Car Hire in Tampa

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Tampa 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 Tampa 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 Tampa International Airport (TPA), all major hire brands including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Alamo are consolidated at the Tampa Hire Car Centre, located at 5403-5409 Airport Service Rd, Tampa, FL 33607.

To reach the counter, follow these steps after arriving at TPA:

• After baggage reclaim, follow signs reading "To Terminal" then "Hire Cars" to the SkyConnect train station
• Board the SkyConnect automated train, which runs continuously and takes you directly to the Hire Car Centre
• Exit at the Hire Car Centre and proceed to your brand's counter (for example, Avis Preferred is on the 3rd floor)
• Complete your paperwork and collect your vehicle from the adjacent garage

The Tampa Hire Car Centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so late-night or early-morning arrivals are accommodated. Allow at least 30 to 60 minutes from landing to driving away, accounting for baggage reclaim, the SkyConnect ride, counter processing, and vehicle collection. There is no pedestrian route from the terminal to the centre; the SkyConnect train or a shuttle is required.

Yes, hiring a car at Tampa International Airport (TPA) incurs several location-specific fees on top of the base hire rate. These charges are standard at airport locations across the United States and are not unique to Tampa, but they can be substantial.

Common fees you may encounter at the Tampa airport hire desk include:

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): a percentage-based fee charged by the hire company to recover operating costs at TPA
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): a per-day or per-transaction fee funding the Tampa Hire Car Centre
• Bus Access Fee: a pass-through charge covering shuttle and SkyConnect infrastructure costs
• Florida state and local hire taxes

These fees can significantly increase your total, sometimes representing 20% or more of the base hire cost. Your booking confirmation will specify which fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are payable at the Tampa desk under "Total to pay at destination." If a fee appears at the desk that was not disclosed on your confirmation, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply.

Tampa's toll roads, including the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and other regional expressways, are almost entirely cashless. Very few cash toll booths remain in the Tampa area, so your hire vehicle will be equipped with an electronic toll device or a plate-based billing system.

At the Tampa hire desk you will typically have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: costs approximately US$11 to US$15 per hire day in Florida, covering all tolls during your hire period regardless of how many gantries you pass
• Pay per use: if you decline the package, the hire company records each toll via transponder or licence plate photo (Toll-by-Plate) and bills the toll amount plus an administrative fee to your credit card, sometimes days or weeks after returning the vehicle

Estimated daily toll costs in Tampa range from approximately US$3 to US$10, depending on which roads you use. If you plan to use your own visitor toll pass, inform the Tampa desk agent so they can deactivate the vehicle's default device and prevent duplicate charges.

Florida has no congestion charges or emissions zones, so tolls are the only road-use fee to consider in Tampa.

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

Since Tampa's expressways such as the Selmon Expressway are cashless and tolls accrue daily, this benefit can offset a meaningful portion of your toll costs. To claim it:

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

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your Tampa booking total was US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. If you paid US$18 in tolls, you receive US$18 back. Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

To collect a hire car in Tampa, you must present all documents in physical form at the counter. Digital copies are not accepted.

Required documents include:

• Your original, unexpired driving licence in the main driver’s name
• A physical major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express) with the driver’s name printed on the card, for the authorisation hold
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID (required for international visitors at Tampa locations)
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if visiting Tampa from abroad

If your driving 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 licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

At Tampa airport locations, the name on your licence, passport, and credit card must all match. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined at the Tampa desk.

Yes, drivers under 25 years old face a daily young-driver surcharge when hiring a car in Tampa. The minimum age to hire without a surcharge in Florida is 25.

Typical daily surcharge amounts at Tampa locations vary by hire brand:

• Avis and Budget: surcharge applies for drivers aged 21 to 24; the Avis/Budget underage fee exception for Latin American and Caribbean travellers may waive this fee on eligible rates
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day for drivers under 25
• Some Tampa airport brands charge US$22.00 per day for drivers under 25, and US$25.99 per day for drivers under 21

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

Drivers aged 18 to 20 may face additional restrictions depending on the Tampa hire brand. Always confirm eligibility for your specific vehicle class before booking.

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

Key points about the Tampa deposit process:

• Typical hold amount in the United States is approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles; premium or specialised cars may require a higher hold
• The hold must be placed on a physical, major credit card in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name printed on the card
• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit at Tampa hire counters
• After returning the car in Tampa, the hold is released; your bank controls how quickly it reappears as available credit, which can take up to 15 working days

At some Tampa airport locations, debit card renters face a US$500 deposit requirement charged immediately at pickup, with refunds taking 5 to 14 working days. To avoid complications, bring a major credit card with sufficient available credit to cover both the hold and any incidental charges. Bringing a backup credit card is also recommended in case your primary card is declined at the Tampa desk.

