Car Hire in St. Louis

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

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

At St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), hire car facilities are located off-airport on Natural Bridge Road, so you must take a free company shuttle from the terminal to reach the counter.

Shuttle pickup points vary by terminal:

• Terminal 1 (T1): outside exit 17 at the west end of the island curb, or the Brown Level of the T1 Garage at Door 15, or outside baggage claim via exit MT17
• Terminal 2 (T2): outside exit 12 on the inside curb of Arrivals Boulevard, or exit 16 outside the International Arrival Centre

Shuttles run frequently and serve brands including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Alamo. Once at the off-airport facility, you complete paperwork at the counter, kiosk, or express line, then collect your keys and vehicle. Budget and Southwest passengers departing from the East Terminal should board the Budget shuttle specifically.

From the moment you clear baggage claim to driving away, plan for roughly 20 to 45 minutes under normal conditions. Add extra time during peak hours or late-night arrivals. The St. Louis facilities are generally open 24 hours (Avis and Budget) or from 6 AM to 11:45 PM (Enterprise), so confirm your brand's hours against your arrival time.

No, St. Louis itself has no toll roads, and Missouri has only one toll facility in the entire state: the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge on State Highway MM, which is well outside the St. Louis metro area.

Key facts about that bridge if your St. Louis trip takes you towards the Lake of the Ozarks:

• It is cash-only. No electronic transponders, E-ZPass, or cashless payment options are accepted
• Standard passenger cars pay US$3.00 during summer months (May through September) and US$2.00 at other times
• You cannot cross without cash. There is no invoice or violation option if you lack payment

Because Missouri has no cashless toll roads, the electronic toll programmes offered by hire companies at the St. Louis counter (such as e-Toll or TollPass) are not relevant for driving within Missouri. Missouri also has no congestion charges, emissions zones, or city-centre driving fees.

If your St. Louis hire takes you into neighbouring states such as Illinois, toll roads do exist there and a transponder programme may become useful. Review your route before deciding whether to enrol in a toll programme at the counter.

Hiring at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) adds several mandatory fees on top of your base rate. These are charged by the airport and the state, not by the hire company itself.

• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): US$10.00 per hire day, capped at US$60.00 per hire
• Missouri state sales tax: 8.5%
• Airport Improvement Fee: 5%
• Vehicle Licence Fee: approximately US$1.25 to US$45.00 depending on vehicle class

These fees apply at the St. Louis airport counter regardless of which partner brand you use. Your booking confirmation will indicate whether these taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate or listed as amounts payable at collection. If your confirmation shows taxes and fees as included, you should not be billed separately for them at the St. Louis counter.

If you wish to avoid airport surcharges, downtown St. Louis locations such as those on Olive Street or near Union Station typically carry lower fee structures, though their operating hours are more limited (generally Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM, with reduced weekend hours).

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire, including any tolls you encounter when driving from St. Louis into neighbouring states like Illinois.

Since Missouri itself has virtually no toll roads near St. Louis, this benefit is most relevant if your trip takes you across the Mississippi River into Illinois, where toll roads do operate.

To claim your St. Louis hire Tolls Cashback:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback, followed by your reservation confirmation number
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid

The refund is calculated as the lesser of your actual toll costs or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your St. Louis booking totalled US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. 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.

To collect your hire car in St. Louis, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• Your original, unexpired driving licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the security deposit authorisation hold
• A passport or valid government photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad

If your driving licence is not in English and does not use a Latin alphabet (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required alongside your original licence at the St. Louis counter. For licences in English or a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not mandatory.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at any St. Louis hire counter. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit; only a major credit card qualifies.

If there is a name mismatch between your licence, passport, and credit card, the counter agent may refuse to complete the hire, so verify all names match before travelling to St. Louis.

Returning your hire car after hours at St. Louis Lambert International Airport requires a few extra steps because the facilities are located off-airport on Natural Bridge Road.

For most brands, after-hours key drop is available at the security booth at the off-site facility. Budget renters can drop keys and the contract at the security booth. Fastbreak members can record mileage and fuel, then drop the agreement in the designated box.

For very early returns before 4 AM, Enterprise, National, and Alamo direct renters to an alternative return site at 4540 Woodson Road in St. Louis, where a shuttle back to the terminal is also available. Shuttle service between the off-airport facilities and the terminal generally runs from 4 AM to midnight.

Before any after-hours return at a St. Louis facility:

• Refuel the vehicle near the return location so the tank matches the level recorded on your agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge
• Keep your fuel receipt with the station address and timestamp
• Note any pre-existing damage on the contract before dropping keys

Confirm the specific after-hours procedure for your brand on your hire agreement, as instructions can vary between partners at the St. Louis airport.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 renting a car in St. Louis are subject to a daily young-renter surcharge on top of the base hire rate. The standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge in Missouri is 25.

Typical daily surcharge amounts by brand at St. Louis locations:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13.00 per day plus taxes, capped at US$65.00 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per day plus taxes, capped at US$189.00 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15.00 per day plus taxes

In addition to the surcharge, drivers under 25 in St. Louis are restricted from hiring most vehicle classes. Economy, compact, medium saloon, standard saloon, compact SUV, and medium SUV categories are generally available, while full-size SUVs, minivans, luxury, premium, and convertible classes typically require the driver to be at least 25.

