Car Hire
in California

EASTER  45% OFF   

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating in California, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes benefits that no other company can match:

• Free liability coverage starting at US$ 300,000 in case of an accident (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 providing up to US$ 150,000 in coverage for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of a 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 comes at no extra cost, ensuring a fully protected car hire experience and peace of mind throughout your trip in California.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in California 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 California 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)

At Los Angeles International Airport in California, all hire car companies operate from a single Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, known as the ConRAC. You do not collect your car at the terminal itself.

After collecting your luggage, follow the purple "Hire Car Shuttle" signs to the designated curbside islands on the arrivals level. Shuttles operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and typically arrive every 5 to 10 minutes. Since the shuttle makes a mandatory loop stopping at all nine terminals, the journey to the ConRAC can take 30 to 40 minutes. Allow 20 to 45 minutes from leaving arrivals to reaching your hire desk, depending on queues and traffic.

Once at the ConRAC, pick-up and drop-off areas are separated to facilitate smoother traffic flow, with clear signage between counters and parking garages. Bring your booking confirmation, physical driver’s licence, passport or government-issued photo ID, and a major credit card in the main driver’s name for the excess deposit.

California employs FasTrak as its statewide electronic toll collection system. FasTrak operates on all toll roads, bridges, and express lanes across California, including Bay Area bridges, Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, SR-261), and express lanes such as I-10, I-110, and I-580. Most California facilities do not have cash toll booths.

As a renter in California, your vehicle is equipped with an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system. At collection, you typically have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a fixed daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, covering all tolls during the hire
• Pay per use: actual toll charges plus daily or administrative fees, billed after the hire, sometimes weeks later

You may also opt out at collection and pay tolls directly via the toll agency’s website or app, or use your own compatible transponder. If you bring your own pass, inform the counter staff so they can deactivate the vehicle’s default device and avoid duplicate charges.

Typical toll costs in California range from approximately US$7 to US$15 per bridge crossing in the Bay Area, and US$5 to US$15 per day on Orange County toll roads, depending on usage.

To collect your hire car in California, you must present the following physical documents at the counter. Digital copies are not accepted.

• Original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• Passport or valid government-issued photo ID matching the booking and payment card
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on it, in the main driver’s name, for the excess hold
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher showing supplier, location, dates, and vehicle category
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom)

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory in California. For licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the excess deposit, even if you prepaid your booking online. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which allows you to recover up to 5% of your total hire value for tolls paid during your California hire.

California has significant toll exposure, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area (bridge crossings of approximately US$7 to US$15 each) and in Southern California's Orange County toll roads and Los Angeles express lanes. The Tolls Cashback benefit applies to any tolls you pay through any method during your hire period.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle in California:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your confirmation number
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll receipt or statement showing charges paid
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for the booking

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 hiring a vehicle in California are subject to a daily young-renter surcharge, also known as an underage fee. The minimum age to hire without this surcharge is 25.

Surcharge amounts vary by hire partner in California:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day plus taxes

In addition to the surcharge, most vehicle classes are restricted for drivers under 25 in California. Economy, compact, and intermediate categories are generally available, while full-size, SUV, luxury, convertible, minivan, and premium classes typically require the driver to be 25 or older.

Drivers from Latin America or the Caribbean aged 21 to 24 may qualify for a young-renter fee waiver on eligible Avis or Budget rates in California. Check your booking confirmation to see if the waiver is shown.

California enforces some of the strictest distracted driving laws in the United Kingdom, and violations can result in significant fines for anyone driving a hire vehicle in California.

• Handheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited. You may not hold your phone to make calls, text, email, or use any app while the vehicle is in motion
• Hands-free use via a mount or Bluetooth is permitted, but you may not hold the device at any point
• These rules apply to all drivers in California, regardless of where your licence was issued

California also enforces a basic speed law, which requires drivers to reduce speed below the posted limit whenever conditions are unsafe, such as during rain, fog, or on steep mountain roads. This is stricter than rules in neighbouring states like Arizona, where no equivalent law exists.

The maximum motorway speed limit in California is 70 mph on designated freeways and 65 mph on most others. Reckless driving is defined as driving 15 mph or more over the posted limit, with fines of approximately US$900.

If you plan to use navigation on your California hire, mount your phone on the dashboard or windscreen before driving and set your route before moving.

Yes, tyre chains or traction devices may be required when driving through mountain areas of California, particularly in the Sierra Nevada range, during winter months.

