Avis Car Hire in Ottawa

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

• Full vehicle coverage with no excess (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: get back up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls charged during your hire
• Premium travel medical assistance for up to 5 passengers in case of emergency, covering up to CAD 200,000 (pre-existing conditions excluded)
• 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 at no additional cost, ensuring a unique hire experience with complete protection and peace of mind during your trip in Ottawa.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Avis counter at Ottawa International Airport (YOW) is located inside the terminal at 1003 Airport Parkway Private, Ottawa, ON, K1V 9B4. After landing, follow the airport signs towards Arrivals and Baggage Claim. The Avis desk is situated at the baggage claim area entrance, so you can proceed directly on foot after collecting your luggage. No shuttle or train is required.

Counter hours at the Ottawa airport Avis location are Monday through Friday 07:00 to 01:00, and Saturday 07:30 to 00:00. After-hours vehicle drop-off is available 24 hours a day, so you can return your car at any time even when the counter is closed.

To collect your Avis hire car in Ottawa, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, used for the authorisation hold
• A passport or valid government-issued 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 does not use a Latin alphabet (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original licence. For licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required at the Avis Ottawa counter.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.

Not always, but it depends on your licence. When renting from Avis in Ottawa, visitors can generally drive with a valid foreign licence issued in a country that uses a Latin (Roman) alphabet. However, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin script such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic.

Even if your licence uses a Latin alphabet, carrying an IDP alongside your original licence is strongly recommended, as it serves as an official translation and can prevent delays at the Avis Ottawa counter.

Important points to keep in mind:

• The IDP is a translation document only and is not valid without your original licence
• You must obtain the IDP in your home country before travelling to Canada
• Both documents must be physical originals; digital versions are not accepted

When driving an Avis hire car in Ottawa and the surrounding Ontario region, the main toll road to be aware of is Highway 407 ETR, a privately operated, fully electronic highway spanning 108 km across the Greater Toronto Area. Most major highways in the Ottawa area, including the 400-series routes and Ottawa Road 174, are toll-free.

The 407 ETR is 100% cashless. There are no cash booths. Tolls are charged by photographing the licence plate of your hire vehicle. If you drive on the 407 ETR without enrolling in a toll programme, Avis will be billed and will then charge your credit card for the toll amount plus administrative fees.

Typical costs for a 25 km peak-period trip on the 407 ETR can reach approximately CAD 30.45, including the base toll, a trip charge, and a camera charge for vehicles without a transponder.

All bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Ottawa hire. To claim, email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle, attaching your rental agreement and toll receipt or invoice.

In addition to the airport, Avis operates several downtown Ottawa locations where you can pick up your hire car:

• Constitution Square: 345 Slater St, Ottawa, ON, K1R 7X7, approximately 1.09 miles from the city centre
• Gladstone Ave: 449 Gladstone Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1R 5N7, in the Centretown neighbourhood
• Clyde Ave: 826 Clyde Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 5A1

Operating hours at the Avis Gladstone Ave and Constitution Square Ottawa locations are generally Sunday 08:00 to 13:00, Monday to Wednesday 07:30 to 16:30, Thursday and Friday 07:30 to 18:00, and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00. The Clyde Ave location operates Sunday 10:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday 07:30 to 16:30, and Saturday 08:00 to 12:00.

All Avis Ottawa locations offer 24-hour vehicle drop-off, so you can return your car outside counter hours using the key drop box. Downtown hours are significantly shorter than the airport location, so plan your pick-up time accordingly, especially for evening arrivals.

Yes, you can return your Avis hire car after hours at all Ottawa locations. Every Avis location in Ottawa, including the airport at 1003 Airport Parkway Private and the downtown branches on Clyde Ave, Gladstone Ave, and Constitution Square, offers 24-hour vehicle drop-off.

For after-hours returns, follow these steps:

• Park the vehicle in the designated return area at your chosen Avis Ottawa location
• Place the keys in the key drop box at the location
• Take a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer before leaving the vehicle
• Retain any fuel receipts in case of a dispute

Note that the standard grace period for returns is approximately 30 minutes past your agreed return time. After 30 minutes, additional time charges may apply, and after 90 minutes a full extra day may be billed. Dropping off after hours does not exempt you from late return fees if you exceed your contracted return time.

Yes, one-way hires are available at Avis Ottawa locations. You can pick up your vehicle at one participating Avis location in Ottawa, such as the airport at 1003 Airport Parkway Private or the downtown Constitution Square branch at 345 Slater St, and return it at a different participating Avis location in another city.

