Budget Car Hire
in Chicago

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 Budget and other major hire car counters are located at the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at 10255 W. Zemke Blvd., Chicago, IL 60666. You do not walk directly from your terminal to the counter.

Follow these steps after landing:

• After collecting your baggage, follow signs to the Airport Transit System (ATS) in Terminals 1, 2, 3, or 5.
• Board the ATS, which is a free automated train running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The ride to the MMF takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
• Exit at the MMF / Hire Cars stop and follow signs to the Budget counter inside the facility.
• Present your driving licence, physical major credit card in the main driver’s name, and your booking confirmation to complete paperwork and collect your vehicle.

From the moment you land, Budget around 30 to 60 minutes total, accounting for baggage claim, the ATS ride, and counter processing at the Chicago facility.

Yes, Chicago and the surrounding Illinois area have several active toll roads that Budget hire car drivers will likely encounter, especially when travelling to or from O'Hare Airport.

Key toll roads in the Chicago area include:

• Illinois Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80): runs from the Wisconsin state line to South Holland, with tolls ranging from US$2.35 to US$4.70.
• Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90): connects Chicago to Rockford, with tolls from US$2.75 to US$5.50.
• Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88): runs west from Chicago towards Dixon, with tolls from US$5.10 to US$10.20.
• Chicago Skyway (I-90/I-94): connects Chicago to the Indiana border, with tolls ranging from US$4.80 to US$47.60 depending on time of day and billing method.

Illinois toll roads use a cashless, pay-by-plate system. Cameras capture your Budget hire vehicle's licence plate and bill the registered account automatically. Toll rates vary by time of day, with daytime rates (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) differing from overnight rates. There are no congestion charges or emissions zones in Chicago.

It depends on how many toll roads you plan to use during your Chicago hire. Budget and other major hire companies offer an optional daily toll programme that typically costs between US$11 and US$25 per hire day, covering all tolls incurred that day.

If you decline the Budget toll programme, Illinois automatically bills your hire vehicle's licence plate through the pay-by-plate system. 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 entirely.

• Choose the Budget daily toll programme if you plan to drive multiple toll roads each day in the Chicago area, as the flat fee may be more economical.
• Choose pay-by-plate if you expect minimal toll usage, such as a single trip from O'Hare to downtown Chicago, since you only pay for the tolls you actually use.
• Never ignore toll gantries. Unpaid tolls are linked to the vehicle licence plate and billed to Budget, who will then recharge you plus an administrative fee.

Confirm the exact daily rate for the Budget toll programme at the Chicago counter before signing, as pricing can vary by location.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Budget hires in Chicago, include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses you up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire.

Given that Chicago-area toll roads such as the Tri-State Tollway, Jane Addams Tollway, and Chicago Skyway can add up quickly, this benefit can provide meaningful savings.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after your Chicago hire:

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

The refund is processed to your original payment method and typically takes 7 to 10 working days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are prepaid; you still pay them normally during your Chicago trip and claim reimbursement afterwards.

To collect your Budget hire car in Chicago, you must bring the following physical documents to the counter at the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at O'Hare or your chosen Chicago location:

• A valid, original driving licence (not a digital copy). If your 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.
• A physical major credit card in the main driver’s name, with the driver’s name printed on the card, for the security deposit authorisation hold. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted.
• Your passport or government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting Chicago from abroad.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital versions displayed on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the Budget counter in Chicago. If your licence is in English or issued by an EU/EEA country, an IDP is recommended but not mandatory, unless the non-Latin alphabet rule applies.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to pick up your Budget hire car in Chicago. The card must have the driver’s name printed on it and must have sufficient available credit to cover the security deposit authorisation hold.

For a standard vehicle in the United States, including Chicago, the typical security hold is approximately US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount is set by Budget at the counter and may vary by vehicle class or location.

• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit hold.
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted for the deposit.
• The card must belong to the main driver. A third party's card is not permitted.
• Even if you prepaid your Chicago booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the Budget counter for the hold.

It is advisable to notify your bank before travelling to Chicago and to bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined at the counter.

Yes, Budget charges a young driver surcharge in Chicago for renters between the ages of 21 and 24. In most U.S. states, including Illinois, the minimum hire age is 21, but drivers under 25 pay an additional daily fee.

For Budget in Chicago, the young driver surcharge is US$13 per hire day, plus applicable taxes, with a maximum charge of US$65 plus taxes for the hire period.

• Drivers under 21 cannot hire from Budget in Chicago.
• Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but are subject to the daily surcharge and vehicle class restrictions. Economy, compact, and intermediate categories are typically available; premium, luxury, full-size SUV, and specialty vehicles are generally restricted to drivers aged 25 and older.
• The surcharge disappears once the main driver turns 25.

