National Car Hire in Whistler

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

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

The National car hire counter in Whistler operates from the Cascade Lodge location at 4315 Northlands Boulevard, Whistler, BC V0N 1B0. This is the primary hire facility serving the Whistler area, positioned near major hotels and the Gondola Transit Exchange bus stop.

Counter hours are:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
• Saturday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

These hours are significantly more restricted than a typical airport location, so plan your arrival accordingly. If you are a Preferred Renter with National, you can proceed directly to the counter, present your driver’s licence, and receive your preprinted hire document and keys without waiting in a standard queue.

If you need to pick up outside these hours, your best option is to collect your vehicle at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which operates from 5:00 AM to 1:15 AM, and drive the approximately two hours to Whistler.

Yes, you can return your National hire car in Whistler outside of staffed counter hours using the after-hours key drop box at the Cascade Lodge location on 4315 Northlands Boulevard.

To complete an after-hours return at the Whistler location:

• Park and lock the vehicle in the designated area at Cascade Lodge
• Place your completed hire contract and keys inside the key drop envelope and deposit it in the drop box
• Take all personal belongings from the vehicle before leaving
• Keep a photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge and odometer as a record

Note that the National counter in Whistler closes at 4:30 PM on weekdays and 3:00 PM on weekends, so after-hours returns are common for guests with evening plans. Because the vehicle is not formally checked in until the next business day, it is especially important to document the car's condition and fuel level with photos before dropping the keys. The full-to-full fuel policy still applies, so refuel before returning.

The nearest petrol station to the National hire return location in Whistler is the Co-op at Whistler Creekside, located approximately 7 kilometres south of Whistler Village. To reach it, turn left at the Creekside lights.

National uses a full-to-full fuel policy, meaning you receive the car with a full tank and must return it at the same level. If you return the vehicle without a full tank, you may be charged:

• A fuel shortfall fee at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the retail pump price
• An additional refuelling service or administrative fee

To avoid any dispute, take a photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge immediately after refuelling and before you leave the Creekside station. Keep your fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address. For after-hours returns at the Whistler Cascade Lodge drop box, leave the receipt in the envelope with your contract and retain a copy for your records.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings, including National hires in Whistler, include Tolls Cashback of up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire period.

British Columbia has very few toll roads. The only active toll in the province is the Port Mann Bridge near Vancouver, which uses cashless plate-based billing. Highway 99, the Sea-to-Sky Highway connecting Vancouver to Whistler, has no tolls. However, if your route from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler passes over the Port Mann Bridge, toll charges may be billed to your hire account.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after your Whistler hire:

• 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 toll receipt or itemised invoice showing the charges

Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions beyond 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, winter tyres are mandatory on Highway 99, the Sea-to-Sky Highway that connects Vancouver to Whistler, from October through March. This requirement applies to all vehicles, including National hire cars.

Key points to know before driving your Whistler hire on this route:

• Tyres must display the mountain and snowflake symbol, which indicates they meet the BC winter tyre standard. All-season tyres marked M+S alone are not sufficient on this highway during the winter season.
• Random tyre checkpoints are conducted at Alice Lake on Highway 99. Vehicles without compliant tyres are turned back and not permitted to continue towards Whistler.
• Enforcement on the Sea-to-Sky Highway is more rigorous than on most other Canadian highways due to the mountain terrain and Sea-to-Sky Traffic Services patrols.
• Tyre chains may also be required in severe conditions as an alternative.

When collecting your National hire in Whistler or at Vancouver International Airport during the winter season, confirm with the counter agent that the vehicle is equipped with approved winter tyres before departing. Do not assume all hire vehicles are automatically fitted with compliant tyres.

To collect your National hire in Whistler, you must present the following physical documents at the Cascade Lodge counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name. Digital licences are not accepted.
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID if you are visiting from outside Canada.
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the physical card, used for the security authorisation hold. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher if required by your rate.

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, you must also present an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your original licence. The IDP is a translation document only and is not valid without the original licence.

Visitors from countries that use the Roman alphabet can generally drive in Canada on a valid foreign licence, though carrying an IDP is still recommended. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

All documents must be physical originals. The name on your licence, passport, and credit card should match the main driver listed on the National hire agreement in Whistler.

The Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99) from Vancouver to Whistler has no tolls. However, depending on which route you take from Vancouver International Airport, you may cross the Port Mann Bridge, which is the only active toll road in British Columbia.

The Port Mann Bridge uses a fully cashless tolling system. There are no cash booths. Charges are captured by plate recognition and billed to the registered vehicle owner, which in the case of a National hire car means the charge is passed to the hire company and then to you.

If your National hire includes a toll programme enrolment, a daily convenience charge of approximately US$3.95 to US$4.95 (capped at around US$30 per hire period) may apply for days the transponder or plate system is used. If you are not enrolled in a toll programme, the hire company will bill you the toll amount plus an administrative processing fee, typically several weeks after your hire ends.

