Car Hire
at CBX Airport

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

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

Picking up a hire car at CBX Airport follows a specific sequence that differs from a standard UK airport because you arrive by crossing a pedestrian skywalk bridge from Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) in Mexico.

• After landing at TIJ, clear Mexican immigration and collect any checked baggage.
• Walk across the enclosed pedestrian skywalk bridge into the CBX Airport terminal on the US side.
• Clear US Customs and Border Protection inside the CBX Airport arrivals hall.
• Hire car counters for brands such as Budget, Avis, and Hertz are located inside the terminal immediately after exiting customs. No shuttle or additional walkway is needed beyond the skywalk.
• Present your booking confirmation, passport, and driver’s licence at the counter. Staff will verify documents and hand over keys and the hire agreement.
• Walk a short distance outside the arrivals terminal to the on-site car park where your vehicle is parked.

The hire car centre address is 2745 Otay Pacific Dr, Suite 6, San Diego, CA 92154. Budget operates Sunday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to midnight, with reduced hours on certain holidays. Allow 45 to 90 minutes in total from landing to driving away, as US immigration wait times can vary.

To collect your hire car at CBX Airport, you must present a complete set of physical documents at the counter. Digital copies are not accepted.

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name.
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID.
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the physical card, used for the security deposit authorisation hold. Prepaid and debit cards are not accepted.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad.

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 CBX Airport. For licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended as a translation. The IDP must be carried alongside your original licence and is not valid on its own.

Note that some brands at CBX Airport, such as Mex Rent A Car, require at least one year of driving experience. All additional drivers must also be present at the counter with their own valid licence and documents.

Yes, a major credit card in the primary driver’s name is required to hire a car at CBX Airport. The card must be physical, with the driver’s name printed on it, and must have sufficient available credit to cover the security deposit authorisation hold.

Prepaid cards, virtual cards, and debit cards are not accepted for the deposit at CBX Airport counters. The security deposit hold for a standard vehicle in the United States is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount is set by the hire partner at the counter and may vary by vehicle class or season.

There is an additional requirement specific to Southern California residents hiring at CBX Airport: two major credit cards plus supplementary identification such as a utility bill may be required. If you are visiting from abroad, one major credit card is the standard requirement, but bringing a backup card in your name is always advisable in case your primary card is declined.

The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge. Your bank controls how quickly it is released after you return the vehicle, which can take up to 15 working days.

When driving from CBX Airport into Southern California, toll exposure is relatively limited but worth understanding before you go.

• Most major motorways in the San Diego area carry no tolls. Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, SR-261) and certain Los Angeles express lanes (I-10, I-110) are the main toll facilities you may encounter on longer journeys.
• California uses the FasTrak electronic system. All tolling is cashless, meaning no cash booths exist on these roads.
• Your hire vehicle from CBX Airport will include an electronic toll device or a plate-based billing system.

At the CBX Airport counter you have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a fixed daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, covering all tolls during the hire period.
• Pay per use: the hire company charges actual toll amounts plus administrative processing fees, which may appear on your card days or even weeks after you return the vehicle.

You may also opt out at collection and pay tolls directly through the toll agency’s website, or use a compatible personal FasTrak transponder. If you bring your own transponder, ask the counter agent to deactivate the vehicle’s default device to avoid duplicate charges.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which applies to tolls paid during your hire from CBX Airport.

When driving from CBX Airport into Southern California or further north, you may encounter cashless toll roads in Orange County (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261, SR-133) or express lanes in the Los Angeles area. Hola Car Rentals reimburses the lesser of the total tolls you paid or up to 5% of your total booking value.

To claim your cashback after returning your CBX Airport hire:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return.
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - Reservation [Your Confirmation Number].
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll invoice or statement showing charges paid during the hire period.
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for the booking.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are prepaid; you still pay them normally and claim reimbursement afterwards.

Counter hours at CBX Airport vary by brand. Budget, for example, operates Sunday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to midnight (12:00 AM), with reduced hours on certain holidays such as Easter and Memorial Day, when the counter may close as early as noon.

If you arrive at CBX Airport after the counter closes, no staffed collection service is available. There is no after-hours collection option at CBX Airport. Key drop boxes are available for vehicle returns after hours, but you cannot collect a new hire without a staffed agent present.

Hire companies will generally hold your reservation for up to 24 hours from the original collection time if your flight is delayed. However, if the delay pushes your arrival past the counter closing time, you will not be able to collect the vehicle until the counter reopens the following morning.

Given that CBX Airport serves international arrivals crossing from Tijuana, and that US immigration wait times can vary significantly, it is strongly recommended to book a flight that lands well before midnight to allow enough time for the skywalk crossing, customs clearance, and counter processing before closing time.

It depends on your driver’s licence. At CBX Airport, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. In that case, you must carry both your original licence and the IDP together at the counter.

