Budget Car Hire
in Charlotte

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

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

Budget operates several locations in Charlotte, giving you flexibility depending on where you are staying or arriving.

• Hilton Charlotte Downtown, 222 E 3rd St (in the hotel lobby), open Monday through Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday 08:00 to 12:00
• Charlotte Lanier Ave, 4430 E Independence Blvd, open Monday through Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 08:00 to 12:00, Sunday 10:00 to 13:00
• Charlotte Scaleybark Rd, 4200 S Blvd Suite A, open Monday through Friday 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday 08:00 to 11:00, Sunday 11:00 to 14:00

The downtown Hilton location offers a free pickup service, so you can arrange transportation directly to the hotel lobby counter. Hours are more limited on weekends across all Budget Charlotte locations, so plan your pickup time accordingly and confirm hours before you arrive.

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), reaching the Budget hire counter does not require a shuttle. From baggage claim, take the lift up to level 5, walk across the skybridge, then take the lift down to level 2 and proceed to the hire counter in the main lobby.

This walkable route connects the terminal directly to the hire facilities, so you can go straight from collecting your luggage to the Budget counter without waiting for ground transport. Allow extra time if you have heavy luggage, as the route involves two lift transfers.

When returning your Budget hire vehicle at Charlotte Douglas, drive past the Hourly Deck entrance on the left and take the next entrance immediately to the left, following the signage for Hire Car Returns.

Bring your booking confirmation, a valid driving licence, and a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name for the authorisation hold.

Hiring a Budget vehicle in Charlotte means you will pay several local taxes and fees on top of your base rate, particularly if you pick up at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

• North Carolina highway use tax: 10%
• Mecklenburg County hire vehicle tax: 7%
• Airport concession recovery fee: approximately US$4.50 to US$5.25 per day, capped at US$56.25 for most major brands

Combined, these charges can add roughly 17 to 20 per cent to your hire cost compared to non-urban North Carolina locations. Choosing an off-airport Budget location in Charlotte, such as the Lanier Ave or Scaleybark Rd branches, can help you avoid the airport concession fee and potentially save US$10 to US$20 per day on economy vehicles.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate versus which are payable at the counter. If your confirmation states taxes and fees are included, you should not be billed separately for those items at collection.

Yes, there are toll roads in the Charlotte region and across North Carolina, and all of them are fully cashless. There are no toll booths where you can pay with cash.

The main toll roads you may encounter include the Monroe Expressway (US Highway 74), which runs near Charlotte, and the Triangle Expressway connecting Raleigh and Durham. Typical costs for a standard 2-axle vehicle are up to US$2.66 electronically on the Monroe Expressway, or up to US$4.10 if billed by post.

Payment options for your Budget hire in Charlotte include:

• NC Quick Pass transponder account (35% discount off the bill-by-post rate)
• E-ZPass, SunPass, or Peach Pass (all accepted on North Carolina toll roads)
• Bill-by-post via licence plate camera capture (higher rate applies)

Your Budget hire vehicle will have an electronic toll device. At collection you can choose an unlimited toll package (typically US$11 to US$25 per day) or pay per use, in which case the hire company will charge actual tolls plus administrative fees to your card after the hire ends. Toll charges can appear on your statement days or weeks after you return the vehicle.

Hola Car Rentals includes Tolls Cashback on all bookings: you can claim up to 5% of your total booking value back for tolls paid during your Charlotte hire. Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle with your hire agreement and toll receipts.

To collect your Budget hire in Charlotte, you must bring the following physical documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

• Valid driving licence (original, unexpired, in the main driver’s name)
• International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. An IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence
• Passport or valid government photo ID
• Physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom)

The security deposit hold at Budget Charlotte locations is typically around US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit. If your primary card is declined, a backup credit card in your own name is useful to have.

All additional drivers must also be present at collection with their own valid licence and ID, and must sign the hire agreement.

Yes, Budget in Charlotte applies a young-renter surcharge for drivers aged 21 to 24. The fee is US$13 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum charge of US$65 plus taxes for the main driver.

Drivers under 21 cannot hire from Budget in Charlotte. Drivers aged 21 to 24 are also restricted to certain vehicle categories. Classes such as full-size sedans, SUVs, minivans, convertibles, luxury, and premium vehicles are generally reserved for renters aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, medium sedan, standard sedan, compact SUV, and medium SUV categories are typically available to younger renters.

One exception applies to travellers from Latin America and the Caribbean: certain Hola Car Rentals rates fulfilled by Budget waive the young-renter fee for the main driver aged 21 to 24, provided the waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation and the vehicle belongs to an eligible category. This exception does not apply to travellers from Europe, Asia, Africa, or other regions.

