Car Hire
at Washington Airport

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

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

After landing at Washington Airport (Dulles, IAD), follow these steps to reach the Rental Car Centre.

• Collect your checked luggage at the Baggage Claim level in the Main Terminal.
• Follow overhead signs for Ground Transportation, then Rental Car Shuttle.
• Exit the terminal via Door 2, 4, or 6 on the Baggage Claim level and proceed to curbside stops 2C or 2D.
• Board the free blue and white shuttle buses marked Rental Car. Buses arrive approximately every 5 to 10 minutes and the ride takes about 7 to 10 minutes.
• Note that some brands share shuttles: Enterprise, National, and Alamo operate one shared bus, while Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty share another. Confirm your brand before boarding.

The consolidated Rental Car Centre is located at 23330 Autopilot Drive, Dulles, VA 20166. It is a separate facility and cannot be reached on foot from the terminal.

If you arrive at the Airport Arrival Terminal gates rather than the Main Terminal, you must first take the Auto Train or People Mover connection to the Main Terminal. This transfer can add up to one hour before you even reach the shuttle stop, so plan accordingly when estimating your total pickup time at Washington Airport.

Arriving at Washington Airport (IAD) and driving away in your hire car takes longer than at many domestic airports, especially if you are arriving on an international flight.

• Immigration and customs processing: 30 to 60 minutes or more at peak times for international arrivals.
• Baggage claim: approximately 10 to 20 minutes.
• Navigation to the shuttle stop and waiting for the bus: 15 to 20 minutes.
• Shuttle ride to the Rental Car Centre: 7 to 10 minutes.
• Counter check-in and vehicle inspection: 10 to 20 minutes.

In total, expect a minimum of 1.5 to 2 hours from the moment you land at Washington Airport to when you leave the Rental Car Centre. If your flight arrives at the Airport Arrival Terminal rather than the Main Terminal, add up to one additional hour for the Auto Train or People Mover transfer to the Main Terminal before you can board the hire car shuttle.

Build this time into your plans, particularly if you have a connecting appointment or need to reach your destination by a specific time.

When collecting your hire car at Washington Airport, you must present the following documents at the Rental Car Centre counter.

• A valid, original, physical driver’s licence in the main driver’s name. If your 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.
• A major credit card physically in the main driver’s name, with the name printed on the card. This is required for the security deposit authorisation hold. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• Your passport or valid government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight tickets or proof of return travel (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom).

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at Washington Airport hire counters. If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

Yes, there are toll roads near Washington Airport (IAD), and most are fully cashless with no cash payment booths.

The Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Greenway, which connect Washington Airport directly to the wider DC area, charge approximately US$5.75 to US$6.25 one way for the full length. Other nearby toll facilities include the 495 Express Lanes on the Virginia side of the Beltway, with dynamic pricing of roughly US$4 to US$20 per segment during peak hours, and the Wilson Bridge on I-95/I-495, which costs approximately US$6 to US$8 per crossing. E-ZPass is the primary electronic toll system used across the DC and Mid-Atlantic region.

Your hire car from Washington Airport comes equipped for electronic tolling. At the counter you can choose between two billing options.

• Pay-per-use: the hire company automatically bills you the actual toll amount at the video toll rate (which is 25 to 100 percent higher than the E-ZPass discounted rate) plus a daily processing fee of approximately US$4.95 to US$5.35 per usage day, capped at around US$34.65 per rental period.
• Unlimited daily package: a flat fee of approximately US$10.99 to US$25.99 per day covers all tolls, charged every rental day regardless of whether you use a toll road.

If you drive a toll road without enrolling in any programme, the hire company will automatically enrol you in pay-per-use billing. Unpaid tolls can also generate additional administrative fees of US$15 to US$30 per instance.

Yes, every booking includes Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire from Washington Airport.

Given that the roads around Washington Airport include the Dulles Toll Road, the 495 Express Lanes, and other cashless E-ZPass facilities, toll costs can add up quickly. The Tolls Cashback benefit helps offset those charges after your trip.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle at Washington Airport, email [email protected] within 30 days of return with the following documents.

• Your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation.
• A copy of the hire agreement signed at pick-up.
• A receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid, such as a toll provider invoice, the final hire invoice with an itemised toll line, or a transponder statement for the hire period.

Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - Reservation [Your Confirmation Number]. Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your booking and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted more than 30 days after vehicle return are not accepted.

Example: if your Washington Airport booking total is US$600, the maximum cashback is US$30. If you paid US$22 in tolls, you receive US$22 back.

The consolidated Rental Car Centre at Washington Airport (IAD) and its shuttle bus service operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, individual hire company counter staffing can vary, and not all brands guarantee a full-service agent presence during late-night hours.

If you are arriving on a late-night or early-morning flight at Washington Airport, it is worth confirming your specific brand's counter hours directly before travel. Avis, for example, maintains 24-hour counter operations and 24-hour drop-off capability at IAD.

For after-hours vehicle returns at Washington Airport, most brands offer a key drop option. SIXT, for instance, provides an orange key return drop box at the entrance of their branch near the shuttle pick-up and drop-off area, allowing returns at any time. Always check your hire agreement for the specific after-hours instructions for your brand.

If your flight is delayed, hire companies at Washington Airport will generally hold your booking for up to 24 hours from the original pick-up time. If your delay exceeds 24 hours, contact support as soon as possible to avoid losing your reservation.

