Car Hire
in Chicago

EASTER  45% OFF   

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating in Chicago, 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 Chicago.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), all hire car brands operate from the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at 10255 W. Zemke Blvd. You do not go to a counter inside the terminal.

• After collecting your baggage in Terminals 1, 2, 3, or 5, follow the signs to the Airport Transit System (ATS).
• Ride the ATS train to the MMF / Hire Cars stop. The train runs 24 hours a day, is free of charge, and takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
• Inside the MMF, locate your brand counter using the hire car wayfinding signs. Vehicle pickup levels are signed by brand.

The Chicago O'Hare hire car facility operates around the clock, so late-night or early-morning arrivals are accommodated. Bring your booking confirmation, a physical major credit card in the main driver's name, your driver's licence, and your passport if you are an international visitor.

At Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), hire car counters are not inside the terminal. After collecting your baggage, exit the baggage claim area and look for the hire car shuttle bus stop on the curb.

• Take the shuttle bus to the Hire Car Facility at 5150 W. 55th St, Chicago, IL 60638.
• The hire counter is on the 1st floor of that facility; vehicles are located on the 2nd floor.
• Counter hours at Chicago Midway run from 6:00 AM to 1:30 AM daily. A 24-hour key drop is available for after-hours returns.

No hire car facility at Chicago Midway is within walking distance of the terminal, so the shuttle is required. Plan for extra time, especially during peak arrival periods. Bring your booking confirmation, a physical major credit card in the main driver's name, your driver's licence, and your passport if you are an international visitor.

The Chicago area has several major toll roads managed by the Illinois Tollway. All use electronic or plate-based billing, and most gantries no longer accept cash.

• Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90/I-39, Chicago to Rockford): US$2.75 to US$5.50 for the full 76-mile stretch.
• Illinois Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80, Wisconsin border to South Holland): US$2.35 to US$4.70 for 82.81 miles.
• Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88, Chicago to Dixon): US$5.10 to US$10.20 for 96 miles.
• Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355, New Lenox to Itasca): US$3.80 to US$7.60.
• Chicago Skyway (I-90/I-94, Chicago to the Indiana border): US$4.80 to US$47.60 depending on vehicle class and distance.

Rates vary by time of day: daytime rates apply from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and lower overnight rates apply from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. If you do not enrol in a hire company toll programme, the Illinois Tollway's pay-by-plate system automatically bills tolls to the vehicle's registration plate at the standard rate.

Yes, hire vehicles in Chicago come equipped with an electronic toll device, since Illinois Tollway gantries are almost entirely cashless. At the counter you have two main options.

• Unlimited toll programme: A daily flat-rate package (for example, National's TollPass Waiver Programme costs US$11.99 per hire day at Chicago airport and select downtown locations). This covers all tolls on that day and is convenient if you plan to use toll roads frequently.
• Pay-per-use (no programme): Decline the daily package and let the Illinois Tollway's pay-by-plate system bill tolls automatically to the vehicle's registration plate. Tolls are charged at the standard plate rate, which is slightly higher than the discounted I-Pass/E-ZPass rate, but you avoid the daily service fee on days you do not use toll roads.

If you choose pay-per-use, the hire company will charge the toll amount plus an administrative processing fee to your credit card, sometimes weeks after the hire ends. Ignoring toll bills can result in escalating penalties. There are no congestion charges or emissions zones in Chicago itself, only the tollway charges listed above.

Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Chicago hire.

Given the number of toll roads in the Chicago area, including the Tri-State Tollway, the Jane Addams Tollway, the Reagan Tollway, and the Chicago Skyway, this benefit can offset a meaningful portion of your toll costs.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the car.
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback – Reservation {Your Confirmation Number}.
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid.

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are included in your booking rate; you still pay tolls normally and claim reimbursement afterwards.

To pick up a hire car in Chicago, you must present the following physical documents at the counter. Digital copies are not accepted.

• A valid, original driver's licence in the main driver's name.
• A physical major credit card with the driver's name printed on the card, for the security deposit hold. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• A passport (for international visitors) or a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher (required for certain hires).
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad.

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 addition to your original licence. For licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and is not valid without the original licence.

All named drivers must be present at the Chicago counter with their own valid licence and, if applicable, their IDP. Name mismatches between your licence, passport, and credit card are a common cause of problems at pickup.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver's name is required to hire a car in Chicago. The card must have the driver's name printed on it and must be presented in person at the counter.

