Budget Car Hire
in Edinburgh

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the leading car hire companies in Edinburgh, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate offers additional benefits that no other company can match:

• Full vehicle coverage with no excess (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: recover up to 5% of the reservation's total value for toll charges incurred during your hire period
• Premium travel medical assistance, covering up to GBP 100,000 for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of medical emergency, excluding pre-existing conditions
• No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification

All of this at no extra cost, guaranteeing you a unique car hire experience with full protection and peace of mind throughout your trip in Edinburgh.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Edinburgh are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.

On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter in Edinburgh charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.

The only costs outside this guarantee are:

• Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
• Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)

To collect your Budget hire car in Edinburgh, you must bring the following physical documents to the counter:

• Your original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card (debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the excess)
• Your passport or valid government photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad

If your driver’s licence is not in English and was not issued by an EU or EEA country, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended. If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an IDP is required. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

All documents must be physical. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the Budget counter in Edinburgh.

Yes, Budget in Edinburgh requires a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name, with the driver’s name printed on the card, to place an authorisation hold at pick-up.

For hires in the United Kingdom, the typical authorisation hold placed on your credit card is approximately GBP 300 to GBP 400 for a standard vehicle. This is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends. Banks can take up to 15 working days to reflect the release.

• Debit cards are not accepted for the deposit at the Budget counter in Edinburgh
• Prepaid or virtual cards are not accepted
• The card must be in the main driver’s name, not a third party’s

It is advisable to bring a backup credit card and to notify your bank of your travel plans before arriving in Edinburgh, so that the in-person authorisation is not flagged as suspicious.

Edinburgh itself does not have a city-centre toll or congestion charge, but there are toll roads and charges you may encounter when driving beyond Edinburgh with your Budget hire car.

• The M6 Toll is a 26-mile motorway in the West Midlands that operates as a cashless system. A car using all three zones pays GBP 10.30, or GBP 8.30 for two zones.
• If you drive into central London, the London Congestion Charge applies on weekdays. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) also covers a wide area of London.
• Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones exist in several UK cities. Confirm with Budget at the Edinburgh counter whether your specific vehicle meets the required standards before driving into these zones.
• Most UK toll roads are fully cashless and use number plate recognition or electronic billing, so there are no cash booths to stop at.

Tolls are your responsibility unless otherwise stated in your hire agreement. If you use a toll road and have not enrolled in a toll programme, Budget may bill the toll amount plus an administrative processing fee to your credit card after the hire ends.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Budget hire in Edinburgh or on any roads you drive during the hire period.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle, email [email protected] within 30 days of drop-off. Include:

• Your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation
• A copy of the hire agreement signed at the Budget counter in Edinburgh
• A receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid

The refund is processed to the same payment method used for your booking and typically arrives within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted.

As an example, if your booking total is US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. If you paid US$15 in tolls, you receive US$15 back. If you paid US$40, you receive the capped amount of US$25.

Budget hires in Edinburgh follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

• At pick-up, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the Edinburgh location
• Use the correct fuel type, as wrong-fuel incidents are not covered and may generate significant charges
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return the Budget vehicle in Edinburgh with less than a full tank, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner’s refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. Returning the car full is always the most cost-effective option.

It depends on the country where your licence was issued. For most visitors hiring a Budget car in Edinburgh, a full, valid foreign driver’s licence is sufficient for up to 12 months, depending on your residency status and country of origin.

An IDP is strongly recommended in these situations:

• Your licence is not in English and was not issued by an EU or EEA country
• You hold a paper licence rather than a photocard licence

An IDP is required if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. In that case, you must carry both your original licence and the IDP together at the Budget counter in Edinburgh. The IDP is a translation document only and is not valid on its own.

Always obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad. Check the latest official guidance for your specific nationality before your Edinburgh trip, as rules can vary based on residency status and licence origin.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in Edinburgh, either as part of your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

For Budget hires, the additional driver fee is US$13 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum charge of US$65 plus taxes, when not included in your rate. Check your booking confirmation to see if an additional driver is already included at no extra cost.

Requirements for adding a driver at the Edinburgh Budget counter:

• The additional driver must be present at pick-up with their original, valid driver’s licence
• They must meet the minimum age requirements for the Edinburgh location
• For Budget, the additional driver should be at least 25 years old at the time of pick-up
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers named on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s protections such as CDW and liability cover. Never allow an unlisted person to drive the Budget vehicle in Edinburgh, as this may void your cover.

