Budget Car Hire
in United States

EASTER  45% OFF   

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

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

To pick up a Budget hire car in the United States, you must bring the following physical documents to 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 (debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the excess)
• A valid passport or 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 (Roman) alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

All documents must be physical. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the Budget counter in the United States.

Toll roads across the United States are almost entirely cashless, and your Budget hire vehicle comes pre-equipped with an electronic toll device or is enrolled in a plate-based billing system. There are very few cash toll booths remaining in the United States.

At the Budget counter, you will typically be offered two options:

• An unlimited toll package, which costs approximately US$11 to US$25 per hire day depending on the location, covering all tolls during the hire period
• A pay-per-use arrangement, where Budget charges you the actual toll amount plus an administrative or processing fee for each day you use a toll road

Toll systems vary by region. Common systems in the United States include E-ZPass in the Northeast, FasTrak in California, TollTag and TxTag in Texas, and SunPass in Florida. Your Budget hire vehicle is compatible with these systems through the hire company's toll programme.

If you do not enrol in a toll programme, Budget will bill tolls and processing fees to your credit card, sometimes weeks after the hire ends, as toll agencies process invoices in batches. To avoid unexpected post-hire charges, review the toll programme terms carefully before signing the hire agreement.

The minimum age to hire a Budget car in the United States without a surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire from Budget in most United States locations but will be charged a daily young-hirer surcharge, and most vehicle classes are restricted to drivers 25 and older.

Two states have different rules by law:

• New York: Budget and other hire companies must hire to licensed drivers aged 18 and older, though a young-hirer surcharge still applies
• Michigan: Similar rules apply, requiring hires to drivers 18 and older with a surcharge

Vehicle classes typically restricted to drivers 25 and older at Budget in the United States include full-size cars, full-size SUVs, minivans, vans, convertibles, luxury, and premium categories. Drivers aged 21 to 24 are generally limited to economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles.

If you are aged 21 to 24 and from Latin America or the Caribbean, certain Budget rates in the United States may waive the young-hirer surcharge for the main driver. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver is shown, as it is not available on all rates.

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

The United States has extensive toll networks, including E-ZPass in the Northeast, FasTrak in California, TxTag and TollTag in Texas, and SunPass in Florida. Whether you pay tolls through Budget's toll programme or directly, you can claim cashback after your hire ends.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after a Budget hire in the United States:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback, followed by your reservation 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. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. The reimbursement covers the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total.

When picking up a Budget hire car in the United States, the counter will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card as a security deposit. This is not a charge but reduces your available credit until the hire is closed and your bank releases the hold.

For standard vehicle classes at Budget locations in the United States, the typical hold is approximately US$300 to US$400. The exact amount can vary depending on:

• The specific Budget location (airport versus city centre)
• The vehicle class selected (premium or speciality vehicles may require a higher hold)
• The length of the hire period
• Local rules at the pick-up location

The hold must be placed on a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name, with the driver’s name printed on the card. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit at Budget counters in the United States.

After you return the vehicle, Budget releases the hold, but your bank controls when it reappears in your available credit, which can take up to 15 business days.

Budget operates a Fastbreak service at many major United States airports, designed to speed up the pick-up process for enrolled members. At airports such as Denver International (DEN) and Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), the process works as follows:

• At Denver (DEN): Go to the Fastbreak counter, kiosk, or designated Fastbreak line in the baggage claim area, present your ID, collect your keys, and receive directions to your vehicle. A shuttle runs from the terminal to the hire lot, though note there is a shuttle gap between approximately 12:30 AM and 3:30 AM when self-transport is needed.
• At Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW): Check the Fastbreak monitor at the counter, select your vehicle, and exit using your licence and hang tag. Shuttles depart from the terminal lower level.

At airports without Fastbreak, Budget operates standard counters, often open 24 hours at major hubs. Downtown and city-centre Budget locations in the United States typically have limited hours, such as weekday hours from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM and reduced weekend hours, so plan your arrival accordingly.

To return your Budget vehicle at United States airports, follow the Car Hire Return signs from the motorway. Keep your fuel receipt and note the odometer before dropping off.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in the United States, either at the time of pick-up or later at a Budget location, provided both the main driver and the additional driver are present with valid licences.

The additional driver fee at Budget in the United States is US$13 per hire day, with a maximum charge of US$65 per hire. However, there are important state-level exceptions:

• California: No additional driver fee for a parent, sibling, or child of the main renter
• New York: The fee is reduced to US$3 per day

For Budget in the United States, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at the time of pick-up. Up to two additional drivers may be added if they meet the age and licence requirements.