California law allows Caltrans to require chains on specific mountain passes and highways when snow or ice conditions are present. Common routes where chain controls are enforced include I-80 through Donner Pass, US-50 over Echo Summit, and SR-88 and SR-89 in the Lake Tahoe area. Driving through a chain control zone without the required traction devices can result in fines and may void your hire coverage.

Regarding hire vehicles in California, chain availability varies by partner and location. Not all hire companies provide chains, and you should confirm at the counter whether chains are included or available for purchase. If you plan to drive into mountain areas of California during winter, ask about chain availability when you collect the vehicle.

Hire agreements typically restrict off-road use, and driving on unpaved or closed roads in California's mountain regions may void your Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). Always check road conditions before departing and follow posted chain requirement signs.

When hiring a vehicle in California, two main types of cover are relevant: protection for the hire vehicle itself, and protection for damage or injury you may cause to others.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers damage to the hire vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW does not cover third parties.

Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to other persons or vehicles while driving in California. Not all UK states require hire companies to include minimum liability cover, and California renters are strongly advised to add supplementary liability insurance. Check your booking confirmation to see whether LIS is included or optional on your rate.

Common exclusions in California that can void cover include:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Reckless driving or exceeding speed limits significantly
• Driving on unpaved or restricted roads
• Drivers not listed on the hire agreement

Review your hire agreement at the California counter to confirm which covers are active and what deductibles apply before driving away.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if you experience a medical emergency or other incident while driving in California.

California's varied terrain, including mountain passes, coastal highways, and remote inland areas, means that incidents can occur far from major cities. The included travel assistance covers:

• Medical cover for up to 5 passengers for accidents and non-pre-existing illnesses
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

To contact assistance 24 hours a day while in California, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to residents of the United Kingdom or Canada. It covers the hire vehicle's occupants but does not replace CDW/LDW for damage to the vehicle or LIS/ALI/SLI for third-party liability. Pre-existing medical conditions are also excluded. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms applicable to your itinerary.

Hire cars in California 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 collection in California, 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 gauge before leaving the lot.

When returning your California hire:

• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive
• Keep the fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• Take a photo of the full gauge at the station as evidence
• For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a copy

If you return the vehicle with less fuel than the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge a fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. In California, fuel prices can vary significantly between urban areas and more remote regions, so plan your final fill-up accordingly. Ask the collection agent at collection for the nearest petrol station to the return location.

In California, hire companies place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at collection. For standard vehicles, this hold is typically approximately US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by hire brand, location, vehicle class, and season.

The hold is not a charge. It reduces your available credit until the hire company releases it after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears from your statement, which can take up to 15 working days after release.

Key requirements for the deposit in California:

• The card must be a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) with the driver’s name printed on it
• The card must be in the main driver’s name
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted at the counter

Premium, luxury, or specialised vehicles in California may require a higher hold. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined or flagged by your bank for an international transaction. Notify your bank of your travel dates before arriving in California to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

Yes, early collection is sometimes possible in California, but it is not guaranteed and depends on vehicle availability, staffing, and the rate rules of your booking.

At major California airports such as LAX and SFO, collecting 30 to 120 minutes early may be possible if a vehicle in your category is ready. However, early collection can trigger re-pricing in some cases, particularly if the earlier time shifts your hire into a different billing period or rate bracket.

To request an early collection in California:

• Arrive at the hire desk and ask the staff whether a vehicle in your booked category is available
• Confirm whether the earlier time will change your rate before signing the agreement
• If re-pricing applies, you can choose to wait until your original scheduled time

Remember that at LAX in California, reaching the ConRAC hire facility from the terminal takes 20 to 45 minutes via shuttle, so factor that travel time into your planning. If your flight arrives significantly earlier than scheduled, the counter may still hold your booking for up to 24 hours from the original collection time without cancellation.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your California hire, either as an included benefit or for a daily fee payable at the counter, depending on your rate.

Check your booking confirmation for the line "Additional driver free of charge." If it appears, the first additional driver is included at no extra cost. If it does not, the following fees apply in California:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day plus taxes

The additional driver must be present at the California collection desk with their own valid driver’s licence and photo ID. If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit is also required. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement.

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by CDW/LDW and liability protections in California. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the vehicle may invalidate your cover entirely. For Avis, Budget, and Payless in California, additional drivers generally must be at least 25 years old.