Car Hire in Cleveland

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

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

When collecting a hire car at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), the process involves a short shuttle ride to an off-terminal facility.

• After collecting your baggage, exit the terminal through the door immediately to the left of the door marked 1 and follow the path to spot 3, which is the designated Hire Car Shuttle pickup area.
• Board the shuttle to the consolidated hire car facility at 19601 Maplewood Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135. The journey takes approximately 4 to 7 minutes.
• Shuttles operate continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so there is no need to worry about timing.
• Once at the facility, proceed to your hire company's counter on the right to collect your hire agreement and vehicle keys.

Allow roughly 10 to 15 minutes in total from leaving the Cleveland terminal to driving away, accounting for the shuttle journey and counter processing. When returning the vehicle, the same shuttle departs the Cleveland hire facility every 5 to 7 minutes back to the airport terminal.

The consolidated hire car facility serving Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is located at 19601 Maplewood Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135, and the building itself operates 24 hours a day.

However, individual hire company counter hours within the Cleveland facility vary by brand. For example, Budget at the Cleveland airport location operates Sunday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Saturday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Other brands at the Cleveland facility may have different schedules.

After-hours vehicle returns are available at the Cleveland airport location. If you return outside counter hours, place your keys in the drop box on your hire company's kiosk. The vehicle will be checked in when the location opens the next business day, and you remain responsible for the car until satisfactory check-in is completed.

Always confirm your specific brand's hours on your booking confirmation before arriving at the Cleveland facility, especially if your flight lands late at night or early in the morning.

Yes, there is a major toll road near Cleveland that renters should plan for before driving in the area.

The Ohio Turnpike (I-76, I-80, I-90) is a 241-mile east-west route passing near Cleveland, connecting the Indiana border to the Pennsylvania border. It is one of the primary highways used when travelling into or out of the Cleveland region.

• Tolls are collected via E-ZPass (electronic transponder) or cash and credit card at staffed plazas.
• Typical 2026 rates for a passenger vehicle travelling the full westbound route (Pennsylvania to Indiana) are approximately US$19.00 with E-ZPass or US$27.75 with cash or credit card.
• The per-mile rate is 7.3 cents with E-ZPass or 10.6 cents with cash or credit card, meaning E-ZPass offers roughly 33% savings.

Hire cars in Cleveland do not come with a personal E-ZPass account. At the counter, you can enrol in the hire company's toll programme (typically US$4.95 per day, charged only on days you use tolls, with a maximum of US$34.65 per hire). If you opt out of the programme and drive through a toll, the hire company will bill the toll amount plus administrative fees to your card after the hire ends.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Cleveland hire, including charges on the Ohio Turnpike near Cleveland.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle in Cleveland:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the car.
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - Reservation [Your Confirmation Number].
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid (such as a toll provider invoice, a final hire invoice with an itemised toll line, or a transponder statement).
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for your booking.

The refund is issued to the original payment method and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. For example, if your Cleveland booking total is US$600, the maximum cashback is US$30. If you paid US$18 in Ohio Turnpike tolls, you receive US$18 back. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted.

To collect your hire car in Cleveland, you must bring the following physical documents to the counter:

• A valid, original driving licence (physical copy, not digital). If your licence is not in English and not issued by an EU or EEA country, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended. An IDP is mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic.
• A major credit card with your name printed on the physical card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight tickets or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom).

At some Cleveland airport counters, such as Avis and Budget at CLE, agents may also ask for a round-trip flight ticket or passport matching the name on the driving licence. All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet will not be accepted at any Cleveland hire counter.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not always mandatory to hire a car in Cleveland, but it is strongly recommended in certain situations.

In Cleveland and across the United States, visitors can generally drive with a valid foreign licence. However, an IDP is required if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. In that case, you must carry both your original licence and the IDP together at all times.

• The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without your original licence.
• You must obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling to Cleveland. Organisations such as AAA in the United States do not issue IDPs to non-US licence holders.
• Some Cleveland hire counters, including Avis and Budget at CLE, may specifically request an IDP alongside your foreign licence.

Even if your licence is in English or uses a Latin alphabet, carrying an IDP when hiring in Cleveland is a practical precaution, as individual counter agents may request one at their discretion.

Yes, drivers under 25 years old are subject to a young-driver surcharge when collecting a hire car in Cleveland.

In Ohio, the standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire in Cleveland but will pay a daily young-driver fee that varies by brand:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum charge of US$65 plus taxes.
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum charge of US$189 plus taxes.
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day plus taxes.

