Budget Car Hire
in Illinois

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Illinois 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 Illinois 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 (ORD) in Illinois, collecting your Budget hire car involves a short transit from the terminal. After collecting your bags, take the Airport Transit System (ATS) train to the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at 10255 W Zemke Blvd. The Budget counter is on floor 1 and is open 24 hours daily. Vehicles are located on floor 2.

If you are enrolled in Budget Fastbreak, skip the main counter and go directly to the Fastbreak line or kiosk, where you can collect your keys and receive directions to your vehicle.

The Budget counter at O'Hare operates around the clock, so late-night or early-morning arrivals in Illinois are not a problem. After your hire, return the vehicle to the same Multi-Modal Facility, leave the keys in the car, and an agent will check you in. You can then take the ATS back to your terminal.

At Chicago Midway (MDW) in Illinois, the Budget hire counter is not inside the terminal. After arriving at baggage claim, head to the area near carousel 3 and board the 24-hour shuttle bus. The ride to the hire facility takes approximately 4 minutes.

Once at the facility, Budget counter hours at Midway are 6:00 AM to 1:30 AM daily. If you are a Fastbreak member, proceed to the Level 3 Fastbreak counter. Standard counter check-in is on floor 1.

To return your Budget vehicle at Midway, enter the return lot off 55th Street and proceed to Level 4. A key drop is available for after-hours returns. Keep in mind that the shuttle runs 24 hours, so you can reach the terminal at any time after dropping off the car.

Illinois has an extensive toll road network that Budget hire car drivers will likely encounter, especially around the Chicago area. The main toll roads are:

• Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90/I-39, Chicago to Rockford): US$2.75 to US$5.50
• Illinois Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80): US$2.35 to US$4.70
• Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88, Chicago to Dixon): US$5.10 to US$10.20
• Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355): US$3.80 to US$7.60
• Chicago Skyway (I-90/I-94 to Indiana border): US$4.80 to US$47.60

All Illinois toll roads use electronic billing. The primary systems are I-Pass and E-ZPass for transponder users, and a pay-by-plate system that automatically photographs your licence plate and bills the vehicle's registration. Rates vary by time of day: daytime (6:00 AM to 10:00 PM) and overnight (10:00 PM to 6:00 AM).

There are no congestion charges or city-centre driving fees in Illinois beyond these toll roads.

When renting a Budget car in Illinois, you have two main options for handling tolls, and the right choice depends on how many toll roads you plan to use.

Budget offers an optional daily toll programme (similar to other rental companies in Illinois, which charge approximately US$11.99 per rental day). This gives you unlimited toll use at a fixed daily rate, which is convenient if you will be driving frequently on Illinois toll roads such as the Tri-State Tollway or the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway.

If you decline the Budget toll programme, your Illinois hire vehicle will be billed automatically through the pay-by-plate system. Cameras photograph the licence plate at each toll gantry and bill the vehicle at the standard plate rate, which is slightly higher than the discounted I-Pass/E-ZPass rate. Budget will then charge those tolls to your credit card, often with an administrative processing fee added.

If you only plan to use one or two toll roads during your Illinois trip, pay-by-plate may cost less overall. If you will be driving extensively on Illinois toll roads, the daily programme may offer better value. Review the fee structure carefully at the Budget counter before deciding.

Yes, you can claim a toll cashback refund for tolls paid on Illinois toll roads during your Budget hire. All Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during the hire period.

Illinois has several major toll roads, including the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, the Tri-State Tollway, the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, the Veterans Memorial Tollway, and the Chicago Skyway, so this benefit can add up meaningfully depending on your route.

To claim your cashback after returning your Budget vehicle in Illinois:

• 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 confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll receipt or statement showing charges paid

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.

To pick up a Budget hire car at any Illinois location, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, unexpired driver’s licence with a photograph (physical original, not digital)
• A major credit card in the main driver’s name, with the driver’s name printed on the card, for the security deposit hold
• A passport if you are visiting Illinois from outside the United Kingdom or Canada
• Proof of a return trip to your home country (flight or cruise ticket) if you are a foreign visitor

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, you must also carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your original licence. The IDP is a translation only and is not valid without the original licence.

Budget in Illinois does not accept digital driver’s licences. All documents must be physical originals. If you are paying with a debit card at a non-airport Budget location in Illinois, a third form of ID such as a recent utility bill or bank statement may also be required.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required for every visitor renting a Budget car in Illinois, but it is mandatory in certain situations.

