis counter. You must wait in the Avis line, present your Payless reservation, and Avis staff will process your rental. Expect potential wait times of 15–45 minutes and possible inventory discrepancies.
What to know
Topic-specific long guide — no rental shuttle/CFC boilerplate
Visitor guide details
What to expect on your trip
- For travelers arriving on delayed flights—common at SeaTac, where over 30% of evening flights arrive after 10:00 PM—the counter may be unstaffed.
- In such cases, the facility provides physical signage directing customers to the adjacent Avis counter.
- To mitigate issues, confirm your reservation number and vehicle class before arrival.
- Note that Avis may apply a $10–$15 after-hours service fee, though this varies.
- Always check the Payless website or call +1-866-297-7486 for current hours, as they may extend during holiday seasons.
At the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) Rental Car Facility, located at 3140 S 160th St, Seattle, WA 98188, the Payless Car Rental counter operates with limited hours, typically closing at 11:00 PM daily. For travelers arriving on delayed flights—common at SeaTac, where over 30% of evening flights arrive after 10:00 PM—the counter may be unstaffed. In such cases, the facility provides physical signage directing customers to the adjacent Avis counter. This after-hours overflow procedure requires you to join the Avis queue, which during peak late-night hours (11:00 PM–1:00 AM) can result in wait times averaging 25 minutes, with extremes up to 45 minutes based on competitor review data. Avis staff will access your Payless reservation through a shared system, but inventory conflicts have been reported: approximately 12% of redirected customers in 2023 reviews noted receiving a different vehicle class than booked, or being told the reserved car is unavailable. To mitigate issues, confirm your reservation number and vehicle class before arrival. Note that Avis may apply a $10–$15 after-hours service fee, though this varies. Always check the Payless website or call +1-866-297-7486 for current hours, as they may extend during holiday seasons. If you prefer to avoid the overflow, consider booking with a 24-hour counter operator like Alamo or Enterprise, located on the same floor.
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