Accra Airport Car Hire & Rental Prices (2026)

Q: Is Kotoka International Airport the same place?

Yes. The government announced on 23 February 2026 that the name was reverting to Accra International Airport; the code is still ACC. Tickets and drivers may still say Kotoka.

Quick answer: At Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka) (IATA ACC), you can book a one-way chauffeured transfer, multi-day car hire with a driver, or a self-drive car rental from desks and local firms. One Accra operator’s published all-inclusive airport transfer is $65 one way, with a full chauffeured day at $140 (Transparent Rentals cost page, last updated 17 April 2026, checked 15 October 2026). KAYAK’s Accra airport insights page (checked 15 October 2026) puts October self-drive averages around $52 a day and February around $68 a day. Pre-book a named driver, confirm the plate, and treat any “cheap” quote as incomplete until fuel, driver and mileage are in writing.

Landing at Accra is where most trips to Ghana begin: holidays, board meetings, NGO field starts, study arrivals, Detty December homecomings and ordinary domestic hops. This guide is about prices, pickup and booking at the airport itself. For the step-by-step arrivals walkthrough (immigration, meeting points, ride-hailing), use our airport arrival & pickup guide. For a city-wide price survey beyond the airport, see how much car hire costs in Accra.

Airport name and code (for tickets and drivers)

Ghana’s Ministry of Transport announced on 23 February 2026 that the airport formerly known as Kotoka International Airport had been reverted to Accra International Airport. The Minister said the ICAO and IATA codes are unchanged (IATA ACC). Signage is being replaced gradually, so boarding passes, hotel confirmations and WhatsApp messages still mix both names. On this site we use Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka) so searchers and locals both recognise it.

International flights use Terminal 3, according to Ghana Airports Company, and domestic flights have used Terminal 2 since 2018. The Ministry of Transport says Terminal 2 is being repurposed for both, so check your booking. If you are collecting a self-drive car from a desk in arrivals, follow the car hire signs after baggage reclaim. If you booked a chauffeur, you usually meet in the arrivals hall with a name board — not at a random kerb.

What “airport car hire” usually means in Accra

Three products get mixed together in search results:

Airport transfer — one-way ride from Terminal 3 to a hotel or address (or the reverse). Price is often a flat Greater Accra rate.
Chauffeur / with-driver day hire — the car and driver stay with you for half or full days after pickup.
Self-drive car rental — you (or a named driver on your party) drive; desks for Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and similar brands appear on comparison sites for ACC.

Many first-time visitors, and many Ghanaians flying in late, choose option 1 or 2 for day one, then decide about self-drive later. Our comparison of those choices is in self-drive or chauffeur in Ghana.

Published prices at and from the airport (sourced)

Prices move with season, vehicle class and what is included. The figures below are published numbers we could verify, with the date we checked them. They are not your quote. Ask the firm for a written total for your flight and dates.

Chauffeur transfer and day rates (local firms)

Source (checked 15 Oct 2026 unless noted)	Published figure
Transparent Rentals Accra transport costs page (updated 17 Apr 2026)	Airport transfer $65 one way (Greater Accra, ~20–45 min); half day $80 (5 hrs / 50 km); full day $140 (10 hrs / 100 km). Includes vehicle, driver, fuel within allowance, Wi‑Fi and water.
Transparent Rentals listing on GhanaCarHire	Shows from $65 (airport) and from $140 / day with driver — matches the April cost page.
AccraDrive fleet page	Sample within-Accra rates from GH₵1,600/day (Camry, Corolla), Coaster GH₵2,200, Land Cruiser V8 GH₵2,500 (checked 15 Oct 2026). The page shows two different figures for some vehicles, so confirm the rate in writing.

Always ask what is in the number: fuel, driver hours, overtime, airport fee, parking, and kilometre allowance.

Firms without a clear published airport price should simply be asked: “What is your fixed Terminal 3 transfer to [hotel], and what is a full day with driver after that?” Prefer a written answer over a verbal one.

Self-drive comparison averages (KAYAK at ACC)

KAYAK’s Accra airport car rentals insights page (checked 15 October 2026) reports:

Cheapest month average: October, about $52/day
Dearest month average: February, about $68/day
Booking tip on that page: around 80 days ahead for a below-average price; also “at least 6 weeks” in its tips list

Those are KAYAK’s own search averages across the agencies it covers (Avis, Budget, keddy by Europcar, Europcar, Hertz among those listed on the same page). They are not a guaranteed desk rate. Currency and market pages on other KAYAK locales show different averages, so stick to the figure on the page you actually search.

KAYAK also notes that hire at ACC is often supplied with a chauffeur. For self-drive, GOV.UK lists the 1949 International Driving Permit for Ghana. For licence and IDP detail by nationality, see driving in Ghana with a UK or US licence and our booking-from-abroad guide.

“Cheapest car rental in Accra airport” — how to read that search

Autocomplete loves that phrase. The honest reading:

The lowest one-way transfer among published all-inclusive examples we checked is in the $65 band (Transparent Rentals, April 2026 data). Ride-hailing can be cheaper if the app completes, but surge, cancellations and night safety are real trade-offs.
The lowest self-drive daily average on KAYAK’s ACC insights in October sits around $52/day — still check extras and whether a driver is mandatory.
A quote far below those bands may omit fuel, the driver, insurance excess or an airport surcharge. Ask for the out-the-door total.

December (Detty December) empties fleets first, so book early.