Key points to know before booking a one-way hire from Ottawa:

• An advance reservation is required for all one-way hires
• Both the pick-up and drop-off locations must be participating Avis locations
• A drop-off fee may apply depending on the route and vehicle class; this will be shown under the To pay at destination section during booking
• Cross-border one-ways, for example from Ottawa to a US city, may be restricted or carry higher fees

You can also do shorter one-way trips within Ottawa itself, such as picking up at the Gladstone Ave location and returning at the airport, which may not incur a drop-off fee. Always confirm the fee during the booking process before confirming your reservation.

Yes, Avis charges an additional daily surcharge for drivers under 25 years old at Ottawa locations. Avis does rent to customers aged 21 to 24, provided they present a valid credit card and a valid driver’s licence at the counter.

A few important details for younger drivers renting from Avis in Ottawa:

• The exact surcharge amount for Ottawa is set by Avis and confirmed at the counter; it is charged on top of the base hire rate
• A major credit card in the main driver’s name with the name printed on the card is mandatory, not a debit or prepaid card
• If you are adding an additional driver who is also under 25, a young driver surcharge may apply to them as well
• For Avis, additional drivers should generally be at least 25 years old; drivers under 25 added as additional drivers may face restrictions or surcharges

Check your booking confirmation for any age-related conditions specific to your Ottawa reservation, and confirm the surcharge amount directly with the Avis Ottawa counter at collection.

Most bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is designed to support you during your Ottawa hire in situations such as a medical emergency, a breakdown on Ottawa Road 174, or a flight cancellation affecting your travel plans.

Core benefits typically included are:

• Travel and medical insurance coverage 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 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 Canadian or US residents. It is available exclusively to travellers visiting Ottawa from outside North America. It also does not cover damage to the Avis hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/SLI).

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

When picking up your Avis hire car in Ottawa, a temporary authorisation hold will be placed on your credit card at the counter. For hires in Canada, the typical hold is approximately CAD 300 to CAD 500 for standard vehicles, though some Ottawa locations may require a minimum authorisation of approximately CAD 750.

Key things to know about the Avis Ottawa deposit:

• The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge; it reduces your available credit until released after the hire ends
• Your bank controls when the hold is released and it can take up to 15 working days to appear back on your statement
• Only a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name with the name printed on the card is accepted; debit, prepaid, and virtual cards are not accepted
• Premium or speciality vehicle classes may require a higher hold amount
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined

The exact hold amount is determined by the Avis Ottawa counter at collection and may vary by vehicle class, season, and location. Confirm the amount with the agent before the card is processed.

Avis hires in Ottawa follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. This means you receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Follow these steps to avoid fuel charges on your Ottawa hire:

• At collection, check the fuel gauge with the Avis agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of your return location before dropping off the car
• Keep your final fuel receipt as proof in case of a dispute
• For after-hours returns at any Avis Ottawa location, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, Avis may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. Using the correct fuel type is also important, as wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy.

Ottawa's centre has a dense network of one-way streets that can catch first-time visitors out. Unlike many North American cities of similar size, much of the central grid in Ottawa is designed for unidirectional traffic flow, meaning streets that appear to be two-way on a map may only allow travel in one direction.

A few driving rules specific to Ottawa that affect Avis renters:

• Protected intersections, such as those at Laurier Avenue and Nicholas Street, feature raised cycle tracks, separated crosswalks, and no right-on-red turns; dedicated right-turn signals control vehicle movement, so watch for these signals carefully
• Ottawa Road 174, the city’s only municipally maintained controlled-access motorway running east-west from Highway 417 towards the Prescott and Russell border, can confuse drivers unfamiliar with its former provincial highway status; it is not a standard city street despite its appearance in some navigation apps
• Regional roads in the Ottawa area use a numbered system that is rarely signed in urban zones, so rely on street names rather than road numbers when navigating

Using a GPS or navigation app set to avoid one-way violations is strongly recommended when driving your Avis hire around Ottawa’s centre.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Avis hire in Ottawa, but the process must be completed in person at the counter at collection. The additional driver cannot be added remotely by phone or chat alone.

Steps to add an additional driver at an Avis Ottawa location:

• The additional driver must be physically present at the counter at the time of collection
• They must present a valid driver’s licence and any required ID documents, including an IDP if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement
• Verify that the additional driver’s name appears on your printed contract before leaving the counter

If your booking confirmation states Additional driver free of charge, the first additional driver is included at no extra cost. If it is not included, Avis charges approximately CAD 13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at CAD 65 plus taxes for the hire period.

Note that for Avis in Ottawa, additional drivers should generally be at least 25 years old. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may be permitted but could face a young driver surcharge. Only drivers listed on the Avis hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s protections such as CDW/LDW.