Car Hire
at Baltimore Airport

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating at Baltimore Airport, 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 at Baltimore Airport.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking at Baltimore Airport 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 at Baltimore Airport 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)

All hire car brands at Baltimore Airport operate from a single off-terminal facility called the BWI Car Rental Centre, located at 7432-7434 New Ridge Road, Hanover, MD 21076. There is no on-terminal counter and no walkway connecting the terminal to the facility.

After clearing customs and collecting your baggage, exit to the Arrivals/Lower Level and go to the inner curb at Doors 1, 11, or 16. Board the free airport-operated hire car shuttle, which runs every 5 to 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. The ride to the BWI Car Rental Centre takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Once inside the facility, all brand counters are located on the top floor Customer Service Plaza. Brands available include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, Thrifty, and NextCar.

For travellers arriving on international flights, plan for additional time at Baltimore Airport: U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing typically takes 20 to 60 minutes, baggage claim adds another 10 to 20 minutes, and the shuttle plus counter processing adds 20 to 35 minutes. Total time from landing to driving away is realistically 45 to 90 minutes.

The BWI Car Rental Centre and its shuttle service operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, individual brand counters at Baltimore Airport keep their own hours and do not all stay open around the clock.

Known counter hours include:

• Avis: 06:00 to 23:00 daily
• Hertz: 06:00 to 23:59 daily
• Sixt: 07:00 to 00:00 daily

Other brands may have similar limited windows. If your flight arrives late at night or very early in the morning, confirm your brand's specific hours before booking. Some brands offer after-hours key collection arrangements, but these must be arranged in advance directly with the hire company.

When returning the vehicle, follow the Hire Car Return signs from Airport Highway to the Hire Car Centre. A 15-minute free parking area is available at the front of the building. After dropping off your car, board the shuttle back to the terminal at Doors 1, 11, or 16. Some brands such as National offer a Drop and Go after-hours return option, but confirm availability with your specific brand before your trip to Baltimore Airport.

Hiring a vehicle at Baltimore Airport adds several mandatory surcharges on top of your base rate. These are charged by the airport and the state of Maryland, not by the hire company itself, and they apply to all on-airport hires regardless of which brand you choose.

• 11.11% concession fee paid to the Maryland Aviation Administration
• US$3.75 per day Customer Facility Charge (CFC) for the consolidated hire car facility
• US$2.90 per day Transportation Facility Charge (TFC) for the shuttle buses
• 11.5% Maryland sales tax on short-term passenger car hires
• 3.5% vehicle excise tax on short-term hires, effective 1 July 2025

As an example, on a 3-day hire with a US$120 base rate at Baltimore Airport, these fees add approximately US$52, bringing the total to around US$172, which is roughly 33% more than the base rate alone.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate versus which are payable at the counter. If your confirmation states taxes and fees are included and you are still charged locally, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply.

Maryland operates a primarily cashless toll system, and several major toll roads are near Baltimore Airport that you are likely to use during your hire.

• Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95): US$3 to US$6
• Baltimore Harbour Thruway Tunnel (I-895): US$3 to US$6
• John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95): US$6 to US$12
• William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge with E-ZPass: US$2.50
• Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge: US$4.50 to US$9

All hire vehicles at Baltimore Airport include an electronic toll device. At the counter you can choose an unlimited toll package (typically US$4.95 per day, capped at US$34.65 per hire for brands like National and Hertz) or pay per use, where the hire company bills actual tolls plus administrative fees after the hire ends. You can also use the NextPass app by registering your hire vehicle's licence plate.

If you drive through a cashless toll without enrolling in a programme, a camera captures your plate and you receive a mailed invoice. Unpaid tolls can result in civil penalties.

All Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback: up to 5% of your total booking value back for tolls paid at Baltimore Airport or anywhere during your hire. Email [email protected] within 30 days of return with your hire agreement and toll receipts to claim.

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

• Original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• Passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold
• Booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom)

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory at Baltimore Airport. For licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence, not as a replacement.

Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold at Baltimore Airport counters. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined. Ensure your card is enabled for in-person transactions in the United Kingdom before you travel.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to hire a vehicle at Baltimore Airport. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.

At collection, the hire counter places a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. For standard vehicles at Baltimore Airport, this hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by brand, vehicle class, and hire duration. This hold reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends, which can take up to 15 business days.

A few important points to bear in mind before arriving at Baltimore Airport:

• The card must be physical, not a virtual or single-use card number
• The driver’s name must be printed on the card
• The card must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on in-person transactions
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined

Even if you prepaid your booking online, you are still required to present a physical credit card at the Baltimore Airport counter for the deposit hold.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory at Baltimore Airport if your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. For all other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended, though not strictly required by law.