The Budget hire desk in Edinburgh is located at the Edinburgh Airport (EDI) terminal. Follow the car hire signs inside the arrivals area to reach the hire desks, which are grouped together in the terminal building.

If you are collecting a Budget vehicle at a city-centre location in Edinburgh rather than the airport, your booking confirmation will include the exact address and any specific access instructions for that location.

• Confirm the operating brand on your reservation before arriving, as some desks may be shared or co-located with partner brands
• If you arrive after counter hours, review your confirmation for after-hours key-drop or alternative instructions
• If you cannot locate the Budget desk in Edinburgh, use the airport information desk or courtesy phones near the car hire area

Allow extra time after landing to collect your luggage and reach the desk, especially during busy travel periods.

By law in the United Kingdom, all hire vehicles including Budget cars in Edinburgh must include third-party liability insurance. This means you are covered for injury or property damage caused to other people while driving the vehicle.

Beyond the mandatory liability cover, your booking may also include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), which reduces your financial liability for damage to the Budget vehicle itself. Check your booking confirmation to see exactly what is included in your rate and whether a deductible or excess applies.

• CDW and LDW cover damage to the hire car from collisions, theft, and vandalism, subject to exclusions
• They do not cover damage to other vehicles or injuries to third parties (that is handled by liability cover)
• Common exclusions include tyres, undercarriage, roof, and damage caused by prohibited use such as off-road driving

If your Edinburgh Budget booking shows a deductible, you are responsible for that amount per incident even with CDW. Review the hire agreement carefully at the counter before signing.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to Budget hires in Edinburgh as well. This benefit is available to non-North American customers. Residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify.

If you are driving outside Edinburgh and experience a medical emergency, a legal issue following an accident, or a flight cancellation, this cover can help. Core benefits typically include:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of an accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

To get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free or collect) or contact Terrawind via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

This cover does not replace CDW for vehicle damage or liability insurance. Check your Edinburgh booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your reservation.

If you return your Budget vehicle in Edinburgh after the agreed drop-off time, a grace period of approximately 30 minutes typically applies, though this is not guaranteed at every location. If you exceed the grace period, you may be charged for additional hours or an extra hire day, plus any applicable late fees.

• Always plan your return time carefully, especially if your flight departs from Edinburgh Airport and you need to allow time for refuelling and shuttle transfers
• If you know you will be late, contact the Budget location in Edinburgh as early as possible
• After-hours returns must be arranged in advance. Follow the key-drop instructions provided in your hire agreement and keep a photo of the fuel gauge and vehicle condition

On the other hand, returning the Budget car in Edinburgh earlier than agreed does not automatically generate a refund, as prepaid rates are typically non-refundable for unused days. Review your booking confirmation for the specific terms that apply to your reservation.

Yes, one-way hires with Budget are possible in Edinburgh, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location, the distance involved, and the vehicle class you select.

How the fee works for Edinburgh Budget one-way hires:

• Returning to a different Edinburgh location such as city centre to airport often carries no drop-off fee
• Returning to another UK city typically incurs a drop-off fee that varies by route and season
• Cross-border one-ways, for example from Edinburgh to a location outside the UK, may be restricted or carry higher fees

The drop-off fee, if applicable, will be shown during the booking process under the section labelled as payable at destination. It cannot be prepaid and is settled directly with Budget at the Edinburgh pick-up counter.

If you need to change your drop-off location after booking, be aware that this may reprice your entire reservation and recalculate any applicable one-way fee. Review your confirmation carefully before making changes.

Edinburgh does not currently operate a congestion charge or emission zone within the city itself, so driving your Budget hire car around Edinburgh should not trigger any such fees locally.

However, if you drive beyond Edinburgh to other UK cities, charges may apply:

• London operates both a Congestion Charge for driving in the central zone and an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering a large area of the city. These charges are the driver’s responsibility and may be billed by Budget after the hire ends if not paid directly.
• Several other UK cities operate Clean Air Zones (CAZ) where older or higher-emission vehicles may be charged. Confirm with Budget at the Edinburgh counter whether your specific vehicle meets the required standards before entering these zones.
• If Budget charges you for a zone fee that was not disclosed in your booking confirmation, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply. Keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire ends.

Always check which zones apply to your planned route before leaving Edinburgh, and ask the Budget agent at pick-up if you are unsure about your vehicle’s emission classification.