Additional drivers aged 21 to 24 at Budget Charlotte locations are generally required to be at least 25 years old, so the waiver does not extend to them.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in Charlotte, but the additional driver must be present at the counter during collection with a valid driving licence and ID. They must also sign the hire agreement before driving the vehicle.

If your booking confirmation explicitly states that an additional driver is included at no charge, the first extra driver is free. If it is not included, Budget charges US$13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes for the additional driver.

For Budget Charlotte locations, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. If an additional driver is under 25, they may be denied or subject to a separate young-renter surcharge depending on location rules.

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle's protections, including CDW/LDW and liability coverage. Anyone who drives the Budget vehicle in Charlotte without being named on the contract may void those protections entirely.

Charlotte has some road design features that can catch first-time visitors off guard, especially when navigating a Budget hire car in an unfamiliar city.

Unlike cities with a straightforward grid, Charlotte's streets frequently change names every few blocks and follow a winding, non-grid pattern. Key things to be aware of include:

• Continuous flow intersections: Charlotte has the state's first continuous flow intersection at NC 16 and Mount Holly-Huntersville Road. Left turns are made through separated lanes with dual traffic signals located about 500 feet apart, which is very different from a standard intersection
• Reduced conflict intersections (also called superstreets): Found on routes like NC 49 near UNC Charlotte, these designs prohibit direct left turns and straight-through movements from side streets. Instead, you turn right and make a U-turn further along the road
• Independence Boulevard: Features narrow lanes of 7 to 8 feet, a barrier-separated busway, and complex motorway interchanges at its western end. First-time drivers often find the lane changes and merges challenging
• I-485 outer loop: Connections to NC 49 and NC 73 use similar reduced conflict designs, which can be confusing without prior knowledge

Using GPS navigation in your Budget hire throughout Charlotte is strongly recommended, as road name changes and unconventional intersections make it easy to miss turns.

Most bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if something goes wrong during your Charlotte trip, such as a breakdown on I-485, an accident on Independence Boulevard, or a medical emergency away from home.

Core benefits typically include:

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

To use this cover, call the 24/7 assistance line at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your booking confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Travellers who are residents of the United Kingdom or Canada do not qualify for this travel assistance cover, regardless of whether they are hiring a Budget vehicle in Charlotte or elsewhere.

This cover does not replace CDW/LDW for damage to the Budget vehicle, nor does it cover third-party liability to others. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your reservation.

Budget hires in Charlotte 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, check the fuel gauge with the Budget agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing both the odometer and the fuel gauge before leaving the lot.

When returning your Budget hire in Charlotte, refuel within approximately 10 miles 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 car with less than a full tank, Budget may charge:

• A fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price
• A refuelling service fee on top of the fuel cost

For after-hours returns at Charlotte locations, leave the fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence. If the car was not full at collection, the starting level must be written on the agreement and you only need to return it at that same level.

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

The credit card is used to place a temporary security hold, typically around US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles at Budget Charlotte locations. This hold reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears, and it can take up to 15 working days.

The following are not accepted for the security deposit at Budget in Charlotte:

• Debit cards
• Prepaid cards
• Virtual or single-use card numbers
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Another person's card (the card must belong to the main driver)

Even if you prepaid your Budget Charlotte booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the counter for the hold. Bringing a backup credit card in your own name is a good precaution in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, one-way hires are possible with Budget in Charlotte, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location. The fee is route-specific and varies by destination, vehicle class, and season.

Common patterns to expect:

• Returning to another Budget location within Charlotte: often no drop-off fee
• Returning to a different city in North Carolina or another state: a drop-off fee typically applies and varies by distance and vehicle class
• Cross-country or remote destinations: fees can be significant, and some routes may not be permitted

During the booking process, any applicable drop-off fee will be shown on the rate details page under the section labelled as charges payable at the destination. Review your booking confirmation to verify the fee before collection.

If you need to change your return location after booking your Budget Charlotte hire, be aware that this may reprice the entire reservation and recalculate the drop-off fee. Mid-hire route changes must be approved by the partner location directly.

When collecting a Budget hire in Charlotte, you will typically be offered several insurance and protection products at the counter. Understanding what each covers helps you avoid paying for duplicate cover or leaving yourself exposed.

The main options to consider:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Budget vehicle itself from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation shows zero deductible. This does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or persons
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the Budget vehicle in Charlotte. Some UK states require a minimum level of liability, but not all do. Adding supplementary liability cover up to US$300,000 is strongly recommended

Neither CDW/LDW nor LIS/ALI/SLI covers your personal injuries (that requires Personal Accident Insurance) or your belongings (that requires Personal Effects Cover).

Only drivers listed on the Budget hire agreement in Charlotte are covered by these protections. If someone drives who is not listed on the contract, cover may be void. Always add every driver at the counter before leaving the lot.