Some categories of additional drivers may be added at no charge, such as a spouse or domestic partner, or a fellow employee on a business account. Check your booking confirmation to see if an additional driver is already included in your rate.

Every additional driver must sign the hire agreement at the counter. Anyone who drives the Budget vehicle without being listed on the agreement will not be covered by the hire protections.

Third-party liability cover at Budget in the United States depends on the state where you pick up the vehicle. Some United States states require hire companies to include state-minimum third-party liability in every hire, but not all states have this requirement.

Where no state minimum applies, your own personal auto insurance policy, if it extends to hire vehicles, would typically respond instead. However, cover limits under state minimums or personal policies may be low relative to the costs of a serious accident in the United States.

Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding Liability Insurance Supplementary (LIS), also known as ALI or SLI, to your Budget booking in the United States. This supplementary cover protects you against bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the hire vehicle, with limits up to US$300,000.

Key points to understand about third-party liability for Budget hires in the United States:

• LIS/ALI/SLI does not cover damage to the Budget vehicle itself, which requires CDW/LDW
• Cover applies only to drivers listed on the hire agreement
• Driving in restricted areas or violating the hire terms can void cover

Check your booking confirmation to confirm what liability cover is included in your selected rate.

Most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals, including Budget hires in the United States, include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. However, there is one important limitation: this benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada.

If you are visiting the United States from another country and hiring a Budget vehicle, the travel assistance cover typically includes:

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

This cover is particularly relevant when driving a Budget hire in the United States, where a motorway breakdown or medical emergency far from a major city can be costly. If you need assistance, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day at +1 888 980 9992 or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001, and provide your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number.

Travel assistance does not cover damage to the Budget hire vehicle (that requires CDW/LDW) or liability to third parties (that requires LIS/ALI/SLI). Always review your booking confirmation for the exact terms and cover limits that apply to your reservation.

Budget hire cars in the United States 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 fuel charges.

To avoid fuel charges on your Budget hire in the United States:

• Check the fuel gauge with the Budget agent at pick-up 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 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

If you return the Budget vehicle with less fuel than recorded at pick-up, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner’s refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the retail pump price, plus an administrative service fee.

Some Budget counter locations in the United States may offer a prepaid fuel option. If you accept it, you pay for a full tank upfront and do not need to refuel before return, but any unused fuel is generally non-refundable. The Full-to-Full policy is almost always the better value if you plan to refuel near the return location.

Yes, one-way hires are available through Budget across the United States, allowing you to pick up in one city and return in a different city. Budget operates over 1,400 locations across all 50 United States states, making one-way trips between major cities generally feasible.

Whether a drop-off fee applies depends on the specific route:

• Same-city airport to downtown: often no drop-off fee
• City to city within the same region or state: a drop-off fee typically applies and varies by distance and vehicle class
• Long-distance or cross-country routes: a drop-off fee almost always applies and can be significant

The drop-off fee for your Budget one-way hire in the United States will be shown during the booking process under the section labelled as payable at the destination. It cannot be prepaid and is settled directly with Budget at the counter.

Cross-border one-way hires, such as picking up in the United States and returning in Canada, may be restricted or require prior approval from Budget. Always check your booking confirmation for any cross-border driving restrictions before finalising a one-way hire.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to hire from Budget in the United States. The card must have the driver’s name printed on it and must have sufficient available credit to cover the security deposit hold, which is typically US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles at Budget locations in the United States.

The following types of cards are not accepted for the security deposit at Budget counters in the United States:

• Debit cards linked to a bank account
• Prepaid or gift cards
• Virtual or single-use card numbers
• Someone else’s credit card (the card must belong to the main driver)

Even if you prepaid your Budget booking in full through Hola Car Rentals, you are still required to present a physical credit card at the counter for the deposit hold. The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and is released after you return the vehicle, though your bank may take up to 15 business days to reflect the release.

It is recommended to bring a backup credit card in your own name in case your primary card is declined, and to notify your bank of your travel to the United States to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory for hiring a Budget car in the United States if your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. In all other cases, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required, as visitors can generally drive in the United States on a valid foreign licence.

Key points to know before picking up your Budget hire in the United States:

• The IDP is a translation document only and must be carried alongside your original licence at all times. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without the original.
• If you believe you may need an IDP, obtain it in your home country before travelling. United States issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to holders of non-United States licences.
• Some United States states or individual Budget locations may request an IDP even for licences in the Latin alphabet, so carrying one is always a safe precaution.

All documents presented at the Budget counter in the United States must be physical originals. Digital copies are not accepted. If your licence is not in English, bringing an IDP reduces the risk of any issues at the counter and ensures a smoother pick-up experience.