At Washington Airport, the hire company will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at pick-up. For standard vehicles rented in the United States, this hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by brand, vehicle class, and season.

A few important points to keep in mind.

• The hold is not a charge. It temporarily reduces your available credit and is released after you return the vehicle, though your bank may take up to 15 business days to reflect the release.
• Premium or speciality vehicles may carry a higher hold amount.
• You must present a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name, with the name printed on the card. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit at Washington Airport.
• Even if you prepaid your booking online, a credit card is still required at the counter for the security hold.

Before arriving at Washington Airport, notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent the authorisation from being flagged as suspicious. Bringing a backup credit card in your name is also recommended in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to hires picked up at Washington Airport.

This benefit is particularly relevant when driving around Washington Airport, as routes such as the Dulles Toll Road, the 495 Beltway, and I-66 can involve high-speed multi-lane highways where incidents can happen far from urban services. The coverage includes the following.

• Travel insurance with medical coverage for up to 5 passengers.
• Legal assistance in the event of an accident.
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline.
• Flight cancellation insurance.

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Residents of the United Kingdom and Canada do not qualify for this travel assistance coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are also excluded. Rental vehicle damage is covered separately by CDW/LDW, not by this travel assistance benefit.

Always review your booking confirmation to verify the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Washington Airport hire.

No, there are no congestion charges, emissions zones, or city-centre driving fees in the Washington DC area. Unlike cities such as New York or London, the District of Columbia does not operate a congestion relief zone or an ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) that would generate automatic charges for your hire car.

When driving from Washington Airport (IAD) into the DC area, the only road-use fees you will encounter are tolls on specific highways and bridges. These include the Dulles Toll Road immediately adjacent to Washington Airport, the 495 Express Lanes on the Virginia side of the Beltway, and the Wilson Bridge on I-95/I-495 crossing between Virginia and Maryland.

All of these toll facilities are cashless and use electronic billing through E-ZPass or licence plate video tolling. Your hire car from Washington Airport is pre-equipped for electronic tolling, and charges are billed through the hire company's toll programme or directly to your card after the hire ends.

There are no additional permits, stickers, or registrations required to drive in the DC area after picking up your vehicle at Washington Airport.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire at Washington Airport, either because it is included in your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

Check your booking confirmation first. If it states Additional driver free of charge, the first extra driver is covered at no cost. If it is not included, the daily fees at Washington Airport vary by brand.

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

The additional driver must be physically present at the Washington Airport counter at pick-up. They must bring their own valid driver’s licence and, if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit as well. 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 such as CDW/LDW and liability cover. Anyone who drives without being named on the contract is not covered, and this could void your cover entirely.

At Washington Airport (IAD), which is located in Virginia, the standard minimum age to hire a car without a surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged a daily young-driver surcharge, and most vehicle classes are restricted to renters aged 25 and older.

Restricted vehicle classes for under-25 renters typically include full-size saloons, full-size SUVs, minivans, vans, convertibles, luxury, and premium categories. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are generally available to younger renters at Washington Airport.

The young-driver surcharge amounts vary by brand and are paid at the counter, not prepaid online. Budget for this additional daily fee if you are between 21 and 24 years old.

One exception worth noting: if you are a driver aged 21 to 24 from Latin America or the Caribbean, certain Avis and Budget rates booked through Hola Car Rentals may waive the underage fee. This waiver must be explicitly shown on your booking confirmation and applies only to eligible vehicle categories. It does not apply to travellers from Europe, Asia, Africa, or other regions.

Regardless of age, all renters at Washington Airport must present a valid driver’s licence and a major credit card in their name for the security deposit.

Renting a car at Washington Airport (IAD) involves several mandatory surcharges on top of the base daily rate. These are set by the airport and local authorities, not by the hire company or Hola Car Rentals, and they apply to all brands at the Rental Car Centre.

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): typically 10 to 12 per cent of the base rate, charged by the airport for use of the Rental Car Centre facilities.
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): a fixed daily fee, typically around US$4 to US$5 per day, covering the cost of the consolidated Rental Car Centre building and shuttle operations.
• State and local taxes: Virginia and local jurisdictions apply sales and rental taxes on top of the base rate.

Combined, these surcharges at Washington Airport can add 20 to 30 per cent or more to a base daily rate. This is consistent with other major US airport hire locations and is higher than what you would pay at an off-airport location in the DC suburbs.

If your booking confirmation shows Taxes and Fees: Included, these charges are already covered in your prepaid rate and you should not be billed again at the counter. If you are charged for items already marked as included, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply. Review your confirmation carefully before arriving at Washington Airport.

Yes, one-way hires from Washington Airport are available, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location and the hire brand you choose.

Whether a fee applies and how much it costs depends on several factors.

• The distance between Washington Airport and your return location.
• The vehicle class you select (premium and large SUVs typically carry higher one-way fees).
• The specific hire brand fulfilling your booking.
• Whether the return is within the same region or across state lines.

During the booking process, any applicable drop-off fee for your Washington Airport hire will be shown on the rate details page under the To pay at destination section. This fee cannot be prepaid and is settled at the return counter.

Cross-border one-way hires, such as returning a car picked up at Washington Airport in Canada or Mexico, are generally restricted or require prior authorisation from the hire partner. Always confirm cross-border permissions before booking.

If the drop-off fee shown at the Washington Airport counter differs from what appeared on your booking confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support. The No Extra Charges© guarantee covers undisclosed fees that were not listed on your confirmation.