Minivan Hire
in Halifax

Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car hire companies in Halifax, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes extra benefits that no other company can match:

• Full vehicle coverage with no excess (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: get back up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls charged during your hire
• Premium travel medical assistance for up to 5 passengers in case of emergency, covering up to CAD 200,000 (pre-existing conditions excluded)
• 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 at no additional cost, ensuring a unique hire experience with complete protection and peace of mind during your trip in Halifax.

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

To pick up a minivan hire in Halifax, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original 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 authorisation hold)
• A valid passport or government-issued 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 alphabet (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For all other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

All documents must be physical. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at any Halifax minivan hire counter.

Yes, a major credit card is required to hire a minivan in Halifax. 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 hire partner will place a temporary authorisation hold on the card at pick-up. For Canada, this hold is typically GBP 300 to GBP 500, though some Halifax locations may authorise up to approximately GBP 750, and the amount can be higher for larger vehicles like a minivan.

The hold is not a charge. It reduces your available credit until the hire is concluded and your bank releases the authorisation, which can take up to 15 working days after return.

• Debit cards are not accepted for the deposit
• Prepaid or virtual cards are not accepted
• The card must belong to the main driver, not a travel companion

It is advisable to bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and to notify your bank of your travel to Halifax before arriving to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

Yes, there are toll roads in Nova Scotia that can affect your minivan hire in Halifax. The two main ones to be aware of are:

• The Cobequid Pass on Highway 104, a 45-km section between Masstown and Thomson Station. The toll for passenger vehicles is GBP 4.00 one way. Nova Scotia-plated hire vehicles are often waved through, but out-of-province plates are subject to the charge. Cash lanes are available at the toll plaza.
• The Halifax bridges (Angus L. Macdonald and A. Murray MacKay) previously used the MACPASS cashless transponder system, but tolls on these bridges were removed entirely as of 17 March 2025. No toll applies when crossing them in your minivan today.

If you plan to drive your Halifax minivan hire along Highway 104 towards Amherst or Truro, Budget GBP 4.00 each way for the Cobequid Pass. Using the cash lane and informing the attendant of the plate situation is the simplest approach to ensure any applicable exemption is applied.

There are no congestion charges or emissions zones in Halifax or anywhere in Nova Scotia.

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

This is useful if you drive your minivan through the Cobequid Pass on Highway 104, where the toll is GBP 4.00 per direction for out-of-province vehicles. Even though the Halifax bridges no longer charge tolls, any tolls paid on other Nova Scotia roads during your hire period are eligible.

To claim your cashback after returning the minivan in Halifax:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• 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

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted, so keep your toll receipts from the moment you pick up the minivan in Halifax.

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

• At pick-up, 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 so you can refuel close by before dropping off the minivan

Refuel within approximately 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full during the drive back. Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.

If you return the Halifax minivan with less fuel than recorded at pick-up, the hire partner may charge you for the shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a service fee. Returning the minivan full is always the most cost-effective option.

For after-hours returns, leave the fuel receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence.

The Cobequid Pass is a 45-km tolled section of Highway 104 in Nova Scotia, running between Masstown and Thomson Station. It is the main toll road you are likely to encounter when driving your Halifax minivan hire towards Cape Breton or the New Brunswick border.

• The toll for a passenger vehicle is GBP 4.00 per direction
• Nova Scotia-plated hire vehicles are often waved through at the cash booth, but this exemption applies to NS plates specifically
• Out-of-province plates are subject to the GBP 4.00 charge
• Cash lanes are available at the toll plaza, so you can pay directly without a transponder

If you drive through a cashless lane without paying, the camera captures the minivan's plate and the invoice is sent to the hire company, which then bills you the toll plus an administrative fee of approximately GBP 15 to GBP 25. Using the cash lane avoids this entirely.

A detour via Highway 4 through the Wentworth Valley bypasses the Cobequid Pass but adds travel time. For most Halifax minivan hirers, paying the GBP 4.00 at the cash booth is the simplest option. Keep your receipt so you can submit a Tolls Cashback claim after your hire ends.

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

Check your booking confirmation before arriving. If it states "Additional driver free of charge," the first extra driver is covered. If not, the daily fees by partner are approximately:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: GBP 13 per day, capped at GBP 65
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: GBP 13.50 per day, capped at GBP 189
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: GBP 15 per day

The additional driver must be present at the Halifax counter at pick-up with their own valid driver’s licence and any required IDP. They must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the Halifax minivan without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the hire protections, including CDW and liability coverage.

For Avis, Budget, and Payless, the additional driver must be at least 25 years old at the time of pick-up. Age rules at other partners may vary, so confirm at the counter when collecting your minivan in Halifax.

