Car Hire in Washington

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

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

No, Washington DC itself has no toll roads within its boundaries. However, most routes leaving Washington into Virginia or Maryland will take you through cashless, all-electronic toll facilities where no cash booths exist.

Common tolled routes near Washington include:

• Wilson Bridge (I-95/I-495) between Maryland and Virginia: approximately US$6 to US$8 per crossing
• 495 Express Lanes on the Virginia side of the Beltway: dynamic pricing of US$4 to US$20 per segment during peak hours
• Dulles Toll Road to and from Dulles International Airport (IAD): approximately US$5.75 to US$6.25 one way

Because tolling is fully electronic in the Washington area, your hire vehicle comes equipped with a transponder or plate-based billing system. At the counter you can choose an unlimited toll package (typically US$11 to US$25 per day) or pay per use, where the rental company bills actual tolls plus a daily processing fee of approximately US$4.95 to US$5.35 per usage day. If you drive a toll road without enrolling in any programme, the rental company will automatically enrol you in pay-per-use billing.

In the Washington area, all major toll roads are cashless, meaning your hire vehicle's registration plate is photographed at each toll point and charges are processed electronically.

At the counter when collecting your Washington hire, you will typically be offered two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a flat daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, charged every hire day regardless of whether you use toll roads
• Pay-per-use: actual toll amounts billed at the video toll rate (which can be 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 day you use a toll road

If you drive through a toll without selecting any programme, the rental company will automatically enrol you in pay-per-use billing. Toll charges often appear on your card days or even weeks after you return the vehicle, because toll agencies process invoices in batches.

E-ZPass is the primary interoperable electronic toll system across the Washington, Maryland, and Virginia region. You may also opt out of the rental company's programme at collection if you have your own compatible transponder, but ask the counter agent to deactivate the vehicle's default device to avoid duplicate charges.

At Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), after collecting your baggage, exit the terminal building down the ramp to Doors 2 or 4 and proceed to the hire car shuttle area at Curb 2C or 2D. From there, board the shuttle for your specific hire brand.

Each hire company operates its own branded shuttle from those curb positions to its off-airport lot or counter. Shuttles cycle regularly, so wait at the signed stop and look for your brand's logo on the bus.

A few practical tips for your Washington Dulles collection:

• Have your booking confirmation ready to show at the counter along with your driver’s licence, passport, and credit card
• Allow extra time after baggage claim, as the shuttle ride and counter queue can add 20 to 45 minutes to your arrival process
• If your flight is delayed by less than 24 hours, the hire company will hold your reservation; delays beyond 24 hours require you to contact support

Counter hours vary by brand, so confirm your specific partner's hours on your booking confirmation before you travel.

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

This is especially useful in the Washington area, where routes into Virginia and Maryland cross cashless toll facilities such as the Wilson Bridge, the 495 Express Lanes, and the Dulles Toll Road. You still pay tolls normally through the rental company's programme or your own transponder, and then claim reimbursement afterwards.

To claim your Washington tolls cashback:

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

Example: if your Washington booking total is US$600, the 5 percent cap is US$30. If you paid US$22 in tolls on the Dulles Toll Road and the Beltway, you receive US$22 back. If you paid US$50, you receive US$30 (the cap). Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 7 to 10 working days after approval.

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

• Your original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card (debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit)
• Your 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 driver’s licence is not in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, for example if it is in 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, not as a replacement.

All documents presented at the Washington hire counter must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted. If you think you may need an IDP, obtain it in your home country before travelling, as US issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-US licence holders.

Yes, a major credit card is required to hire a car in Washington. The card must be in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name physically printed on the card, and it must be presented in person at the counter.

The credit card is used to place a temporary security authorisation hold on your account at collection. For standard vehicles in the United States, this hold is typically US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount depends on the hire brand, vehicle class, and location. The hold reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the vehicle, which can take up to 15 working days depending on your bank.

Important points to bear in mind for your Washington collection:

• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted at the counter for the hold
• Even if you prepaid your Washington booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at collection
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined

Notify your bank of your travel plans before arriving in Washington to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations.

In Washington DC, the standard minimum age to hire a car without additional surcharges 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 drivers aged 25 and older.

Vehicle classes typically restricted to drivers 25 and older include full-size saloons, full-size SUVs, minivans, vans, convertibles, luxury, and premium categories. Drivers aged 21 to 24 are generally limited to economy, compact, intermediate, and compact SUV classes.