To avoid unexpected charges, ask the National counter agent in Whistler or at Vancouver Airport which route avoids the Port Mann Bridge, or confirm whether your vehicle is enrolled in a toll programme and what the associated fees are before you drive away.

When you collect your National hire in Whistler, the counter will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge but it reduces your available credit until the hire is concluded and your bank releases the hold.

For Canada, typical security deposit holds range from approximately GBP 300 to GBP 500 for standard vehicles, though some locations may hold up to GBP 750. Premium or speciality vehicle classes may carry higher holds.

Important requirements for the deposit at the Whistler National counter:

• You must present a physical, major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card
• The card must be in the main driver’s name, not a third party’s card
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or digital-only cards are not accepted
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover both the hold and any expected charges

After you return the vehicle, the hold is released by the hire company. Your bank or card issuer controls how quickly the funds become available again, which can take up to 15 working days. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined at the Whistler counter.

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

For National hires, the additional driver fee is US$15 per day plus applicable taxes when not included in your rate. Check your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation to see whether your rate includes one additional driver at no extra cost.

Requirements for adding a driver at the Whistler counter:

• The additional driver must be physically present at the Cascade Lodge counter at the time of collection
• They must present a valid driver’s licence meeting the same requirements as the primary driver
• If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, they must also present an International Driving Permit
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers named on the National hire agreement in Whistler are covered by the vehicle’s protections, including CDW and liability cover. If someone not listed on the contract drives the vehicle, cover may be void. Do not allow unlisted drivers to operate the vehicle at any point during your Whistler hire.

Yes, one-way hires between Vancouver International Airport and Whistler may be available through National, but a drop-off fee could apply depending on the route and vehicle class.

Picking up at Vancouver Airport (YVR) can be a practical option if you are arriving on an early morning or late evening flight, since the airport National counter operates from 5:00 AM to 1:15 AM, compared to the Whistler Cascade Lodge counter which is open only from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekends.

When booking a one-way hire through Hola Car Rentals:

• Any applicable drop-off fee will be shown on the rate details page under the section labelled to pay at destination before you complete your booking
• The fee is not prepaid and is collected by the National counter at collection
• If no drop-off fee appears during booking, none applies to your specific route

Keep in mind that regardless of where you pick up your National vehicle, winter tyre requirements on Highway 99 between Vancouver and Whistler apply from October through March. Confirm the vehicle has compliant tyres before leaving the collection point.

Yes, provincial law in British Columbia requires every hire vehicle to carry a minimum level of third-party liability cover, so your National hire in Whistler includes statutory liability by default. This cover protects you against bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving.

However, the mandatory minimum may not be sufficient for all situations. You can purchase supplementary liability insurance (LIS or SLI) to increase your cover limits, which is available as an add-on through Hola Car Rentals at checkout or at the National counter in Whistler.

Third-party liability cover does not include:

• Damage to the hire vehicle itself, which requires CDW or LDW
• Your own personal injuries, which require Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)
• Your personal belongings inside the vehicle

Only drivers listed on the National hire in Whistler are covered. If an unlisted driver operates the vehicle and an incident occurs, liability cover may be void. Always add every driver to the contract at the Cascade Lodge counter before departure.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including National hires in Whistler, include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is particularly relevant in Whistler given the remote mountain terrain of the Sea-to-Sky corridor and the distance from major urban medical facilities.

Cover typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

If you experience a medical emergency or need legal assistance after an incident on Highway 99 or anywhere during your Whistler hire, contact the assistance line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

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

When you call, provide your full name, your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number, your current location, and a brief description of the situation. Follow the coordinator's instructions before incurring any expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation.

Please note that this travel assistance benefit does not apply to Canadian or US residents. It is designed for travellers visiting Whistler from outside North America. It also does not cover damage to the National hire vehicle itself, which is handled separately by CDW or LDW.

Yes, there are seasonal restrictions that directly affect National hire cars in Whistler, particularly during the winter ski season from October through March.

The most important restriction is the mandatory winter tyre requirement on Highway 99, the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Vehicles must be fitted with tyres bearing the mountain and snowflake symbol. Random checkpoints at Alice Lake on Highway 99 turn back non-compliant vehicles before they reach Whistler. This is enforced more strictly on this route than on most other Canadian highways.

Additional seasonal and event-driven factors to be aware of:

• During peak ski weekends and holidays, Whistler Blackcomb operates a reservation-based parking system for lots such as Upper Lot 6 and Creekside P2, with priority given to carpools during morning peak hours from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM
• Roadworks on routes such as Blackcomb Way and Lorimer Road can introduce single-lane alternating traffic within the compact resort village, which may affect access to the National Cascade Lodge counter
• Headlights are strongly recommended at all times on Highway 99 regardless of daylight conditions, and seatbelt laws are strictly enforced

Before collecting your National hire in Whistler during winter months, confirm with the counter agent that the vehicle has compliant winter tyres and ask about any current road conditions or closures on Highway 99.