One exception: if you are a Latin American or Caribbean resident aged 21 to 24 and your Hola Car Rentals confirmation explicitly states the underage fee is waived, Avis and Budget in St. Louis may waive the surcharge for the main driver on eligible vehicle categories. Check your confirmation carefully before arriving at the St. Louis counter.

When hiring in St. Louis, two main types of cover are worth understanding before you reach the counter.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers damage to the hire vehicle itself from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly shows zero excess. CDW and LDW do not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

Third-Party Liability (LIS, ALI, or SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving in St. Louis. Missouri does not universally require hire companies to include state-minimum liability, so cover levels can vary by partner. Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding Liability Insurance Supplementary (up to US$300,000) to your St. Louis booking.

Common exclusions to be aware of in St. Louis:

• Tires, wheels, undercarriage, and roof damage are often excluded from CDW
• Driving under the influence or off-road use voids cover
• Only drivers named on the hire agreement are covered
• Crossing into Illinois or other states is generally permitted but confirm territory rules on your agreement

Review your Hola Car Rentals confirmation to see which covers are included in your rate before arriving at the St. Louis counter.

St. Louis has several road features that can catch first-time visitors out, so it is worth reviewing them before collecting your hire car.

• I-70 approaching downtown from the west has a permanent one-way express lane stretch of roughly 5 to 6 miles that is eastbound-only. Drivers expecting a reversible or bidirectional option will find jersey barriers blocking outbound access.
• The Poplar Street Bridge area, where I-64 and I-55 intersect, splits into parallel two-lane roadways to pass under a railway bridge. The lane configuration is narrow and can be disorienting at motorway speed.
• Single-point urban interchanges (SPUIs) appear at several key junctions in St. Louis. These consolidate left turns under one signal phase, which is efficient but unfamiliar if you have not encountered them before.
• Calm Streets infrastructure is being expanded across St. Louis on corridors including Kingshighway, Grand, Jefferson, and Washington. Expect traffic circles with offset centres and narrow circling lanes, speed humps, and raised corner extensions that reduce speeds and prioritise pedestrians and cyclists over vehicle flow.
• The New Chain of Rocks Bridge replacement on I-270 has been under construction since 2023 and is expected to open in 2026, causing temporary single-lane restrictions during peak periods.

St. Louis has no speed cameras; enforcement relies on traditional patrols. There are no emission zones or special driving restrictions for hire vehicles.

Yes, downtown St. Louis has several hire car collection points that may be more convenient if you are already staying in the city centre rather than arriving directly at Lambert Airport.

Known city centre locations in St. Louis include:

• Olive Street at 2925 Olive St
• Westin Hotel at 811 Spruce St, near Union Station
• Live! by Loews at 799 Clark Ave, near Ballpark Village (note: this location may be restricted to hotel guests)

Downtown St. Louis counters operate on more limited hours than the airport. Typical hours are Monday to Friday 7 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM, and Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM, though this varies by brand. If you plan an early morning or late evening collection in St. Louis, the airport facilities are a better option since they operate close to or around the clock.

One practical advantage of downtown St. Louis locations is that you walk directly to the counter without needing a shuttle. However, the airport surcharges such as the US$10.00 per day Customer Facility Charge and the 5% Airport Improvement Fee generally do not apply at off-airport city locations, which can reduce your total cost.

Confirm the exact address and hours for your chosen brand on your booking confirmation before travelling to the St. Louis pickup point.

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

At collection at your St. Louis counter:

• 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
• Ask the agent about the nearest petrol stations to the return location

When returning your St. Louis hire, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return centre so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive. Keep the fuel receipt with the station address and timestamp in case a charge is disputed later.

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 an administrative fee.

If the car was not full at collection in St. Louis, ask the agent to record the exact level on the agreement. You only need to return it at that same level, not necessarily full.

For after-hours returns at the St. Louis airport facilities, leave your fuel receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as proof.

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

If your Hola Car Rentals confirmation shows additional driver as included, the first extra driver is free. If it is not included, the daily fees at St. Louis counters are:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13.00 per day plus taxes, capped at US$65.00 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per day plus taxes, capped at US$189.00 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15.00 per day plus taxes

Requirements for adding a driver at the St. Louis counter:

• The additional driver must be physically present at collection
• They must present a valid driving licence and any required ID
• If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit is also required
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement
• For Avis, Budget, and Payless in St. Louis, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s protections. Anyone who drives the St. Louis hire without being listed on the contract may void cover and incur additional charges.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if you experience a medical emergency or other travel disruption during your St. Louis hire, including on highways like I-70 or I-64 or when driving to more remote areas of Missouri.

Core benefits typically included:

• Travel and 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

This cover does not include damage to the hire vehicle (that is handled by CDW or LDW) or liability to third parties (covered by LIS or SLI). It also does not apply to pre-existing medical conditions.

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

If you need to use the assistance during your St. Louis hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also reach them via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001 or by email at [email protected]. Always open a case before incurring medical expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation. Check your Hola Car Rentals confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your St. Louis booking.