Car rental at Brussels Charleroi airport

The Brussels South Charleroi airport, also called the Charleroi airport, is located in Gossalies, Belgium. First used as a flying school in the early 1900s, the facility now handles up to 5 million passengers on an annual basis. While still offering a place for flight schools, there four large commercial companies operating out of the location, with some destinations offered on a seasonal basis. Passengers are urged to check with individual carriers to determine if travel to their desired destination is available during the intended time.

The airport is accessible by local TEC buses that run between the airport and the train station. Additionally, there are several shuttles that offer transfers to the airport. Arrival by personal vehicle is also an option, as there are five different parking options to choose from on site, including express, long-term, and overflow long-term parking, allowing for plentiful parking on site. Accommodations for individuals with limited mobility are available in the Express parking lot.

If Brussels or the surrounding area is the destination, there are four car rental companies located at the airport, comprised of Avis, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt. The minimum age for car rentals in Belguim is 23 years for certain classes of vehicles, with others requiring a minimum of 30 years of age for drivers to rent, with those under 25 years of age are required to pay a Young Drivers Surcharge. Drivers are also required to have held their license for at least one year prior to rental, with no serious traffic or driving problems on their record. Additional drivers can be added to the rental agreement, but they too must abide by the requirements set forth by the car rental company.

Most of the vehicles offered are in the compact to premium options, some even offering environmentally friendly versions for rent. Those wishing to rent should specify automatic or manual transmissions when booking reservations, as most car hire companies have a large selection of both. Some companies also carry a range of trucks and minivans, if such transportation is desired.

While making reservations, customers can request additional equipment, such as child safety seats, satellite navigational systems, and even an option to purchase a carbon offset to reduce the carbon footprint. Additional insurance coverage and mileage can be added to during the time of rental reservation. If renters require hand controls for the vehicles due to limited mobility, they should notify their car rental company as early in advance as possible to ensure availability. 

Some important things to remember when driving in Belgium include the fact that they drive on the right hand side of the road; the acceptable blood alcohol level is 0.5; and radar traps are frequent, with heavy fines possible.