Budget Car Hire
in Kentucky

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

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

Your Budget hire counter at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is located at 3057 Terminal Dr, Hebron, Kentucky. The counter is inside the airport car hire facility.

To reach it, follow the car hire signage from the terminal. A shuttle service is available to take you from the terminal to the hire facility. Once at the counter, you finalise your hire agreement with the Budget agent and are then directed to your vehicle pickup spot.

Counter hours at CVG are daily from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight). If you are arriving close to midnight, plan accordingly, as the counter closes at that time.

Budget operates 10 locations across Kentucky, giving you both airport and off-airport options depending on your needs.

Airport locations include:

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Hebron: 3057 Terminal Dr, open daily 6:00 AM to midnight
• Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF): 600 Terminal Drive, with shuttle service
• Lexington Blue Grass Airport (LEX): 4000 Terminal Dr, Suite 104, open daily 8:00 AM to midnight

Off-airport Budget locations in Kentucky include:

• Louisville Plantside Dr: 2520 Plantside Dr, Mon-Fri 8 AM to 6 PM, Sat 9 AM to 1 PM, Sun 9 AM to 12 PM
• Louisville Crittenden Dr: 4330 Crittenden Dr, with after-hours key drop available
• Louisville Stony Brook Shopping Centre: 9040 Taylorsville Rd
• Lexington Downtown: 1059 S Broadway
• Bowling Green: 1755 Scottsville Rd, Mon-Fri 7 AM to 6 PM, Sat 7 AM to 1 PM, Sun 7 AM to 10 AM
• Covington: Latonia Centre Shopping Mall

Off-airport Budget locations in Kentucky typically cost less than airport sites because they avoid airport concession fees. Always confirm hours directly with your chosen location before arrival.

Kentucky toll roads are entirely cashless. There are no toll booths where you stop and pay. Instead, tolls are collected electronically through licence plate photography at toll plazas, primarily through the RiverLink system operating in Louisville and Southern Indiana. RiverLink also accepts E-ZPass and Pay-By-Plate payment methods.

When you pick up your Budget hire car in Kentucky, you have two main options for handling tolls:

• Enroll in the hire company's pay-per-use toll programme: a daily convenience charge of approximately US$4.95 per day applies (up to a maximum of US$30 to US$34.65 per hire period), plus the actual toll amounts incurred. The daily fee only applies on days you actually use a toll road.
• Use your own personally owned transponder (verify coverage with your issuer before travel) or the NextPass app, which lets you add the hire vehicle's licence plate directly.

If you drive through a Kentucky toll road without enrolling in any programme, the hire company receives the invoice from the toll authority and will charge your credit card on file for the toll amount plus any associated fines and fees.

Toll charges are typically billed to your card within 4 to 6 weeks after the toll authority processes the data, so do not be surprised if charges appear after your hire has ended.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Budget hire in Kentucky.

Kentucky uses the RiverLink cashless toll system, primarily on the Louisville bridges connecting to Southern Indiana. Since tolls are charged electronically and billed after the hire, keeping your toll receipts or statements is essential for claiming this benefit.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after your Kentucky hire:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• 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 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

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted, so act promptly once your hire ends.

The three main toll bridges in Kentucky connecting Louisville to Southern Indiana are the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, the Abraham Lincoln Bridge, and the Lewis and Clark Bridge. All are operated under the RiverLink cashless system, and Budget hire cars passing through are billed electronically.

Current toll rates vary by vehicle class and payment method:

• Small vehicle (cars, motorcycles): US$2.68 with a transponder, US$4.02 with a prepaid account, US$5.36 with no account (invoice rate)
• Medium vehicle (2 to 4 axles, over 7.5 ft): US$5.36 with a transponder, US$8.04 prepaid, US$10.72 invoice rate
• Heavy vehicle (5 or more axles): US$13.40 with a transponder, US$14.68 prepaid, US$16.01 invoice rate

Most Budget hire cars in Kentucky fall into the small vehicle category. If you use the hire company's toll programme, you will be charged the applicable toll authority rate plus a daily convenience fee of approximately US$4.95. Opting out and using your own transponder or the NextPass app can help you avoid the daily convenience charge while still paying the lower transponder toll rate.

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

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name. If your licence is not in English or uses a non-Latin alphabet (such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic), you must also carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a translation alongside your original licence.
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the security deposit hold. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID (particularly important for visitors arriving from outside the United Kingdom).
• Your booking confirmation for the Kentucky hire.
• Round-trip flight or travel itinerary documents (required for international visitors).

Budget in Kentucky may also require a third form of ID if you are paying the deposit with a debit card, such as a current vehicle insurance card or a utility bill dated within the last 60 days. However, a major credit card is strongly recommended to avoid these additional requirements.