Pickup process at Terminal 3 (prices aside)

Full arrival detail lives in the arrival guide. The price-relevant bits:

Share your flight number so the firm can track delays and hold waiting time.
Get the driver’s name, photo, phone and plate before you land.
Meet where you agreed (arrivals hall with a name board is common). Confirm identity yourself.
The UK Foreign Office warns that British nationals have been robbed by impostors posing as drivers in the main arrivals area; permanent airport staff wear photo ID. Do not hand luggage to anyone who “knows your driver”.
Agree whether the first hotel drop is included in the transfer price, and what overtime costs if immigration queues run long.

The FCDO says photography near the airport is illegal, which is another reason not to linger on the kerb negotiating.

Drive times from Transparent Rentals’ April 2026 table, based on its own drivers’ observations (useful for budgeting time, not an official figure): airport to central Accra (Osu / Ridge) about 20–30 minutes off-peak and 45–70 minutes in the evening rush; East Legon to the airport about 15 minutes off-peak and 35–50 minutes in the morning peak.

Self-drive desk vs pre-booked local firm

International brand desk (Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and similar): Convenient if you already have a prepaid voucher from a comparison site. Expect paperwork, a deposit hold, and — in Accra — a strong chance the product is chauffeured even when the search page looked like self-drive. Avis Ghana and Hertz Ghana both list airport-linked locations on GhanaCarHire; Europcar’s ACC desk appears on KAYAK with a meet-on-reservation note.

Local firm with WhatsApp booking: Common for diaspora and returnees. You lock the car and price before you fly, then walk out to a named plate. Compare airport-capable listings on Accra airport transfers, Accra airport-transfer firms, and Accra car hire.

Ride-hailing: Fine for light luggage in daylight if you have working data. Not a substitute for a pre-booked transfer when you land after midnight with family or valuables.

How to book without surprises

Decide transfer-only vs multi-day chauffeur vs self-drive.
Shortlist two or three firms that advertise airport service — for example Transparent Rentals, AccraDrive, Avis Ghana, Shuttle Ghana, Ultimate Car Rentals Ghana, Chris Mobility Africa, Hertz Ghana, Nii Plants.
Send flight number, passengers, luggage, destination address and preferred vehicle class.
Ask for a written price that lists inclusions and waiting-time rules.
Pay only a modest deposit to a business you can verify; keep the balance until you have met the car. Red flags are covered in how to avoid car hire scams in Ghana.
Save the driver’s details offline in case roaming is slow on landing.

Booking from the UK, US or elsewhere follows the same steps — see book Ghana car hire from the UK or US.

Who this is for

Tourists on a first Accra stop, conference delegates heading to Airport City or North Ridge, NGO staff connecting inland, students starting a semester, and Ghanaians coming home for funerals, weddings or Christmas all use the same Terminal 3 doors. The right product differs; the need for a clear price and a named pickup does not.

Business travellers who need a chauffeur for meeting days can continue with chauffeur car hire in Accra for business and conferences. Peak-season road chaos is covered in the Detty December transport guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is car rental at Accra airport right now?

It depends on product. A published all-inclusive one-way chauffeured transfer example is $65 (Transparent Rentals, April 2026 data, still shown on its GhanaCarHire listing on 15 October 2026). KAYAK’s ACC self-drive averages on 15 October 2026 sat near $52/day in October and $68/day in February. AccraDrive’s fleet page lists within-Accra rates from GH₵1,600/day for common sedans (15 October 2026). Always get a written quote for your dates.

What is the cheapest car rental at Accra airport?

Among sourced, all-inclusive chauffeur transfers we checked, $65 is the clearest published flat example. App rides can undercut that when they complete without surge. Ultra-low “from” ads often exclude the driver or fuel — ask for the total.

Is Kotoka International Airport the same place?

Yes. The government announced on 23 February 2026 that the name was reverting to Accra International Airport; the code is still ACC. Tickets and drivers may still say Kotoka.

Should I self-drive from the airport on day one?

Only if you already know Accra roads, hold the right licence and IDP, and are not landing exhausted at night. FCDO advice discourages night road travel outside main towns and warns about vehicle crime when stationary. Most visitors are calmer with a chauffeur for the first transfer.

Where do I meet a pre-booked driver?

Usually in Terminal 3 arrivals with a name board, after immigration, baggage and customs. Agree the exact spot and confirm the plate. Details and safety checks are in the arrival guide.

Do Avis, Hertz and Europcar operate at ACC?

KAYAK’s ACC page lists Avis, Budget, keddy by Europcar, Europcar and Hertz among airport-area options (checked 15 October 2026). GhanaCarHire also lists Avis Ghana and Hertz Ghana. Confirm desk hours and whether your booking is self-drive or with driver.

How far ahead should I book airport car hire?

As early as you can, especially for December. KAYAK’s ACC tip for a below-average comparison price is at least 6 weeks, and around 80 days in its insights (checked 15 October 2026).

Are prices on GhanaCarHire guaranteed?

No. Listings show what firms publish publicly. We do not take car hire payments. Confirm directly, and treat every number in this article as a budgeting guide dated 15 October 2026.

Next steps

Compare airport transfer firms, filter Accra airport-transfer listings, or browse all Accra car hire. Lock the pickup when you lock the flight — the first hour on the ground is much easier with a plate you already know.

Sources

Government reverts Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport (23 February 2026) (Ministry of Transport)
Projects: Terminal 3 (Ghana Airports Company Limited)
Ghana travel advice: safety and security (UK FCDO)
Check if you need an international driving permit (GOV.UK)
Accra Transport Costs 2026 (updated 17 April 2026; firm's own published rates) (Transparent Rentals)
Car rentals at Accra Kotoka Airport: insights (checked 15 October 2026) (KAYAK)
Car rental fleet and sample rates (checked 15 October 2026; firm's own published rates) (AccraDrive)

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.

Car Hire & Rental at Accra International Airport: Prices, Pickup and How to Book