Minivan Hire
in Ottawa

Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car hire companies in Ottawa, 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 Ottawa.

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

Picking up a minivan at Ottawa International Airport (YOW) involves a short shuttle ride rather than a walk from the terminal. After collecting your baggage, proceed to the rental counter desks inside the arrivals area, then board the company shuttle bus to the off-site pickup lot.

The main hire lots are located at:

• 1003 Airport Parkway Private, Ottawa, K1V 2C1
• 350 Comet Private, Ottawa, K1V 9B4

Budget also offers a meet-and-greet option to the pickup site. Allow extra time beyond your flight landing for baggage claim, the counter check-in, and the shuttle transfer. A realistic estimate from landing to driving away in your minivan is 45 to 90 minutes, depending on queue length and the hire company.

When returning your Ottawa minivan, bring it back to the same designated lots and take the shuttle back to the terminal. Airport counter hours are generally Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM and Saturday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM, though hours can vary by brand.

Yes, you can pick up a minivan at several downtown Ottawa locations instead of Ottawa International Airport (YOW).

City centre branches where minivan hires may be available include:

• 881 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, K1K 3B1
• 1160 Newmarket, Ottawa, K1B 1A6
• 345 Slater Street (Constitution Square), Ottawa, K1R 7X7
• 226 Queen Street, Ottawa, K1P 5E4
• 355 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, K1N 5K6

Downtown Ottawa locations operate as walk-up street-level counters with no shuttle required. However, you will need to arrange your own transport from the airport to the city branch, such as a taxi or rideshare, before collecting your minivan.

Hours at downtown Ottawa branches are more limited than the airport. For example, 345 Slater Street is open Monday to Wednesday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday to Friday 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with 24-hour key drop available. Always confirm hours directly with your chosen branch before arriving, as they vary by location and day.

To pick up a minivan hire in Ottawa, 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 (for the authorisation hold)
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from abroad)

If your driver’s licence is not in English or French and uses a non-Latin alphabet (such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For licences in other 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 must be physical originals. Digital copies on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the Ottawa hire counter. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

The main toll road affecting minivan hires in the Ottawa and Ontario region is Highway 407 ETR, a 108-kilometre privately operated highway spanning the Greater Toronto Area. If you drive your Ottawa minivan towards Toronto or through the GTA, you may encounter this toll road.

Key facts about Highway 407 ETR:

• Fully cashless, no cash booths exist. Billing is done by licence plate photography
• Tolls are distance-based and vary by time of day and zone. Weekend rates for light vehicles range from approximately CAD 49.93 cents to CAD 87.27 cents per kilometre
• A sample 25-kilometre peak trip can cost around CAD 30.45 including the trip charge and camera fee for vehicles without a transponder

Most major motorways in Ontario, including the 401 and 400 series, are toll-free, so driving within Ottawa itself does not typically involve tolls.

If you use the 407 ETR in your Ottawa minivan hire, the toll is billed to the hire company via plate recognition, which then charges your card along with an administrative fee. Some hire companies offer daily toll pass programmes (approximately CAD 3.95 to CAD 4.95 per day, capped at around CAD 30 per hire) to simplify billing. Review the toll programme options with the counter agent when collecting your minivan in Ottawa.

When picking up a minivan hire in Ottawa, the hire company will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at the counter. This is not a charge but reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the vehicle.

For Canada, typical security deposit holds range from approximately CAD 300 to CAD 500, though some Ottawa locations may require a hold of around CAD 750. Minivans, as larger vehicle classes, may attract holds at the higher end of this range.

Important requirements for the deposit:

• The credit card must be a major credit card (not debit or prepaid) in the main driver’s name, with the name printed on the physical card
• Digital wallets, virtual cards, and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit hold
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges

After returning your Ottawa minivan, the hold is released by the hire company, but your bank controls when the credit reappears on your account, which can take up to 15 working days. Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined.

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

This benefit is especially relevant if you drive your Ottawa minivan towards Toronto and use Highway 407 ETR, the main toll road in Ontario. Tolls on the 407 ETR are fully cashless and billed by licence plate, so charges can appear on your account after the hire ends.

To claim your cashback after returning your Ottawa minivan:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback, followed by your reservation 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 capped at 5% of your booking total. For example, if your Ottawa minivan booking totalled US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. If your actual tolls were less than that cap, you receive the full toll amount back. Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions beyond 30 days are not accepted.

Minivan hires in Ottawa follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the minivan with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Steps to follow for a smooth fuel return in Ottawa:

• At pickup, 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
• Refuel within approximately 15 kilometres of the Ottawa return location before dropping off the minivan
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return the Ottawa minivan 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 a service fee.

