Car rentals São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport - cheap car hire Brazil

Compare prices of car hire at São Paulo Airport (Guarulhos)

São Paulo Guarulhos Airport - GRU is the busiest airport in Brazil. It serves the most populous city of southern hemisphere, São Paulo and the homonymous state in southeastern Brazil.

See map of the states of Brazil.

The airport’s official name - São Paulo-Guarulhos Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport - is commonly shortened to "São Paulo-Guarulhos" or simply "Guarulhos Airport" being Guarulhos the municipality of Greater São Paulo in which the airport is located. The former name, Cumbica Airport is still frequently used in Brazil.

Flights to São Paulo-Guarulhos
The main international gateway to Brazil, São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport offers routes to a wide choice of destinations worldwide.

From the UK flights to São Paulo-Guarulhos are available with British Airways and TAM Airlines, with departures from London-Heathrow.

Please note that although São Paulo is also served by a domestic airport, São Paulo-Congonhas  - CGH, flights to and from domestic destinations are also available at Guarulhos Airport.

See location map of São Paulo Airports, Congonhas and Guarulhos.

Car hire companies at São Paulo Guarulhos Airport
Amongst the wide variety of passenger services at São Paulo Guarulhos Airport is car hire.

Major suppliers of car rental at Guarulhos are internationally known brands, such as Avis Rent A Car, Budget, Hertz, as well as local, Brazilian car hire companies: Interlocadora, Localiza, Locar Alpha, Movida and Unidas Locação de Veículos São Paulo.

São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport (GRU) - Terminals
São Paulo Guarulhos Airport is consists of two main, three-story terminals, named Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Arrivals are located on the ground level of each terminal and departures on level 1. At the top level, the mezzanine floor, are located passenger facilities, including restaurants, kiosks, beauty parlors, etc..

Both terminals of São Paulo Airport are interconnected which makes transferring between them very easy.

Car hire services - locação de veículos in Portuguese - are found at the arrivals level of both Terminal 1 and 2 of GRU Airport.

Locate car hire on a simplified map of São Paulo Guarulhos Airport Terminal 1 and 2.

Plans to expand the passenger and operations capacity of São Paulo Guarulhos with terminals 3 and 4, well needed in the busiest airport of Brazil, have long been facing  legal and bureaucratic difficulties being subjects to frequent changes and delays. A substantial upgrade of the facilities, a new terminal and an additional runway are expected to be accomplished before the upcoming international events, FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Summer Olympics 2016.

Among planned developments is a dedicated train link, an Airport Express Line to connect Guarulhos Airport to São Paulo city centre.

Drive from Guarulhos Airport to São Paulo
Guarulhos Airport is located approx. 16 miles northeast of downtown São Paulo.

For travelers who opt for car hire at São Paulo Guarulhos Airport, the road access to the city centre is relatively easy. The city can be reached from the airport via dedicated motorway Hélio Smidt which connects to major motorway Presidente Dutra motorway or, alternatively, to Ayrton Senna motorway.

In normal traffic conditions it takes approx. 30-40 minutes to drive from the airport to São Paulo. When entering the city centre, however, heavy traffic is notorious in São Paulo.

See map of road access to São Paulo city centre (click to enlarge).

São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro - Via Dutra motorway, Brazil
Please note that the Presidenty Dutra motorway, also known as Via Dutra, or BR-116/SP-60, allows direct access to Rio de Janeiro.

See map of Via Dutra motorway from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.

The distance from São Paulo Airport to Rio de Janeiro, via Presidente Dutra motorway is approx. 260 miles (415 km). Via Dutra is a tolled road.

Should I hire a car in São Paulo?
Brazil is a country of large distances and world’s fifth biggest country by area.

In general, when travelling between Brazilian cities you will most likely rely on domestic flights as they are infinitely less time consuming and, in most cases cheaper than driving. Southern Brazil, however, is the most developed and densely populated part of the country and large cities with extended metropolitan areas here are located within rather manageable distances when compared to the rest of the country.

See major cities on a map of Brazil.

Approximate road distances from São Paulo:

• distance São Paulo - Curitiba: 400 km (4h 30 min by car)
• distance São Paulo - Belo Horizonte: 580 km (6h by car)
• distance São Paulo - Rio de Janeiro: 260 miles /415 km (4h 30 min by car)
• distance São Paulo - Campinas: 88 km (1h by car)

Even if you are planning to stay only in São Paulo, the dimension of the city is an argument in favour of car hire. The city spreads on a very vast area, divided between the strict city centre and numerous peripheral neighbourhoods, and not all of its parts can be reached by public transportation.

See map of São Paulo city centre.

View map of São Paulo neighbourhoods.

An own means of transportation, or rental car, is the most convenient way of travelling to many excellent beach and surf locations on the coast stretching northeast of Sao Paulo, towards Rio de Janeiro.

See best beach/surf locations in São Paulo/ Rio de Janeiro area, in Brazil.

Find cheap car hire in São Paulo Guarulhos Airport - compare offers online
Car hire at São Paulo-Guarulhos is usually inexpensive, if booked in advance. Although hire cars are readily available upon arrival at São Paulo-Guarulhos, you are more likely to obtain much better rates when booking well ahead and after having compared prices from many providers.

Cartrawler search engine is an useful internet tool which allows you to get current quotes for car hire at São Paulo Airport or at any other destination in Brazil and worldwide.  

Budget car rental deals are available on Cartrawler within all classes of rental vehicles, from the cheapest hire cars to economy, full size, minivan and premium vehicles to rent in São Paulo, Brazil.

Usually, the cheapest car rental deals São Paulo Guarulhos start from approx. £120 for a week car hire of within economy class, frequently a Hyundai Getz, a Toyota Yaris, or similar.

Get quotes for car hire São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport with Cartrawler Brazil