A few additional points relevant to Washington hires:

• Washington DC is not New York or Michigan, so the standard partner minimum of 21 to 24 with a surcharge applies rather than any state-mandated 18-plus rule
• The young-driver surcharge is paid at the counter and varies by hire brand and vehicle class
• Drivers aged 21 to 24 from Latin America or the Caribbean hiring through Avis or Budget may qualify for a young-driver fee waiver on eligible vehicle categories, provided the waiver is shown on their booking confirmation

Regardless of age, all drivers must present a valid licence, a major credit card in their name, and any required International Driving Permit at the Washington collection point.

Yes, one-way hires are available in Washington, allowing you to collect in the DC area and return the vehicle in a different city or state. However, a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, hire brand, vehicle class, and season.

How the fee works for Washington one-way hires:

• Same-city routes, such as Washington Dulles Airport to a downtown Washington location, often carry no drop-off fee
• Routes between Washington and another city in the same region may carry a variable drop-off fee
• Long-distance or cross-country one-ways from Washington typically carry higher fees, and some routes may not be permitted at all

The drop-off fee, if applicable, will be shown on the booking details page under the section labelled To pay at destination during checkout. It is not prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© Coverage unless it was not disclosed at the time of booking.

Cross-border one-ways, for example from Washington into Canada, are often restricted or carry significantly higher fees. Always confirm the route is permitted before booking. If you change your return location after booking, the hire will be re-priced and the drop-off fee may change.

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

Steps to follow for your Washington 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 lot
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level in Washington, 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.

Some Washington counter locations may offer a Prepaid Fuel option, which allows you to pay for a full tank upfront and return the car at any level. Any unused fuel is generally non-refundable under that option, so Full to Full is usually the better value if you plan to refuel before returning.

No, Washington DC does not have a congestion charge, emissions zone, or city-centre driving fee of any kind. Unlike cities such as New York or London, there is no zone-based charge for driving into or through central Washington.

Tolls in the Washington area are limited to specific motorways and bridges on routes crossing into Virginia or Maryland, such as the Wilson Bridge on I-95/I-495, the 495 Express Lanes, and the Dulles Toll Road leading to and from Dulles International Airport. Within DC itself, you can drive freely without any zone-based fee.

All tolling in the Washington region is fully electronic and cashless. There are no cash toll booths, so your hire vehicle's registration plate will be photographed at each toll point and charges processed through the rental company's billing programme or your own transponder account.

If you are hiring in Washington and plan to drive into Virginia or Maryland, review the toll options at the counter so you understand how charges will be billed and avoid unexpected fees on your post-hire statement.

When you pick up your hire vehicle in Washington, the hire company will place 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.

For standard vehicles hired in the United States, including Washington, the typical hold is approximately US$300 to US$400. The exact amount depends on the hire brand, vehicle class, and specific location. Premium or speciality vehicles may carry a higher hold.

Key points to know before your Washington collection:

• The hold must be placed on a major credit card in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name printed on the card
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual card numbers are not accepted
• Even if you prepaid your Washington booking, a physical credit card is still required at the counter
• After you return the vehicle, the hire company releases the hold, but your bank controls when it reappears in your available credit, which can take up to 15 working days

Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and notify your bank of your Washington travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on the in-person authorisation.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance coverage through Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if you experience a medical emergency or other covered incident while driving in or around Washington.

Coverage typically includes:

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

This benefit is designed for travellers visiting Washington from abroad. It does not apply to US or Canadian residents.

If you need assistance during your Washington hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

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

When you call, have your full name, your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number (for example, HOLA1000000), your current location in or near Washington, and a brief description of the situation ready. Follow the coordinator's instructions and keep all receipts and reports, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation before expenses are incurred.

This cover does not replace CDW/LDW for damage to the hire vehicle or LIS/ALI/SLI for third-party liability. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your Washington reservation.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Washington hire, either at no cost if your rate includes it or for a daily fee paid at the counter if it does not.

Daily fees for additional drivers in Washington 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

Check your booking confirmation before arriving at the Washington counter. If it states Additional driver free of charge, the first extra driver is included at no cost.

Requirements for adding a driver at your Washington collection:

• The additional driver must be present at the counter in person
• They must present a valid driver’s licence and any required International Driving Permit
• They must meet the minimum age requirements for Washington hires
• For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability cover. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the vehicle may void those protections.