At pickup, the hire company places a temporary authorisation hold on your card. Typical holds in the United States range from US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles, though the exact amount varies by brand, vehicle class, and location. This hold reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends, which can take up to 15 business days.

• Debit cards are not accepted for the security deposit hold.
• Prepaid or virtual cards are not accepted.
• Someone else's card is not accepted; the card must belong to the main driver.

Even if you prepay your Chicago booking in full, you must still present a physical credit card at the counter for the deposit. It is advisable to bring a backup credit card in your own name in case your primary card is declined, and to notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations.

Yes, hiring a car at Chicago's airports adds several location-specific fees on top of the base hire rate. These are standard for airport locations in the United States and are not unique to Chicago, but the combined total can be significant.

• City vehicle tax: approximately 7.9% to 10% of the hire rate.
• County use tax: approximately 1%.
• Airport concession recovery fee: approximately US$7 to US$10 per day, typically capped per trip.
• Customer facility charge: approximately US$4.50 to US$5.60 per trip.

These charges are in addition to Illinois state taxes. Off-airport locations near Chicago, such as those in Rosemont near O'Hare or near Midway-area hotels, can be 20% to 40% less expensive because they do not carry the same airport concession fees. However, off-airport locations require a shuttle or rideshare to reach.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the Chicago counter. Review the confirmation carefully before pickup so there are no surprises.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection at no extra cost. This benefit is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or other travel disruption while driving in the Chicago area or on Illinois highways far from the city centre.

Core benefits typically include:

• Travel and medical cover for up to 5 passengers.
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident.
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline.
• Flight cancellation insurance.

To reach the assistance line 24 hours a day, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your full name, your booking confirmation number, your location in Chicago or Illinois, and a brief description of the situation ready.

Important: this benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Travellers who are residents of the United States or Canada do not qualify. It also does not cover damage to the hire vehicle (that is CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (that is LIS/ALI/SLI). Always check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Chicago hire.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 are subject to a daily young-renter surcharge when picking up a hire car in Chicago. The surcharge amount varies by hire brand.

• Avis and Budget: US$13 per hire day, with a maximum of US$65 per hire period.
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day, with a maximum of US$189 per hire period.
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day.

In addition to the surcharge, most vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, and intermediate SUV categories are typically the only classes available to under-25 renters at Chicago locations.

Drivers under 21 cannot hire at Chicago locations under standard policies. One exception applies to travellers from Latin America and the Caribbean booking through Avis or Budget: if the underage fee waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation, the surcharge may be waived for the main driver aged 21 to 24. This exception does not apply to additional drivers or to travellers from other regions.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Chicago hire, but it must be done at the counter at the time of pickup. Both the main driver and the additional driver must be present and show valid driver's licences.

Whether the fee is included depends on your rate. If your booking confirmation states "Additional driver free of charge," the first extra driver is covered. If it is not included, the daily fees at Chicago locations are:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per day, maximum US$65 per hire period.
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per day, maximum US$189 per hire period.
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day.

Additional drivers at Chicago Avis and Budget locations must generally be at least 25 years old. Any driver not listed on the hire agreement is not covered by the vehicle's protections, including CDW/LDW and liability cover. If you need to add a driver after the hire has started, you must return to a branch location to update the agreement.

Yes, one-way hires are possible in the Chicago area, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on the specific pickup and return locations you choose.

Common Chicago one-way scenarios:

• O'Hare (ORD) to Midway (MDW) or vice versa: a drop-off fee typically applies since these are separate airport facilities.
• Chicago airport to a downtown Chicago location (or the reverse): fees vary by brand and route; some same-city routes carry no drop-off fee while others do.
• Chicago to another city or state: a drop-off fee almost always applies, and the amount varies significantly by distance and vehicle class.

The drop-off fee is shown during the booking process under the "To pay at destination" section and will also appear on your booking confirmation. This fee cannot be prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© unless it was not disclosed at the time of booking. If you need to change your return location after booking, the route will be re-priced and a new drop-off fee may apply. Always confirm the fee before finalising any one-way Chicago hire.

The standard fuel policy for Chicago hires is Full-to-Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid charges.

• At pickup, verify the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard.
• During your Chicago hire, use the correct fuel type (petrol or diesel). Wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy.
• Before returning the car, refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full on the way back.
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the hire company will charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. Fuel prices in the Chicago area are broadly in line with national averages. Ask the agent at the Chicago counter to recommend the nearest petrol station to the return facility, or use a navigation app to locate one close to 10255 W. Zemke Blvd (ORD) or 5150 W. 55th St (MDW) before you drop off the car.