If your licence is in English or uses the Latin alphabet but is not issued by an EU or EEA country, an IDP is strongly recommended as a translation, though not always strictly required. Some brands at CBX Airport, such as Mex Rent A Car, explicitly require an IDP for non-English licences.

Important points to keep in mind:

• The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without your original licence.
• All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies or scans are not accepted at CBX Airport counters.
• Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling. US issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to holders of non-US licences.
• All additional drivers must also meet the same licence and IDP requirements and must be present at the CBX Airport counter at collection.

Yes, a young driver surcharge applies at CBX Airport for renters between the ages of 21 and 24. The standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge is 25.

At CBX Airport, the young driver fee is approximately US$27 per day for drivers aged 21 to 24, based on rates at brands such as Budget. Fees vary by brand:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: approximately US$13 per rental day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes.
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: approximately US$13.50 per rental day plus taxes, capped at US$189 plus taxes.
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: approximately US$15 per day plus taxes.

Drivers under 21 are generally not permitted to hire at CBX Airport. Additionally, certain vehicle classes such as full-size SUVs, minivans, luxury, and premium vehicles are typically restricted to renters aged 25 and older.

If you are between 21 and 24 and from Latin America or the Caribbean, some Hola Car Rentals rates fulfilled by Avis or Budget may waive the underage fee for the main driver on eligible vehicle categories. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver is included.

Hiring at CBX Airport involves several mandatory local fees and taxes on top of your base hire rate. These charges are typically higher than at a standard UK airport due to the cross-border nature of the facility.

• Airport concession fee: approximately US$15 to US$20, mandatory for all on-site hires.
• IVA (Mexican value-added tax): 16%, applied to the hire.
• Tijuana municipal tax: approximately 10%.
• Tourism surcharge: approximately US$10 to US$15.

In total, taxes and fees at CBX Airport can add 35% to 45% above the base hire rate, which is notably higher than the approximately 25% surcharge typical at San Diego International Airport.

If your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation shows taxes and fees as included, you should not be billed separately for those items at the CBX Airport counter. If you are charged for something not listed on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact Hola Car Rentals support after the hire ends. The No Extra Charges© guarantee covers undisclosed mandatory charges that were not shown on your booking confirmation.

No, standard hire cars collected at CBX Airport on the US side cannot be driven into Mexico without specific authorisation, and most hire brands at CBX Airport prohibit or heavily restrict cross-border travel into Mexico.

Key points to understand before planning any cross-border driving from CBX Airport:

• Mexican law requires vehicles driven in Mexico to carry Mexican auto insurance, which costs approximately US$20 to US$50 per day and is generally not available through US hire companies.
• One-way drop-offs from CBX Airport to a US city, or vice versa, may carry surcharges of US$100 to US$300 or may be prohibited entirely depending on the brand.
• Driving a US-registered hire vehicle into Mexico without authorisation from the hire company can void your Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and all other protections on your agreement.
• Always check your hire agreement at the CBX Airport counter for explicit territory restrictions before driving towards the border.

If cross-border travel is part of your plans, discuss this with the counter agent at CBX Airport before signing the agreement and confirm whether the brand permits it and what additional cover is required.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire at CBX Airport, but the process must be completed in person at the counter during collection.

• The additional driver must be physically present at the CBX Airport counter at the time of collection.
• They must present a valid driver’s licence and, if required, an International Driving Permit (IDP) and passport.
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement.

Additional driver fees at CBX Airport vary by brand:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: approximately US$13 per rental day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes. Additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old for these brands.
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: approximately US$13.50 per rental day plus taxes, capped at US$189 plus taxes.
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: approximately US$15 per day plus taxes.

Some Hola Car Rentals rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation before arriving at CBX Airport to see if this benefit is listed. Only drivers named on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW and liability cover. Anyone not listed who drives the vehicle may void those protections.

The standard fuel policy for hire cars at CBX Airport is Full-to-Full. 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 at CBX Airport:

• At collection, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the gauge and odometer.
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the CBX Airport return location before dropping off the vehicle. Keep your fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.
• At return, show the gauge at full and present the receipt if asked.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

Fuel near CBX Airport at Pemex stations in the Tijuana area averages approximately US$1.10 to US$1.20 per litre (roughly US$4.20 to US$4.50 per gallon), which is somewhat below the US national average. However, if you plan to refuel on the US side before returning to CBX Airport, standard Californian pump prices apply. Always use the correct fuel type specified in your hire agreement.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if an incident occurs during your CBX Airport hire, particularly given the cross-border nature of the location and the mix of US and Mexican road environments nearby.

Coverage typically includes:

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

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

Important: this travel assistance benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify.

If you need assistance during your CBX Airport hire, contact Terrawind 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.