In addition to the surcharge, drivers under 25 in Cleveland are restricted from hiring certain vehicle classes. Categories such as full-size SUVs, luxury, premium, convertibles, minivans, and vans are typically reserved for drivers aged 25 and over. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are generally available to younger drivers.

Drivers from Latin America and the Caribbean aged 21 to 24 may qualify for a young-driver fee waiver on eligible Avis or Budget rates in Cleveland. Check your booking confirmation to see if the waiver is shown.

When you collect a hire car in Cleveland, the hire company places a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge, but it reduces your available credit until the hold is released after you return the vehicle.

Typical deposit holds in the United States, including Cleveland, range from approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles. Premium or specialised vehicles may require a higher hold. The exact amount is set by the hire company at the Cleveland counter and may vary by brand, vehicle class, and season.

• You must present a physical, major credit card with your name printed on the card. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit in Cleveland.
• Ensure your card has sufficient available credit to cover both the hold and any expected charges.
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on an in-person authorisation in Cleveland.
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

After returning the vehicle in Cleveland, the hold is released. Your bank or card issuer controls when the credit becomes available again, which can take up to 15 business days.

If you drive through a toll on the Ohio Turnpike near Cleveland without enrolling in a toll programme, the toll charge will still be collected, but with additional costs.

Hire vehicles in Cleveland are equipped with electronic toll devices. If you do not enrol in the hire company's toll programme at the Cleveland counter, the following typically occurs:

• The toll agency sends an unpaid toll notice to the hire company, which then identifies you as the renter.
• The hire company charges the toll amount plus an administrative or processing fee to the credit card on file.
• These charges can appear days or even weeks after your Cleveland hire has ended, as toll agencies process invoices in batches.
• Repeated unpaid tolls can result in fines and penalties billed to your card.

To avoid surprise charges after your Cleveland trip, you have two options: enrol in the hire company's toll programme at the counter (typically US$4.95 per day, capped at US$34.65 per hire), or pay tolls manually at cash and credit card plazas on the Ohio Turnpike where available. If you plan to use your own toll pass, inform the Cleveland counter agent so they can deactivate the vehicle's default device and prevent duplicate charges.

Yes, Cleveland's city centre has recently undergone significant road changes that can confuse drivers unfamiliar with the area.

As of June 2025, Huron Road and Prospect Avenue in the Gateway District have been converted into a one-way pair. Huron Road now runs eastbound only and Prospect Avenue runs westbound only, between Ontario Street and East 9th Street. Both streets were reduced from four lanes in each direction to two lanes in a single direction, with the space reallocated to protected cycle lanes, pedestrian zones, and outdoor seating areas.

• This change directly affects navigation near Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field, so GPS apps may not yet reflect the updated layout.
• The Innerbelt motorway system (I-71, I-77, I-90) through downtown Cleveland also includes ongoing ramp closures and detours, such as a permanent detour for I-90 east to East 22nd Street via I-77 north, and the East 14th Street ramp to I-90 west being closed with detours via East 9th Street or Ontario Street.
• On event days at Cleveland's sports venues, traffic on the new one-way streets increases significantly.

When driving in Cleveland, allow extra time near the city centre, verify your GPS route against current signage, and be prepared for unexpected detours on the Innerbelt.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire car in Cleveland, either at no cost if your rate includes it or for a daily fee payable at the counter.

Check your booking confirmation for the line that reads "Additional driver free of charge." If it appears, the first extra driver is included. If not, the daily fees at Cleveland counters are:

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

The additional driver must be physically present at the Cleveland counter at collection with a valid driving licence (and an IDP if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet). Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the hire vehicle without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the vehicle’s insurance protections.

For Avis, Budget, and Payless hires in Cleveland, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at the time of collection.

Hire cars in Cleveland operate under 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 in Cleveland, 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 odometer and fuel gauge.
• During your Cleveland hire, use the correct fuel type for your vehicle. Wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy and may incur additional charges.
• Before returning to the Cleveland hire facility at 19601 Maplewood Avenue, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive.
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address as proof in case of any dispute.

If you return the hire car with less than a full tank, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the retail pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. For after-hours returns at the Cleveland site, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to hires starting in Cleveland as well.

This benefit is designed for situations such as a medical emergency on the Ohio Turnpike near Cleveland, a serious accident while driving in the Cleveland area, or a flight cancellation affecting your trip. Core benefits typically include:

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

To contact assistance 24 hours a day, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free or collect), contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001, or email [email protected]. Have your full name, your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number (e.g., HOLA1000000), your location in or near Cleveland, and a brief description of the situation ready.

Important: this cover is only available to travellers who are not residents of the United States or Canada. US and Canadian residents do not qualify for this benefit. Always check your Cleveland booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits applicable to your reservation.