Budget Car Hire
in Washington

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

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

After collecting your baggage at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), follow signs to the baggage claim level exit. Walk down the ramp to Door 2 or Door 4 and proceed to Curb 2C or 2D, where Budget and other hire car shuttle buses pick up passengers.

The shuttle will take you to the consolidated hire car facility. Allow extra time beyond your flight arrival for the shuttle wait and transport, especially during peak travel periods. Your Budget booking confirmation will include the specific counter details for your reservation.

• Exit baggage claim level via the ramp to Door 2 or Door 4
• Wait at Curb 2C or 2D for the hire car shuttle
• Shuttles are shared among multiple hire brands
• Bring all required documents: driver’s licence, credit card, passport, and your booking confirmation

If you are collecting at Reagan National Airport (DCA) instead, Budget shuttle stops are at Terminal 1 (middle curb between Doors 1 and 2) or Terminal 2 (first curb near Door 3 or Door 8). Washington area airport pickups are shuttle-based, so plan accordingly.

No, Washington, DC itself does not have toll roads within its city boundaries. However, if you drive your Budget hire car into neighbouring Virginia or Maryland, you will encounter cashless toll roads and bridges.

Common tolled routes near Washington include:

• Wilson Bridge (I-95/I-495) crossing between Maryland and Virginia: approximately US$6 to US$8 per crossing
• 495 Express Lanes on the Virginia side of the Beltway: dynamic pricing of approximately US$4 to US$20 per segment during peak hours
• Dulles Toll Road and Greenway connecting Washington to IAD Airport: approximately US$5.75 to US$6.25 one way
• I-95 Express Lanes toward Baltimore: approximately US$8 to US$15 total

Nearly all toll facilities in the Washington area are fully cashless, meaning cameras photograph licence plates and billing is handled electronically. Your Budget hire vehicle comes equipped for electronic tolling. At the counter you can choose an unlimited toll package (typically US$11 to US$25 per day) or pay per use, where the hire company bills actual tolls plus a daily processing fee of approximately US$4.95 to US$5.35 on days you use a toll road.

There are no congestion charges or emissions zone fees in Washington, DC, unlike cities such as New York or London.

To collect your Budget hire car in Washington, you must present the following physical documents at 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, for the authorisation hold
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID (required for international visitors)
• Your booking confirmation
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United States)

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) as a translation alongside your original licence. The IDP is not a standalone document and will not be accepted without the original licence.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies or photos on your phone are not accepted at the Budget counter in Washington. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold; only a major credit card in the main driver’s name qualifies.

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

Although Washington, DC itself has no toll roads, you may encounter tolls if you drive your Budget hire into Virginia or Maryland, for example on the Dulles Toll Road to IAD Airport, the 495 Express Lanes, or the Wilson Bridge on I-95/I-495. All of those toll charges are eligible for the cashback benefit.

To claim your refund:

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

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are prepaid; you pay tolls normally during the hire and claim reimbursement afterwards.

When you pick up your Budget hire car in Washington, the counter will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. For standard vehicles in the United States, this hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by vehicle class, location, and season.

This hold is not a charge. It temporarily reduces your available credit and is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the release appears on your statement, which can take up to 15 working days.

• Only a major credit card in the main driver’s name with the name printed on the card is accepted for the deposit
• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted
• Premium or speciality vehicle classes may require a higher hold amount
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined

If you are travelling internationally to Washington, notify your bank before arrival to prevent fraud blocks on the in-person authorisation. The Budget counter agent can confirm the exact hold amount before processing your card.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire a Budget car in Washington, DC, but a young-renter surcharge applies and certain vehicle classes are restricted.

Budget in Washington follows the standard U.S. policy for drivers under 25:

• Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a daily young-renter surcharge at the counter
• Most premium, full-size, luxury, SUV, and speciality vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older
• Economy, compact, medium saloon, standard saloon, compact SUV, and medium SUV categories are generally available to younger drivers

There is a special exception for travellers from Latin America and the Caribbean. If you are aged 21 to 24, hold a passport from a Latin American or Caribbean country, and your Hola Car Rentals confirmation explicitly states that the underage fee is waived, Budget in Washington will not charge the young-renter surcharge for the main driver. This exception applies only to the main driver and only to eligible vehicle categories.

Regardless of age, all drivers must present a valid driver’s licence and a major credit card in their name for the authorisation hold at the Budget counter in Washington.

