Car Hire
in San Jose

EASTER  45% OFF   

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

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

The process at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) depends on which terminal you arrive at.

• Terminal B: Walk directly across Airport Boulevard from the baggage claim area using the marked pedestrian crossings. The Hire Car Centre at 1659 Airport Blvd is directly opposite and no shuttle is needed.
• Terminal A: Exit baggage claim, go to the ground transportation island at Stop 6, and board the free airport shuttle bus. It runs every 7 to 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, and the journey takes approximately 8 minutes.

Once inside the San Jose Hire Car Centre, proceed to the first floor to find your brand's counter. For example, Avis is in Suite 2, Budget in Suite 3, Enterprise in Suite 5, and National in Suite 8. Some brands, such as Alamo, direct you to upper floors (such as the 6th floor) for vehicle collection after completing paperwork at the counter.

Allow 20 to 45 minutes from baggage claim to driving away, depending on queue times at the counter.

Counter hours at the San Jose Hire Car Centre vary by brand. As a general guide, most major counters at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) operate from approximately 6:00 AM to midnight, though some brands close earlier (around 11:00 PM) and others may open later in the morning.

If your flight arrives outside these hours, options vary by brand. Some San Jose counters, such as National and Avis, offer after-hours key drop or drop-and-go return options, but after-hours collection is generally not available without prior arrangement.

• Always confirm your specific brand's hours on your booking confirmation before travel.
• If your flight is delayed by less than 24 hours, the hire company will typically hold your reservation.
• For delays exceeding 24 hours, contact support as soon as possible, since the booking may be forfeited without a refund if the window passes.

Planning your San Jose arrival time around counter hours helps avoid complications, especially for late-night international flights.

Yes, hiring a car at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) includes several mandatory local charges on top of the base hire rate.

• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): Up to US$9 per day, capped at 5 days, to fund the Hire Car Centre garage and shuttle operations.
• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): A percentage-based fee that hire companies pass on for operating at San Jose airport.
• California state and local hire taxes and tourism assessment fees also apply.

These charges are standard for airport hires in San Jose and are not unique to any one brand. If your booking confirmation shows these items as included in your prepaid rate, you should not be billed again at the counter. If you are charged for something that was already included, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply.

Hiring from a downtown San Jose location (such as 282 Barack Obama Blvd) may avoid some airport-specific surcharges, though off-airport options are less common and require independent transport to reach the counter.

California uses the FasTrak electronic toll system on all toll roads, bridges, and express lanes near San Jose. There are no cash toll booths on most facilities, so every hire vehicle is equipped with an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system.

When collecting your San Jose hire, you will typically have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: A fixed daily fee of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, covering all tolls during the hire period. The exact rate depends on the hire brand.
• Pay per use: If you decline the package, the hire company charges you the actual toll amounts plus administrative processing fees. These charges often appear on your card days or even weeks after you return the vehicle.

Common toll costs near San Jose include Bay Area bridge crossings at approximately US$7 to US$15 each (for example, the Bay Bridge at around US$8.50 with FasTrak, or the Golden Gate Bridge at US$9.75 with FasTrak). Express lanes on highways such as I-580 and I-680 also use dynamic FasTrak pricing.

You may also opt out at collection and pay tolls directly through the FasTrak website or app, but you must inform the counter agent so the vehicle's default device is deactivated to avoid duplicate charges.

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

• Valid driving licence (original, unexpired, physical card) in the main driver's name.
• International Driving Permit (IDP): Recommended if your licence is not in English. Mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.
• Major credit card with the driver's name printed on the card, in the main driver's name, for the security deposit hold. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• Passport or valid government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher (required for certain hires).
• Round-trip flight tickets (required for visitors travelling internationally).

In San Jose, as in all US locations, visitors can generally drive on a valid foreign licence. However, if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, an IDP is mandatory. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as US issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-US licence holders.

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

This benefit is especially useful in San Jose and the broader Bay Area, where FasTrak bridge tolls and express lane charges can add up quickly. For example, if your booking total is US$600, the maximum cashback is US$30. If you paid US$18 in tolls, you receive US$18 back. If you paid US$50, the refund is capped at US$30.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle in San Jose:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return.
• 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 during the hire period.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process 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 rate; you still pay tolls normally and claim reimbursement afterwards.

Yes, a major credit card in the main driver's name is required to hire a car in San Jose. The card must be physical (not virtual or digital wallet only) and must have the driver's name printed on it.