You must carry an IDP alongside your original licence if your home country driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. Budget in Illinois will not accept a licence in those scripts without an accompanying IDP translation.

If your licence is in English or uses the Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required for renting in Illinois. However, having one can prevent complications at the Budget counter if the agent cannot read your licence.

Important points to keep in mind:

• The IDP is a translation booklet only. It is invalid without your original licence and does not replace it
• You must obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling. Organisations in the United Kingdom such as AA do not issue IDPs to non-UK licence holders
• All documents presented at the Budget counter in Illinois must be physical originals. Digital versions are not accepted

When collecting a Budget hire car in Illinois, the partner desk will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at the time of pickup. This hold is not a charge but reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the vehicle.

For standard vehicle classes in the United Kingdom, including Illinois, typical security deposit holds range from approximately US$300 to US$400. However, the exact amount can vary depending on the Budget location, the vehicle class you rent, and the length of your hire. Premium or speciality vehicles may carry higher holds.

Key requirements for the deposit at Budget locations in Illinois:

• The card must be a major credit card (not a debit card or prepaid card)
• The card must be in the main driver’s name, with the driver’s name printed on the card
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges

After you return the Budget vehicle in Illinois, the hold is released. Your bank or card issuer controls when the credit becomes available again, which can take up to 15 business days. Bringing a backup credit card is always a good precaution.

Yes, a young driver surcharge applies to Budget hires in Illinois if the main driver is between 21 and 24 years old. Budget, like most rental companies in Illinois, sets 25 as the standard minimum age for surcharge-free hires.

Drivers aged 21 to 24 can still hire from Budget in Illinois but will pay a daily young-renter fee. For Budget in the United Kingdom, this surcharge is approximately US$13 per hire day, with a maximum cap of US$65 plus applicable taxes. This fee is paid at the counter and is not included in your prepaid rate.

Additionally, certain vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older. Younger drivers in Illinois are generally limited to economy, compact, medium saloon, standard saloon, compact SUV, and medium SUV categories.

One exception worth noting: if you are a traveller from Latin America or the Caribbean aged 21 to 24, some Hola Car Rentals rates with Budget in the United Kingdom may waive the underage fee. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver is explicitly listed before arriving at the Budget counter in Illinois.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in Illinois, either as part of your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

Some Hola Car Rentals rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation for the line that reads additional driver free of charge. If it is not listed, Budget in Illinois charges approximately US$13 per hire day for an additional driver, with a maximum cap of US$65 plus taxes.

Requirements for adding a driver at the Budget counter in Illinois:

• The additional driver must be present at pickup and show a valid driver’s licence
• If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, they must also carry an IDP
• For Budget in Illinois, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may be subject to an underage fee or may not be accepted as additional drivers depending on location rules
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the Budget hire agreement in Illinois are covered by the vehicle's protections. Never allow an unlisted person to drive the car.

Budget hire cars in Illinois follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Steps to follow for a smooth fuel experience in Illinois:

• At pickup, 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 the odometer and fuel gauge
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the Budget return location in Illinois before dropping off the car
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return the Budget vehicle in Illinois with less than a full tank, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

Note that Budget locations in Illinois, including Chicago O'Hare and Midway, do not have on-site fuel stations at the hire return facility. Plan to refuel at a nearby petrol station before heading to the return lot.

When renting a Budget car in Illinois, two main types of cover are worth understanding before you arrive at the counter.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability for damage to the Budget hire vehicle itself, including collision, theft, and vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly shows zero deductible. CDW and LDW do 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 hire in Illinois. Some U.S. states require hire companies to include state-minimum liability cover, but not all do. Illinois renters are strongly encouraged to add supplementary liability cover for adequate protection.

Common exclusions to be aware of in Illinois:

• Tires, wheels, undercarriage, and roof damage are often excluded from CDW
• Prohibited use such as off-road driving or driving under the influence voids cover
• Only drivers listed on the Budget hire agreement are covered

Review your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation to confirm which covers are included in your Illinois rate before reaching the Budget counter.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Budget hires in Illinois, include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or other travel disruption while driving through Illinois.

Coverage typically includes:

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

If you need assistance while driving your Budget hire in Illinois, for example after an accident on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway or a medical situation on a regional highway, contact the assistance line 24 hours a day:

• Phone: +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free)
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Important: this travel assistance benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Travellers who are residents of the United Kingdom or Canada do not qualify for this cover. Check your Illinois booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your reservation.