For after-hours returns at Ottawa locations with key drop boxes (such as 345 Slater Street), leave your fuel receipt in the return envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence. There are petrol stations near major Ottawa return locations along Airport Parkway and St Laurent Boulevard.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your minivan hire in Ottawa, either as part of your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

Some rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation for the line stating additional driver free of charge. If it is not included, fees at Ottawa hire counters are typically:

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

Requirements for adding a driver to your Ottawa minivan hire:

• The additional driver must be present at the Ottawa pickup counter
• They must show a valid driver’s licence and sign the hire agreement
• They must meet the minimum age requirements. For Avis, Budget, and Payless, the additional driver must be at least 25 years old
• If their licence is not in English or French, or uses a non-Latin alphabet, an IDP is required

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW and liability cover. Do not allow anyone not named on the contract to drive the Ottawa minivan.

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

For eligible customers, the travel assistance included with your Ottawa minivan booking typically covers:

• Medical cover 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 cover does not include damage to the hire minivan itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability to others (handled by LIS/ALI/SLI).

If you need assistance during your Ottawa minivan hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

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

Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Always check your booking confirmation for the exact coverages and limits that apply to your specific Ottawa minivan reservation.

Minivan hires in Ottawa through Hola Car Rentals partner brands typically include two key protections depending on the rate selected.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability for damage to the hire minivan from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW and LDW do not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

Third-party liability cover is required by provincial law in Ontario. When you rent a minivan in Ottawa through Hola Car Rentals, statutory third-party liability is included by default, as Canadian law requires every vehicle to carry it. You can still purchase higher supplementary liability limits (LIS/ALI/SLI) at the counter if you want additional protection beyond the statutory minimum.

What is not covered by standard inclusions:

• Personal injuries to you or your passengers (requires PAI)
• Personal belongings inside the minivan (requires PEC)
• Damage from prohibited use such as off-road driving or driving under the influence
• Tires, undercarriage, and roof damage unless specifically included

Always review your Ottawa minivan hire agreement at the counter to confirm exactly which coverages are active and what deductible applies.

Yes, several Ottawa minivan hire locations offer after-hours key drop options, though after-hours pickup is generally not available.

Known after-hours return options in Ottawa include:

• 345 Slater Street (Constitution Square): confirmed 24-hour key drop available
• Airport lots at 1003 Airport Parkway Private and 350 Comet Private: contact the hire company in advance to confirm key drop procedures
• Other downtown Ottawa branches such as 881 St Laurent Boulevard may also offer key drop slots, but you should confirm directly

When returning your Ottawa minivan after hours:

• Refuel the minivan before arriving at the return location, as fuel stations may be limited late at night
• Take photos of the minivan's condition, odometer, and fuel gauge before dropping the keys
• Keep your fuel receipt and place a copy in the return envelope if provided
• Note that liability for the minivan may remain with you until the hire company formally checks it in the next working day

Always confirm after-hours procedures with your specific Ottawa hire branch when booking, as policies and key drop availability can vary by location and company.

Yes, one-way minivan hires from Ottawa to another city are possible, but a drop-off fee will typically apply and must be reviewed before booking.

When searching for a one-way Ottawa minivan hire on the Hola Car Rentals website, the drop-off fee is shown on the rate details page under the section labelled to pay at destination. This fee is set by the hire partner and varies based on:

• The distance between Ottawa and the return city
• The vehicle class (minivans as larger vehicles may carry higher repositioning fees)
• The specific hire company and season

Cross-border one-way hires, for example returning a minivan rented in Ottawa to a location in the United States, may be restricted or require special authorisation from the hire partner. Always confirm cross-border permissions before booking.

The drop-off fee cannot be pre-paid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© Coverage unless it was not disclosed during the booking process. If the fee shown at the Ottawa counter differs from what appeared on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire ends.

Ottawa experiences significant winter conditions, and there are practical considerations that affect minivan hires during the colder months.

Ottawa enforces winter street parking bans after snowfall events. These bans apply citywide, not just in residential areas, and vehicles parked on banned streets can be towed. This is more strictly enforced in Ottawa than in many other Canadian cities. As a minivan renter, you should check the City of Ottawa website daily during winter for active bans and use paid parking lots, which are exempt from these restrictions.

Additional winter minivan hire considerations in Ottawa:

• Overnight parking prohibitions apply to vehicles over 6.5 metres in length on certain roads between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Some larger minivan models may approach or exceed this threshold, so confirm your minivan's length with the hire company at the Ottawa counter
• Park and Ride lots in Ottawa prohibit overnight parking entirely, which may surprise visitors accustomed to other transit systems
• Hire minivans in Ottawa are typically equipped with winter tyres during the cold season, but confirm this with the hire company at pickup

Planning ahead and using covered or paid garages for your Ottawa minivan overnight will help you avoid fines and towing during winter bans.