At the San Jose collection point, the hire company places a temporary authorisation hold on your card. For standard vehicles in the United States, this hold is typically US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by brand, vehicle class, and location. The hold reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends, which can take up to 15 business days.

• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the security deposit.
• Even if you prepaid your booking in full, you must still present a physical credit card at the San Jose counter for the hold.
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.
• Notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations.

If another person wants to pay, they must be added as the main driver on the agreement. Third-party cards are not accepted.

Most bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be useful if an unexpected situation arises during your San Jose hire, such as a medical emergency, a highway breakdown requiring legal support, or a flight cancellation before or after your trip.

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

Important limitations to keep in mind for your San Jose hire:

• This benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada.
• Pre-existing medical conditions are excluded.
• This cover does not replace CDW/LDW for vehicle damage or LIS/ALI/SLI for third-party liability.

Always check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your specific reservation.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your San Jose hire, either at no cost or for a daily fee depending on the rate you booked.

Some rates explicitly include one additional driver free of charge. If your confirmation does not show this, the following fees apply at the San Jose counter:

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

The additional driver must be present at the San Jose collection point with a valid driving licence and any required International Driving Permit. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives but is not listed on the agreement is not covered by the hire protections.

Note that for Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at the time of collection in San Jose. If the additional driver is under 25, a young-driver surcharge may apply or the request may be declined depending on the location.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 are subject to a young-driver surcharge when hiring a car in San Jose. The standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge in California is 25.

Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire in San Jose but will pay a daily underage fee on top of the base rate. The fee amount varies by brand and is charged at the counter. Additionally, most vehicle classes are restricted for under-25s. Economy, compact, medium sedan, standard sedan, compact SUV, and medium SUV categories are typically available, while premium, luxury, full-size SUV, minivan, and convertible classes generally require the main driver to be at least 25.

One exception applies in San Jose for eligible bookings fulfilled by Avis or Budget: drivers aged 21 to 24 who are citizens or residents of Latin America or the Caribbean may have the underage fee waived, provided the waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation and the vehicle belongs to an eligible category.

• Drivers under 21 cannot hire in California outside of New York and Michigan exceptions.
• All standard document and credit card requirements still apply regardless of age.

Yes, one-way hires are available from San Jose, allowing you to pick up at SJC or a downtown San Jose location and return the vehicle in a different city. However, a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, hire brand, and vehicle class.

How the fee works for San Jose one-way hires:

• Same-city routes (for example, San Jose Airport to downtown San Jose): Often no drop-off fee.
• San Jose to another Californian city: A drop-off fee typically applies and varies by distance and car class.
• San Jose to another state: A drop-off fee usually applies and can be higher for long-distance or cross-country routes.
• Cross-border one-ways (for example, San Jose to Mexico or Canada): Often restricted or subject to special partner approval.

The drop-off fee is shown during the booking process under the section labelled as payable at destination. It cannot be pre-paid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© unless it was not disclosed during booking. Always review the details page for your selected rate before confirming a one-way hire from San Jose.

If you need to change your drop-off location after booking, contact support, as mid-hire route changes must be approved by the partner and may increase the fee.

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

Steps to follow for your San Jose hire:

• At collection: 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.
• During the hire: Use the correct fuel type. Wrong-fuel incidents are not covered and may generate charges.
• Before return: Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the San Jose return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive. Keep the receipt showing the date, time, and station address.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

For after-hours returns at the San Jose Hire Car Centre, leave the fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence. Some San Jose counter locations may offer an optional prepaid fuel plan at collection, but any unused fuel under that plan is generally non-refundable.

After-hours returns at San Jose Mineta International Airport are handled at the Hire Car Centre located at 1659 Airport Blvd. Follow the Hire Car Return signs from the airport road network to reach the garage.

Steps for an after-hours return in San Jose:

• Drive to the Hire Car Centre and follow the signs to your brand's designated return floor or area. For example, Sixt returns go to the 3rd floor of the garage.
• Park in the marked return bay for your brand.
• Use the key drop box or drop-and-go slot provided by your brand. National, Avis, and Budget are among the brands that offer this option at San Jose.
• Leave the fuel receipt in the key envelope if applicable, and keep a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer as evidence.
• Keep all paperwork, including the hire agreement, until the final receipt is issued.

Note that liability for the vehicle may remain with you until the hire company formally checks it in the next business day. If any damage is noted at check-in, having timestamped photos from your return protects you. For your specific brand's after-hours instructions at San Jose, check the return section of your booking confirmation before your trip ends.