O’Hare Terminal 5 International Arrivals: Customs, Baggage and Meeting Your Driver

Written by the Level Up Limo dispatch team, a licensed and insured Chicago chauffeur service with offices in Northbrook and Lake Forest. Updated October 22, 2026. Procedures can change, so your dispatcher’s live instructions come first.

Quick answer: After landing at O’Hare Terminal 5, you walk to the customs (CBP) processing area, clear immigration, collect all your bags, and go through agriculture screening. Only then should you call your chauffeur. The Chicago Department of Aviation says it is rare for the process to take more than two hours. Your driver waits in the free cell phone lot and meets you after you call, or inside baggage claim if you booked meet-and-greet.

What Happens Between the Gate and the Car

Terminal 5 is where most international flights arrive at O’Hare. Everyone follows the same sequence, and the pickup depends on how quickly you move through it.

Source: Chicago Department of Aviation, International Traveler page (flychicago.com).

How Long Should You Allow?

Nobody can promise an exact customs time. It changes with the number of flights landing together, the time of day, and whether you need a visa or are on your first ESTA trip. The airport’s own guidance is that it is rare for the process to take more than two hours. For planning, treat landing time as the start of the process, not the pickup time.

Flight tracking covers early and late arrivals on its own. The “I am through customs and have my bags” text is what tells your chauffeur when to leave the lot.

Preclearance Arrivals Are Different

Some travelers clear CBP before departure at preclearance airports, including several in Canada and Ireland. They can go straight to domestic baggage claim in Terminal 5, and some preclearance flights land in Terminals 1, 2 or 3 instead. Tell us your departure city when you book so the pickup is planned for the right terminal and timing.

Where Your Driver Waits and Where You Meet

The Cell Phone Lot

Curbside waiting is prohibited at O’Hare, and unattended vehicles are ticketed and towed. Chauffeurs wait in the free cell phone lot at 560 North Bessie Coleman Drive. From Terminal 5, it is about 0.3 miles north on Bessie Coleman Drive, then a right turn into the lot.

Curbside Pickup

After you call, your chauffeur sends the vehicle description, plate and the door for Terminal 5. Your dispatcher confirms the exact door at that moment, so wait for the message instead of guessing. Verify the plate and the chauffeur before you board.

Meet-and-Greet Inside Baggage Claim

For long-haul arrivals, many travelers prefer someone waiting inside. A chauffeur can meet you in baggage claim, help with luggage and walk you to the vehicle. Ask for it when you reserve your O’Hare limo service.

Connecting Through Chicago?

Travelers whose final destination is Chicago can leave right after customs. If you are connecting, what happens to your bags depends on your airline and whether you are checked through. The airport recommends confirming on the day of travel that your bags will be available at your final destination. For connections to Terminals 1, 2 or 3, the free Airport Transit System (ATS) runs between terminals.

Choosing the Right Vehicle for a Long-Haul Arrival

For luggage planning in detail, read the O’Hare and Midway luggage guide.

Arrival Checklist

Quick Facts

Why Travelers Choose Level Up Limo for International Arrivals

Level Up Limo is a licensed and insured Chicago chauffeur company with more than 15 years in the industry. Dispatch in Northbrook tracks your flight, adjusts for delays, and keeps a chauffeur ready near the airport. Every chauffeur is background-checked and licensed. Our sister brand, Black Car Now, is owned and operated by Level Up with the same dispatch and standards. If you are heading to the North Shore afterward, see the Northbrook to O’Hare and Midway guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does customs take at O’Hare Terminal 5?

It varies with the number of arriving flights and the time of day. The Chicago Department of Aviation says it is rare for processing to take more than two hours. Plan your pickup around your own time through the line, not your landing time.

2. When should I call my chauffeur after landing at Terminal 5?

Call or text once you have cleared customs and collected your bags. Send a quick message when you land, then a second one when you are through the checkpoint.

3. Do I need to collect my bags before leaving customs?

Yes. Everyone collects all bags, even those checked through, then goes through agriculture screening and is directed to baggage or agriculture inspection by a CBP officer.

4. What if I arrive from a preclearance city?

Travelers from some preclearance airports, including several in Canada and Ireland, clear CBP before departure and can go straight to domestic baggage claim in Terminal 5. They may arrive sooner than a typical international flight, so tell us your departure city.

5. Can my chauffeur meet me inside Terminal 5?

Meet-and-greet in baggage claim can be arranged on request. Your chauffeur helps with bags and walks you to the vehicle. Ask for it when you reserve.

6. Can my driver wait at the curb at Terminal 5?

No. Curbside waiting is prohibited at O’Hare, and unattended vehicles are ticketed and towed. Chauffeurs wait nearby, then move in when you call.

7. Where is the cell phone lot for Terminal 5?

560 North Bessie Coleman Drive. From Terminal 5, head north on Bessie Coleman Drive for 0.3 miles and turn right. It is free.

8. Are there luggage porters in Terminal 5 baggage claim?

Yes. Porters in white shirts and porter caps help with bags and accept tips.

9. What if my flight is delayed or early?

Your flight is tracked, so pickup timing adjusts automatically. Your chauffeur stays in touch if the plan changes.

10. What if I am connecting through Chicago instead of leaving the airport?

Passengers whose final destination is Chicago can leave after customs. If you are connecting, your bag handling depends on your airline and whether you are checked through, so confirm with the airline on the day of travel.

11. How many people and bags fit in a car for an international arrival?

International trips usually mean more luggage. A sedan suits one or two travelers with light bags, an SUV suits families and larger loads, and a Sprinter suits groups.

12. How do I book a Terminal 5 pickup?

Call or text (866) 666-0112 or book online, 24/7. Give us your airline, flight number, passenger count, bag count and whether you want curbside or meet-and-greet.

Related Level Up Limo Services and Guides

• O’Hare Airport Limo
• Airport Transportation
• Chicago Black Car Service
• Our Fleet
• O’Hare and Midway Airport Pickup Across Chicagoland
• O’Hare and Midway Luggage Guide
• Early Morning Car Service to O’Hare and Midway