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

Daily additional driver fees at Tampa locations vary by brand:

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

To add a driver at the Tampa desk, the additional driver must be physically present at collection with their valid driving licence. If their licence is not in a Latin alphabet, they will also need an International Driving Permit. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the Tampa 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 the Tampa hire vehicle without being named on the contract may void those protections. Check your booking confirmation before arriving at the Tampa desk to see whether your rate already includes one free additional driver.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if an unexpected situation arises during your Tampa trip or whilst driving Florida's highways.

Core benefits typically included are:

• Travel and medical insurance covering up to 5 passengers for accidents and non-pre-existing illnesses
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident in or around Tampa
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline en route to Tampa
• Flight cancellation insurance

This coverage is designed for travellers visiting Tampa from abroad. It does not apply to US or Canadian residents. It also does not cover damage to the hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or liability to third parties (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI).

If you need assistance whilst in Tampa, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

• Phone (toll-free/collect): +1 888 980 9992
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Always check your specific booking confirmation for the exact coverage limits and conditions that apply to your Tampa hire.

Yes, one-way hires are available in Tampa, allowing you to collect at TPA or a Tampa city location and return the vehicle elsewhere. However, a drop-off fee may apply depending on your route.

How one-way fees work for Tampa hires:

• Same-city trips, such as collecting at Tampa International Airport and returning to a central Tampa branch, often have no drop-off fee
• Routes between Tampa and another Florida city such as Orlando or Miami typically incur a drop-off fee that varies by distance, vehicle class, and hire brand
• Cross-state routes from Tampa to another US state usually attract a higher one-way fee
• Some routes or vehicle classes may not be available for one-way hire at all

The drop-off fee for your Tampa one-way hire will be shown during the booking process under the "To pay at destination" section. It cannot be prepaid and is payable at the Tampa collection point or the return location. If you change your return location after booking, the fee may be recalculated. Always confirm the one-way fee on your booking confirmation before travelling.

When hiring a car in Tampa, two main types of cover are worth understanding before you arrive at the desk.

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 states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage caused to other vehicles or persons on Tampa roads.

Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others whilst driving in Tampa. Florida law does not universally require hire companies to include minimum liability cover, so this protection is not always automatic. Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding Liability Insurance Supplementary (up to US$300,000) to your Tampa hire.

Common exclusions to be aware of in Tampa:

• Tires, wheels, and undercarriage damage are often excluded from CDW/LDW
• Driving on unpaved roads or off-road areas voids cover
• Only drivers listed on the Tampa hire agreement are covered

Review your booking confirmation to confirm which covers are included in your Tampa rate before arriving at the desk.

The standard fuel policy for Tampa hire cars is Full-to-Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges.

Steps to follow for your Tampa hire:

• 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 odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the Tampa desk
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of your Tampa return location so 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 Tampa hire with less than a full tank, the hire company will charge you for the fuel shortfall at their refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee. For after-hours returns at the Tampa Hire Car Centre, leave your fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone.

Some Tampa desk locations may offer a Prepaid Fuel option, allowing you to return the vehicle at any fuel level. If you accept it, any unused fuel is generally non-refundable, so it is only worthwhile if you expect to return the car nearly empty.

Returning a hire car at Tampa International Airport after hours is straightforward because the Tampa Hire Car Centre at 5403-5409 Airport Service Rd operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for major brands including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Alamo.

Steps for returning your Tampa hire:

• Follow "Hire Car Return" signs from the TPA road network to the Hire Car Centre garage
• Park in the designated return area for your brand
• If the desk is unstaffed at the time of your return, use the 24-hour key drop box at your brand's desk location
• Leave your fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full fuel gauge and odometer as evidence
• Keep all paperwork including the hire agreement until you receive your final receipt

The Tampa Hire Car Centre is accessible via the SkyConnect train from the main terminal, so if you need to return to the terminal after dropping off the vehicle, the train runs continuously. For offsite Tampa hire providers that use a separate shuttle, call the number on your hire agreement to arrange collection from Bus Stop G. Always confirm after-hours return procedures specific to your brand on your Tampa booking confirmation before your return date.