All documents must be physical originals. Ensure names match across your licence, passport, and credit card to avoid issues at the counter.

Yes, Budget in Kentucky charges a young driver surcharge for renters between the ages of 21 and 24. The standard Budget underage fee in the United Kingdom is GBP 10 per hire day, with a maximum charge of GBP 50 plus applicable taxes.

Drivers under 21 are generally not permitted to hire from Budget in Kentucky, as the state does not have the same exceptions as New York or Michigan, where hire companies are required by law to hire to drivers aged 18 and older.

Additionally, drivers under 25 are restricted from hiring certain vehicle classes at Budget locations in Kentucky. Categories such as full-size sedans, minivans, passenger vans, premium SUVs, and luxury vehicles are typically reserved for renters aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, medium sedan, standard sedan, compact SUV, and medium SUV categories are generally available to younger renters.

One exception to note: if you are a resident or citizen of Latin America or the Caribbean and your Hola Car Rentals confirmation explicitly states that the underage fee is waived, Budget may waive this surcharge for the main driver aged 21 to 24 on eligible vehicle categories. Check your booking confirmation carefully to see if this applies to your Kentucky hire.

When you pick up your Budget hire car in Kentucky, the counter agent will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge but a hold that reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the vehicle.

For standard vehicles in the United Kingdom, typical security deposit holds range from approximately US$300 to US$400. The exact amount for your Kentucky Budget hire may vary depending on the vehicle class, location (airport versus off-airport), and the specific Budget branch policy. Premium or larger vehicles such as passenger vans may carry higher holds.

Key requirements for the deposit in Kentucky:

• The credit card must be a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) with the main driver’s name printed on the physical card
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the security hold
• The card must have sufficient available credit to cover both the hold and any expected charges

After you return the vehicle, Budget releases the hold. Your bank or card issuer controls how quickly the funds become available again, which can take up to 15 business days. Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined at the Kentucky counter.

When hiring from Budget in Kentucky, two main types of protection are worth understanding before you arrive at the counter.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers damage to the Budget hire vehicle itself from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation shows zero deductible. CDW and LDW do not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the Budget hire in Kentucky. Not all UK states require hire companies to include state-minimum liability cover, so confirming whether your Kentucky booking includes this protection is important. Adding Liability Insurance Supplementary cover of up to US$300,000 is strongly recommended.

Common exclusions to be aware of:

• Tires, wheels, undercarriage, and roof damage are often not covered by standard CDW
• Prohibited use such as off-road driving, DUI, or driving in restricted areas voids cover
• Only drivers named on the Budget hire agreement are covered

Check your booking confirmation to see which protections are already included in your Kentucky rate before deciding whether to add cover at the counter.

Yes, after-hours returns are available at some Budget locations in Kentucky, but availability and procedures vary by branch.

The Louisville Crittenden Dr location (4330 Crittenden Dr) offers an after-hours key drop box. If you return your Budget hire car outside of business hours at this location, you place the keys in the drop box. However, you remain responsible for the vehicle until the next business day when a Budget agent processes the return.

Airport Budget locations in Kentucky have extended hours that reduce the need for after-hours returns:

• CVG (Hebron): open daily 6:00 AM to midnight
• LEX (Lexington Blue Grass Airport): open daily 8:00 AM to midnight
• SDF (Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport): counter hours available at the terminal

Off-airport locations such as Louisville Plantside Dr and Bowling Green have shorter hours and may not offer key drop. Always confirm after-hours return options with your specific Kentucky Budget branch before your hire begins.

For any return, take photos of the vehicle's condition and fuel gauge before leaving the car, and keep your fuel receipt. This protects you against any post-hire disputes on your Kentucky Budget hire.

Budget hires in Kentucky 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 return in Kentucky:

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the Budget agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on your hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns at locations like Louisville Crittenden Dr, leave the receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

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

If the vehicle was not full at pickup, ask the Budget agent to record the exact starting level on the agreement. You only need to return it at that same level, not necessarily full.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to your Budget hire in Kentucky as well. However, this benefit is available only to non-North American customers. Residents and citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada do not qualify for this cover.

If you are eligible, the travel assistance included with your Kentucky Budget booking typically covers:

• Medical cover for up to 5 passengers in the event of an accident or non-pre-existing illness
• Legal assistance in case of a road accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This cover does not include damage to the Budget hire vehicle itself (that requires CDW/LDW) or liability to third parties (that requires LIS/ALI/SLI).

If you need assistance during your Kentucky hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

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

Always provide your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number when contacting assistance. Check your booking confirmation for the exact cover terms that apply to your Kentucky Budget reservation.