Car Hire in New Orleans

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in New Orleans 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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY), follow these steps to reach the Rental Car Centre.

• After collecting your baggage, exit the terminal on Level 1 through Door 9, located near the Long-Term Parking Garage.
• Cross the street to Island 3 and board the airport-provided Hire Car Shuttle. Shuttles run every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The shuttle ride is non-stop and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to reach the Hire Car Centre at 600 Hire Blvd, Kenner, LA 70062.
• At the centre, proceed to your hire company's counter. For example, Sixt is located on the far left, while Enterprise and National counters are also available inside the facility.

Plan for a total of 30 to 45 minutes from baggage claim to the hire facility before counter processing begins. The shuttle operates around the clock, but some counters have limited hours, so confirm your brand's hours in advance when collecting a car in New Orleans.

To pick up a hire car in New Orleans, you must bring the following physical documents to the counter.

• A valid, original 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, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended.
• A major credit card physically printed with the main driver’s name, with sufficient available credit 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 if required by your hire partner.
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets, which are typically required for visitors arriving from abroad.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at New Orleans hire counters. The IDP is a translation only and must always be presented alongside your original licence, never as a standalone document.

Yes, there are toll roads near New Orleans that you may encounter during your hire, though Louisiana has a limited toll network compared to states like Florida or New York.

The most notable toll road is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which connects Metairie (near New Orleans) to Mandeville across approximately 24 miles. The one-way toll for a standard 2-axle vehicle is US$5.00, with a round trip costing approximately US$9 to US$10. Other crossings such as the Huey P. Long Bridge or certain ferry routes may cost US$1.00 to US$3.00 per crossing.

Louisiana does not use a statewide electronic transponder system like E-ZPass or SunPass. Tolls are collected either at cash booths or via licence plate photography (Toll-by-Plate style) on cashless segments. There are no congestion charges or emissions zones in the New Orleans area.

Your hire vehicle in New Orleans will likely include an electronic toll device or plate-based billing. If you use it without enrolling in the hire company's toll programme, the company will charge you the actual toll at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative fee per day tolls are incurred. You can opt in to an unlimited toll package at the counter, typically priced between US$11 and US$25 per day, depending on the partner.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your New Orleans hire.

This benefit is especially useful if you plan to cross the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (US$5.00 one-way) or other toll bridges in the New Orleans area, where toll costs can add up over a multi-day trip.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle, email [email protected] within 30 days of drop-off and include the following.

• 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, a final hire invoice with an itemised toll line, or a transponder statement for the hire period.

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the total tolls you paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your booking total is US$500, the cap is US$25. Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

Counter hours at the New Orleans airport Hire Car Centre (600 Hire Blvd, Kenner, LA 70062) vary by hire brand, so it is important to confirm your specific company's schedule before you travel.

As a general reference based on available information for New Orleans MSY.

• Sixt operates from 06:00 to 00:00 (midnight) daily, including holidays.
• Enterprise and National offer after-hours assistance at the National counter for delayed flights.
• The airport shuttle to and from the Hire Car Centre runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of counter hours.
• Downtown New Orleans locations, such as the Avis branch at 1317 Canal St, typically operate more limited hours, for example 08:00 to 14:00, with no confirmed after-hours options.

If your flight is delayed, hire companies in New Orleans will generally hold your booking for up to 24 hours from the original pick-up time. If your delay exceeds 24 hours, contact your booking provider as soon as possible. Always verify hours directly with your hire partner using the contact details on your booking confirmation, as hours can change on holidays.

Returning a hire car at New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is straightforward if you follow the signs to the Hire Car Centre.

• Drive to the Hire Car Centre at 600 Hire Blvd, Kenner, LA 70062, following airport signage for hire car returns.
• For Sixt, returns are processed on Level 3 of the Hire Car Garage, where an agent will assist you with the vehicle inspection and close the contract.
• After completing the return, take the lift or stairs to Level 1 of the Hire Car Centre and board the airport shuttle back to the terminal. The shuttle runs every 5 minutes and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Allow at least 45 to 60 minutes before your flight departure to account for the return process and shuttle ride back to the New Orleans terminal.

Before returning, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Hire Car Centre to comply with the Full-to-Full fuel policy. Keep your fuel receipt as proof in case a fuel charge is disputed. If you are returning after counter hours, check your hire agreement for any key-drop or after-hours instructions specific to your New Orleans hire partner.

Yes, a major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to hire a car in New Orleans. The card must be a physical card with the driver’s name printed on it and must have sufficient available credit to cover the security deposit hold placed at pick-up.

Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit at New Orleans hire counters, even if you have already prepaid your booking online.

Typical security deposit holds in the United States range from approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles, though the exact amount depends on the hire company, vehicle class, and location. The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears from your available credit, which can take up to 15 business days.