One exception applies: if you are a traveller from Latin America or the Caribbean aged 21 to 24, certain Hola Car Rentals rates with Budget in Chicago may waive the underage fee for the main driver. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver is explicitly listed before arriving at the Chicago counter.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in Chicago, but the extra driver must be present at the counter at pickup with their own valid driving licence.

Whether the additional driver fee applies depends on your rate:

• If your Hola Car Rentals confirmation explicitly states "Additional driver free of charge" or "Additional driver included," the first extra driver is covered at no cost.
• If the fee is not included, Budget in Chicago charges US$13 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum of US$65 plus taxes for the hire period.
• For Budget, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at the time of pickup in Chicago.

All additional drivers must sign the hire agreement at the Chicago counter. Anyone who drives the vehicle without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the hire protections, including CDW/LDW. If you need to add a driver after pickup, you must visit a Budget branch to update the contract. Confirming by phone alone is not sufficient.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Budget hires in Chicago, include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection. 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.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical 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 assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 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: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada. If you are a U.S. or Canadian resident hiring a Budget vehicle in Chicago, this coverage is not available to you. It also does not cover damage to the Budget hire vehicle itself, which is handled separately by CDW/LDW, or third-party liability, which requires LIS/ALI/SLI coverage.

Budget hires collected at Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) are subject to several location-specific fees and taxes on top of the base hire rate. These charges are common across all hire brands at ORD and can add significantly to the total cost.

Typical fees and taxes at the Chicago O'Hare location include:

• Airport concession recovery fee: approximately 8 to 10% of the base rate.
• Customer facility charge (CFC): approximately US$4.50 to US$10 per day, covering the cost of the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) where Budget and other brands operate.
• City of Chicago vehicle tax: approximately 6%.
• Cook County tax: approximately 1%.
• Additional state and tourism surcharges may also apply.

Combined, these charges can add 25 to 35% to the base rate of a Budget hire at Chicago O'Hare. Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the counter. Review the "To pay at destination" section carefully before arriving at the Chicago Budget counter to avoid surprises.

Yes, after-hours vehicle returns are generally available at the Budget location in Chicago O'Hare Airport. The Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at 10255 W. Zemke Blvd., Chicago, IL 60666, where Budget operates, is accessible around the clock, and the Airport Transit System (ATS) train connecting the terminals to the MMF runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For after-hours returns at the Chicago Budget location:

• Return the vehicle to the MMF as directed on your hire agreement.
• Use the key drop box if the Budget counter is unstaffed at the time of your return.
• Leave a copy of your fuel receipt in the return envelope and keep a photo of the fuel gauge showing a full tank, in case any fuel dispute arises later.
• Take photos of the vehicle's condition before leaving the Chicago facility.

Note that when you drop off outside staffed hours, the hire agreement technically remains open until a Budget agent inspects the vehicle. Any damage or fuel discrepancy noted at inspection may still be charged to your card. Confirm the specific after-hours drop procedure with Budget when you pick up in Chicago.

It depends on the language and alphabet of your driving licence. For a Budget hire in Chicago, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. In that case, you must carry both your original licence and the IDP at all times while driving in Chicago.

If your licence is written in the Latin alphabet but is not in English, an IDP is strongly recommended but not strictly mandatory for hiring from Budget in Chicago. However, having one reduces the risk of issues at the counter or during a traffic stop in Illinois.

• An IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without your original licence.
• You must obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling to Chicago. U.S. organisations such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-U.S. licence holders.
• If your licence is in English or issued by an EU/EEA country, no IDP is required for your Budget hire in Chicago.

Always bring physical originals of all documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the Budget counter in Chicago.

Chicago has a few road characteristics that can catch first-time drivers off guard, especially when navigating a Budget hire car in an unfamiliar city.

• One-way streets: Chicago has an extensive network of one-way streets, particularly in the Loop, the Near North Side, and dense residential neighbourhoods. Paired streets such as Ohio and Ontario, or Superior and Huron, run in opposite directions and can force long detours if you miss a turn.
• Diagonal streets: Several major roads, including Lincoln Avenue, Clark Street, and Ogden Avenue, follow old Native American trading routes and cut diagonally across the otherwise logical grid. These create complex multi-way intersections that can confuse GPS systems and drivers expecting a simple grid layout.
• Recent one-way changes: Parts of the West Loop saw new one-way conversions in 2025, and signage updates have lagged behind in some areas. Double-check your GPS routing in that part of Chicago.
• Address orientation: Chicago addresses are numbered from the intersection of State and Madison Streets. The lake is always to the east, which helps with orientation. Numbers increase by 800 per mile, so 1600 N is two miles north of Madison Street.

Using an up-to-date GPS app and allowing extra time for navigation is advisable when driving your Budget hire through central Chicago neighbourhoods.