What is the breakdown of SeaTac airport rental car taxes and facility charges?
Verified: 2026-06-15
At a glance
Renting a car at SeaTac includes a Customer Facility Charge (CFC) of $5.50 per day, Washington state sales tax of 10.1%, and a 5.5% Seattle rental car tax, which significantly increase the final total beyond the advertised base rate.
What to know
Topic-specific long guide — no rental shuttle/CFC boilerplate
Visitor guide details
What to expect on your trip
- When renting a car at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) Rental Car Facility, the advertised base rate is only a fraction of the final bill.
- A primary localized surcharge is the Customer Facility Charge (CFC), which currently stands at $5.
- 50 per day, up to a maximum of 14 days ($77.
- In addition to the CFC, renters are subject to Washington state and local sales taxes, totaling 10.
- 1% on the base rate and most surcharges.
When renting a car at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) Rental Car Facility, the advertised base rate is only a fraction of the final bill. A primary localized surcharge is the Customer Facility Charge (CFC), which currently stands at $5. 50 per day, up to a maximum of 14 days ($77. 00 maximum per rental). This fee funds the construction, operation, and maintenance of the dedicated Rental Car Facility and the Blue-line shuttle buses that transport customers between the airport terminal and the rental lot. In addition to the CFC, renters are subject to Washington state and local sales taxes, totaling 10. 1% on the base rate and most surcharges. Furthermore, the City of Seattle imposes a specific 5. 5% rental car business tax. Depending on the specific rental car brand, you may also encounter a concession fee recovery surcharge, which typically ranges around 11. 11% of the total base rate to reimburse the airport for the concession rights. Combined, these localized taxes and facility charges can easily add over 25% to 30% to your daily rate, making a $40 per day base rate cost closer to $55 per day. Understanding this breakdown is essential for accurately budgeting your travel expenses and avoiding sticker shock at the rental counter.
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