To avoid issues at the New Orleans counter, notify your bank of your travel plans in advance to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations, and consider bringing a backup credit card in your name.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if an unexpected situation arises during your New Orleans trip, such as a medical emergency or a breakdown on a highway like I-10 or the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

Core benefits typically included are.

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

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

Important: this travel assistance benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Travellers who are residents of the United States or Canada do not qualify for this coverage. Always review your specific booking confirmation for the exact terms, limits, and exclusions that apply to your New Orleans hire.

Driving in New Orleans presents some unique challenges that differ from other major U.S. cities, particularly in and around the historic French Quarter and the elevated expressway network.

• The Vieux Carré (French Quarter) features extremely narrow, one-way streets that were not designed for modern vehicles. Traffic is funneled through a limited number of routes, with only one riverbound street (Toulouse) and one lakebound street (Dumaine) serving as main through-routes in some areas.
• The Claiborne Expressway (I-10) is an elevated structure that runs through residential neighbourhoods and has access ramps that can be confusing for first-time drivers in New Orleans.
• I-10 on the east side of New Orleans has abandoned overpasses and ramps that appear functional on some maps but lead nowhere. These ghost interchanges can cause confusion if you are navigating unfamiliar routes.
• The Earhart Expressway (LA 3139) is a short spur with unbuilt interchanges and partial exits that can disorient drivers unfamiliar with the New Orleans road network.
• Some intersections near unusual highway configurations require stopping twice when going straight, which differs from standard U.S. intersection rules.

Using a GPS or navigation app is strongly recommended when driving in New Orleans, especially if you plan to venture beyond the main corridors.

Yes, you can pick up a hire car at downtown New Orleans locations instead of at the airport Hire Car Centre in Kenner.

Downtown options include branches such as the Avis and Budget location at 1317 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112, as well as Enterprise neighbourhood locations on Baronne St and Canal St. These city-centre branches do not require a shuttle and offer walk-up access or, in some cases, delivery service to nearby hotels.

There are a few important differences to consider when choosing a downtown New Orleans pickup over the airport.

• Downtown branches typically operate more limited hours, for example 08:00 to 14:00, with no confirmed 24-hour or after-hours options.
• The selection of available vehicle classes may be more limited than at the airport Hire Car Centre.
• If you are arriving by plane at MSY, you will need to arrange your own transport from the airport to the downtown location before picking up the car.

Check your booking confirmation for the exact address and hours of your chosen New Orleans pickup location, as branch details can change.

Yes, one-way hires from New Orleans to a different city are possible with most partner brands, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your route.

When booking a one-way hire from New Orleans, the drop-off fee is route-specific and varies by hire company, destination city, vehicle class, and season. You will see this fee listed under the "To pay at destination" section during the booking process on the Hola Car Rentals website, so there are no surprises at the counter.

Some general patterns to keep in mind for New Orleans one-way hires.

• Returning to another airport or city within Louisiana or a neighbouring state will typically carry a drop-off fee that varies by distance and car class.
• Long-distance or cross-country one-ways from New Orleans often carry higher fees and may have limited availability for certain vehicle classes.
• Cross-border one-ways, such as from the United States to Canada or Mexico, are generally restricted or require prior partner approval.

If you change your return location after booking, the hire will be re-priced and the drop-off fee may change. Always verify the fee shown on your confirmation before pick-up at your New Orleans location.

The minimum age to hire a car in New Orleans without a young-driver surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged a daily underage fee at the counter, and most vehicle classes are restricted to renters aged 25 and older.

Louisiana does not have a state law requiring hires to drivers under 21, so the standard U.S. policy applies in New Orleans: drivers must be at least 21 years old, with a surcharge for those aged 21 to 24.

Typical young-driver surcharges at New Orleans partner counters are as follows.

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

Drivers aged 21 to 24 from Latin America or the Caribbean may qualify for a young-driver fee waiver on eligible Avis or Budget rates booked through Hola Car Rentals, provided the waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation and the vehicle belongs to an eligible category such as Economy, Compact, or Medium SUV.

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

Hire cars in New Orleans follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges.

At pick-up, verify the fuel level with the agent and confirm it is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the gauge and odometer. If the tank is not full at pick-up, the starting level must be noted on the agreement, and you only need to return it at that same level.

When returning your New Orleans hire, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Hire Car Centre at 600 Hire Blvd, Kenner, to ensure the gauge does not drop before you arrive. Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address as proof.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded level, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. These charges are separate from the security deposit hold.

Some New Orleans counter locations may offer an optional Prepaid Fuel plan. If you accept it, any unused fuel is generally non-refundable, so the Full-to-Full approach is usually the better value for most renters.