The IDP is a translation booklet only. It must always be carried together with your original driver’s licence. It is not a standalone document and will not be accepted without the original licence.

If you think you may need an IDP, obtain it in your home country before travelling to Baltimore Airport. UK organisations such as AA issue IDPs only to holders of UK driver’s licences, so you cannot obtain one after arriving.

At the Baltimore Airport counter, present your passport, original driver’s licence, and IDP together. A name mismatch between your licence, passport, and credit card is one of the most common reasons for problems at collection, so verify that all documents show the same name before you travel.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 are subject to a daily young-renter surcharge at Baltimore Airport. The standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge is 25.

Surcharge amounts vary by brand at Baltimore Airport:

• Avis and Budget: US$13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty: US$13.50 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day plus taxes, with no stated cap

Drivers under 25 are also restricted from hiring certain vehicle classes at Baltimore Airport. Categories such as full-size, premium, luxury, SUV, minivan, and convertible are typically reserved for renters aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are generally available to younger renters.

One exception applies to drivers aged 21 to 24 from Latin America and the Caribbean renting through Avis or Budget: the young-renter surcharge may be waived on eligible Hola Car Rentals rates when the waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation. Check your confirmation carefully before arriving at Baltimore Airport.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire at Baltimore Airport, either as part of your booking or at the counter during collection.

The additional driver must be physically present at the Baltimore Airport counter to show their valid driver’s licence and sign the hire agreement. They cannot be added remotely by phone or chat alone. If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, they will also need an International Driving Permit.

Whether the fee is included depends on your rate:

• 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 not included, fees at Baltimore Airport vary by brand: Avis and Budget charge US$13 per day (capped at US$65); Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty charge US$13.50 per day (capped at US$189); Alamo, National, and Enterprise charge US$15 per day.

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s protections such as CDW/LDW and liability cover. Anyone who drives the car without being named on the contract may void those protections entirely. Verify the additional driver’s name appears on your paperwork before leaving the Baltimore Airport counter.

Two main types of cover are relevant when hiring at Baltimore Airport: one for damage to the hire vehicle and one for damage or injury you may cause to others.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability if the hire car is damaged or stolen. A deductible may still apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover third parties.

Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to other people or vehicles. Some U.S. states require hire companies to include a minimum level of liability, but not all do. Maryland does not mandate a specific minimum for hire cars in the same way some other states do, so cover levels can vary by brand at Baltimore Airport. Adding supplementary liability up to US$300,000 is strongly recommended.

Common exclusions to be aware of at Baltimore Airport:

• Tires, wheels, undercarriage, and roof damage are often excluded from CDW/LDW
• Driving under the influence or off-road use voids cover
• Only named drivers on the agreement are covered

Review your booking confirmation to confirm which protections are included in your rate before arriving at Baltimore Airport.

The Full-to-Full fuel policy applies to hires at Baltimore Airport: you receive the car with a full tank and must return it full to avoid refuelling charges and a service fee from the hire company, which is typically higher than retail pump prices.

The BWI Car Rental Centre is located at 7432-7434 New Ridge Road in Hanover, not inside the terminal. Gas stations are available along New Ridge Road and the surrounding Hanover area near Baltimore Airport. Ask the counter agent at collection to point out the nearest station to the return location, or use a GPS or Google Maps to find stations within 10 miles of the Hire Car Centre before your return.

A few tips to avoid fuel charges at Baltimore Airport:

• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing a full gauge immediately after refuelling
• Keep the fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo as backup

If the car was not full at collection, the starting level should be recorded on your hire agreement. Return it at that same level to avoid charges.

Yes, one-way hires from Baltimore Airport to another city are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your route, the hire brand, and the vehicle class.

The drop-off fee is route-specific and is set by the hire partner, not by the airport. Common patterns for one-way hires from Baltimore Airport include:

• Baltimore Airport to another city in the same region: a drop-off fee often applies and varies by distance and vehicle class
• Baltimore Airport to a distant city or across regions: a drop-off fee almost always applies and can be significant
• Cross-border one-ways (for example, to Canada): often restricted or subject to higher fees; confirm with the hire brand before booking

During the booking process, any applicable drop-off fee for your route from Baltimore Airport will be shown on the rate details page under the section labelled To pay at destination. This fee cannot be prepaid and is payable at the counter.

If you need to change your drop-off location after booking, contact support as soon as possible. Mid-hire route changes must be approved by the hire partner and may increase the fee or affect vehicle availability.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to hires starting at Baltimore Airport. However, this benefit is not available to residents of the United States or Canada.

For eligible travellers, the cover includes:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of an accident, such as a collision on I-95 or the Baltimore Harbour Tunnel area
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

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

To use the assistance during your hire at Baltimore Airport or anywhere during your trip, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

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

Have your full name and Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Always contact assistance before incurring medical expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Baltimore Airport hire.