Your Budget hire car in Washington comes equipped with an electronic toll device, since virtually all toll facilities in the Washington, DC area are fully cashless with no cash booths.

At the Budget counter in Washington you have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a fixed daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, covering all tolls on days you use toll roads
• Pay-per-use: the hire company bills your actual toll amounts plus a daily processing fee of approximately US$4.95 to US$5.35 on each day you pass through a toll, with a cap per hire period

If you do not enrol in a toll programme but still drive through a cashless toll road, Budget will automatically bill you under the pay-per-use option, often at the higher video toll rate rather than the discounted E-ZPass rate. Unpaid tolls can also result in additional administrative fees.

Toll charges near Washington are frequently posted days or even weeks after the hire ends, so do not be surprised if a charge appears on your card after you have returned the vehicle. Keep your hire agreement and any toll receipts to verify charges. If you believe a toll charge is incorrect, contact Hola Car Rentals support with your documentation.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not always required to hire a Budget car in Washington, but it depends on your home country’s licence.

• If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an IDP is mandatory at the Budget counter in Washington
• If your licence is in English or uses the Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required in most cases
• The IDP is a translation document only and must always be carried alongside your original licence; it is not accepted on its own

Visitors arriving in Washington from countries that participated in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or that have a reciprocal agreement with the United States can generally drive on their foreign licence. However, Budget and other hire partners may apply their own requirements at the counter.

If you think you may need an IDP, obtain it in your home country before travelling to Washington. U.S. organisations such as AAA issue IDPs only to holders of U.S. driver’s licences, so it cannot be obtained after you arrive.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Budget hires in Washington, include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is available to non-North American customers; residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify.

If you are an international visitor hiring a Budget car in Washington, the included travel assistance typically covers:

• Medical cover for up to 5 passengers during your trip
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This cover does not include damage to the Budget hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability to other drivers (handled by LIS/ALI/SLI). Pre-existing medical conditions are also excluded.

If you need assistance while driving your Budget hire in or around Washington, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

• 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. Always check your specific booking confirmation for the exact cover terms and limits that apply to your reservation.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget hire in Washington, either at the time of booking or at the counter during collection.

Whether the additional driver is free or subject to a daily fee depends on your rate:

• If your Hola Car Rentals confirmation states "Additional driver free of charge," the first extra driver is included at no cost
• If not included, Budget in Washington charges approximately US$13 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum cap of US$65 plus taxes for the additional driver

Requirements for adding an additional driver at the Budget counter in Washington:

• The additional driver must be present at collection with a valid driver’s licence
• They must meet the minimum age requirement; for Budget in Washington, additional drivers should generally be at least 25 years old
• An IDP is required if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s protections, including CDW/LDW and liability cover. Never allow an unlisted person to drive your Budget hire in Washington, as this can void your cover.

Budget hires in Washington operate on 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, verify 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 before leaving the lot
• 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 in Washington 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 the retail pump price, plus a refuelling service fee.

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

For after-hours returns in Washington, leave your fuel receipt in the return envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence.

Yes, one-way hires with Budget in Washington are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location.

• Returning to a different city or state from Washington typically incurs a one-way drop-off fee, which varies by route, distance, vehicle class, and season
• Returning to a different location within the same metropolitan area, such as from Dulles Airport (IAD) to downtown Washington, may or may not carry a fee depending on the specific route
• Cross-border one-way hires, for example returning a Budget car from Washington to Canada, are often restricted or carry significantly higher fees

The drop-off fee is always shown during the booking process on the Hola Car Rentals website under the "To pay at destination" section. Review your confirmation to verify whether a fee applies to your specific Washington route before finalising your reservation.

This fee cannot be pre-paid and is paid directly at the Budget counter. If the counter charges a different amount than what appears on your Hola Car Rentals confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support, as the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply.

The insurance and protection options included with your Budget hire in Washington depend on the rate plan you selected when booking through Hola Car Rentals.

Common coverages available for Budget hires in Washington include:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Budget hire vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism, subject to any applicable excess shown on your confirmation
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to other people while driving the Budget vehicle in Washington; some U.S. states require a minimum level of liability, but coverage limits vary

CDW/LDW does not cover damage to other vehicles or injuries to third parties; that is what LIS/ALI/SLI addresses. Neither cover includes your personal belongings or your own medical costs.

Check your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation to see exactly which protections are included in your Washington Budget hire and whether a deductible applies. If you are unsure, contact Hola Car Rentals support before collection. Only drivers listed on the Budget hire agreement in Washington are covered by these protections.