Yes, most Halifax minivan hire bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. However, this benefit applies only to travellers who are not residents of Canada or the United States. Canadian and American residents do not qualify for this coverage.

For eligible travellers, the travel assistance included with your Halifax minivan booking typically covers:

• Medical coverage for up to 5 passengers during the trip
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This coverage is particularly relevant if you experience a medical emergency or an accident while driving your minivan on Nova Scotia roads, including more remote stretches like Highway 104 near the Cobequid Pass.

To use the assistance, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at +1 888 980 9992 or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Always contact the assistance line before incurring medical expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation.

Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Halifax minivan hire.

When hiring a minivan in Halifax, two main types of protection are relevant: damage coverage for the vehicle and liability coverage for third parties.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability if the Halifax minivan is damaged or stolen. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero. CDW and LDW do not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

For third-party liability, Canadian provincial law requires every hire vehicle to carry a minimum level of third-party liability insurance, so this statutory coverage is included by default when you hire a minivan in Halifax. You can purchase additional liability (LIS or SLI) for higher limits if you want extra protection.

• CDW or LDW: covers the hire minivan itself, subject to any deductible
• Statutory third-party liability: included by law in Nova Scotia
• Supplemental liability (LIS or SLI): optional higher limits available at the counter

CDW and LDW do not cover tyres, the undercarriage, the roof, or personal belongings. Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered. Review your booking confirmation to confirm which protections are already included in your Halifax minivan rate before accepting anything at the counter.

Yes, one-way minivan hires in Halifax are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location, the hire partner, and the vehicle class.

Common patterns for Halifax one-way minivan hires:

• Returning the minivan to another Halifax location (for example, airport to city centre): often no drop-off fee
• Returning to another Nova Scotia city or a different Canadian province: a drop-off fee typically applies and varies by distance and partner
• Cross-border returns to the United States: may be restricted or carry significantly higher fees depending on the partner

The drop-off fee is shown during the booking process under the "To pay at destination" section on the rate details page. It is not prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© unless it was not disclosed at the time of booking.

If you need to change your return location after booking your Halifax minivan, the hire may be re-priced and a new or higher drop-off fee could apply. Always confirm the fee shown on your confirmation matches what the counter presents at pick-up in Halifax.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not always mandatory to hire a minivan in Halifax, but whether you need one depends on your licence.

• If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an IDP is mandatory. Without it, the hire partner may refuse to hand over the minivan.
• If your licence is in English or uses a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required in most cases.
• Visitors from EU and EEA countries can generally drive in Canada on their home licence.

The IDP is a translation document only. It must always be carried together with your original driver’s licence. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted on its own at the Halifax hire counter.

Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling to Halifax. Canadian authorities such as CAA can issue IDPs, but only to holders of Canadian licences, so foreign visitors cannot obtain one after arriving.

All documents presented at the Halifax hire counter must be physical originals. Digital versions are not accepted.

If you return your Halifax minivan after the agreed drop-off time, the hire partner may charge you for extra time and potentially a late fee.

Most hire partners in Halifax allow a grace period of approximately 30 minutes beyond the scheduled return time. If you exceed that window, charges for additional hours or a full extra day may apply, depending on the partner’s policy.

• Returning within the grace period (typically 30 minutes): usually no extra charge
• Returning beyond the grace period: extra hours or a full additional day may be billed
• A late fee may also be added on top of the time charge

If you know you will be late returning the Halifax minivan, contact the hire partner as early as possible using the number on your hire agreement. Extending the hire in advance is generally less expensive than being charged for an unplanned late return.

For after-hours returns, follow the key-drop instructions provided by the partner. Note that liability for the minivan may continue until the counter formally checks it in the next morning, so document the vehicle’s condition with photos before leaving it.

When collecting your minivan in Halifax, the first step is to confirm the operating brand shown on your booking confirmation. Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) has hire car counters available for the major partner brands.

General steps to locate your minivan counter in Halifax:

• Check your confirmation for the exact brand name (for example, Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, or National)
• Follow the car hire signs inside the Halifax airport terminal toward the hire desks
• Some brands may operate from a consolidated area or require a short shuttle to an off-terminal lot; check your confirmation for any specific instructions
• If you are picking up a minivan at a downtown Halifax city location, bring the exact address and call the branch if you cannot locate the office

Counter hours can vary by brand and may be reduced on public holidays. If your flight arrives late, hire partners in Halifax will generally hold your minivan booking for up to 24 hours from the original pick-up time. If your delay exceeds 24 hours, contact support as soon as possible to avoid losing the reservation.

Bring all required documents to the Halifax counter: your licence, credit card, passport, and booking confirmation.