Payless Car Hire
in California

EASTER  45% OFF   

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in California 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 California 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 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Payless operates from 5251 W 98th St, Los Angeles, California 90045. After collecting your bags, exit the terminal, cross to the second island, and wait under the purple Rental Car Shuttles sign. The shuttle arrives within approximately 8 minutes.

If your flight arrives between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM, do not exit the terminal before calling. Use the courtesy phone inside baggage claim to request the Payless shuttle before stepping outside.

For vehicle return at LAX, follow signs toward Rental Car Return or head to 5251 W 98th St. From the 405 motorway, exit at Century Blvd, turn right on Concourse Way, and follow Payless signs. A shuttle will return you to your terminal after drop-off.

Payless operates at 9 locations across California, covering most major airports in the state. The full list of Payless California locations includes:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 5251 W 98th St, Los Angeles
• Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR), 2501 N Hollywood Way, Burbank
• Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), 5175 E Clinton Way, Fresno
• Oakland International Airport (OAK), 7600 Earhart Rd, Oakland
• Ontario International Airport (ONT), 3450 E Airport Dr, Ontario
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF), 6420 McNair Circle, Sacramento
• San Diego International Airport (SAN), 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego
• San Jose International Airport (SJC), 1659 Airport Blvd, San Jose
• South San Francisco (off-airport), 1440 San Mateo Ave

At all airport locations in California, Payless provides courtesy shuttle service from outside baggage claim to the hire facility. The South San Francisco location is the only non-airport site in the state.

Payless counter hours in California vary by airport. Confirmed hours for specific locations are:

• Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT): 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week
• San Diego International Airport (SAN): 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, seven days a week
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): early-morning arrivals between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM should use the courtesy phone in baggage claim before exiting to request the Payless shuttle

Hours at other California Payless locations (Oakland, Sacramento, Ontario, San Jose, Burbank, South San Francisco) are not confirmed in available sources. Always verify hours on your booking confirmation before travelling, especially for early-morning or late-night arrivals.

If you return your Payless vehicle after hours at a Californian airport such as Oakland, the vehicle will not be checked in until the next working day, which may delay final billing.

California uses FasTrak as its statewide electronic toll system, covering all toll roads, bridges, and express lanes. There are virtually no cash toll booths remaining in California, so every Payless hire vehicle comes equipped with an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system.

At the Payless counter in California, you will typically be offered two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a fixed daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, covering all toll usage during the hire period
• Pay per use: if you decline the package, Payless will charge you the actual toll amounts plus administrative processing fees, billed to your card days or even weeks after the hire ends

Common Californian toll costs to be aware of include the Golden Gate Bridge (approximately US$9.75 with FasTrak, US$10.75 by invoice), Bay Area bridges (approximately US$8.50 per crossing), and Orange County toll roads such as SR-73, SR-241, and SR-261, which vary by distance.

You may also opt out and pay tolls directly through the relevant Californian toll agency website within the required timeframe (for example, within 5 days for The Toll Roads in Orange County, or within 48 hours for the Golden Gate Bridge) to avoid higher invoice rates.

To collect your Payless hire car at any Californian location, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driving licence in the main driver’s name (not a digital copy)
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the physical card, for the security deposit hold
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting California from abroad

If your driving licence is not in English or uses a non-Latin alphabet (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic), you must also carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your original licence. The IDP is a translation only and is not valid without the original licence.

Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit at Payless in California. Even if you prepaid your booking, a physical major credit card is still required at collection.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals, including Payless hires in California, include Tolls Cashback of up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during the hire.

California has an extensive toll network, including Bay Area bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge, Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261, SR-133), and express lanes in Los Angeles. Any tolls you pay on these roads during your Payless hire in California are eligible for the cashback claim.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after your Californian hire:

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

Refunds are processed to the original payment method and typically take 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, Payless applies a young driver surcharge in California for renters under 25 years old. The standard minimum age to hire without an additional fee is 25.

Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire from Payless in California but will be charged a daily young-renter surcharge at the counter. The exact amount varies by location, but it is a significant daily fee that should be factored into your budget.

Additional restrictions that apply to under-25 renters at Payless in California include:

• Most premium, full-size, luxury, convertible, minivan, and SUV vehicle classes are restricted to renters aged 25 and older
• Economy, compact, and intermediate categories are generally available to younger renters
• Additional drivers aged 21 to 24 may not be accepted at Payless in California, as Payless requires additional drivers to be at least 25 years old at collection

California does not have the same state-law exceptions as New York or Michigan, so the standard Payless age policy applies at all Californian locations.

When you collect your Payless hire car in California, the counter agent 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.

Typical security deposit holds in the United States, including California, range from approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles. The exact amount at your Payless Californian location may vary depending on the vehicle class, hire duration, and specific airport.

Key requirements for the deposit at Payless in California:

• A physical, major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card is required
• The card must be in the main driver’s name
• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit hold
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold in addition to any expected charges

After you return the vehicle, the hold is released. Your bank or card issuer controls when the credit reappears and this can take up to 15 working days. Bringing a backup credit card is recommended in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals, including Payless hires in California, include Travel Assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or accident while driving California's highways, remote mountain roads, or desert routes.

Coverage 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

To reach the assistance team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this Travel Assistance benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada. It covers non-North American travellers visiting California. It also does not cover damage to the Payless hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/SLI).

Yes, a valid foreign driving licence is generally accepted for a Payless hire in California. However, the requirements depend on the language and alphabet of your licence.

• If your licence is in English or uses a Latin alphabet, it is accepted on its own alongside your passport
• If your licence is not in English but uses a Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended
• If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an IDP is mandatory and must be presented together with your original licence at the Payless counter in California

The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without your original licence. You must obtain the IDP in your home country before travelling to California, as it cannot be issued abroad.

All documents presented at the Payless counter in California must be physical originals. Digital or photocopied documents are not accepted.

Payless hires in California follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

To avoid fuel charges on your Payless Californian hire:

• Check the fuel gauge with the agent at collection and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge and odometer at collection
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• Show the full gauge to the agent at return, or leave the receipt in the key envelope for after-hours drops

If you return the Payless vehicle in California with less than a full tank, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. The starting fuel level recorded on your agreement is what counts, so always verify it at collection.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Payless hire in California, but a daily fee applies unless your booking confirmation explicitly states that an additional driver is included at no charge.

For Payless in California, the additional driver fee is US$13 per hire day plus applicable taxes, with a maximum charge of US$65 plus taxes for the hire period.

Requirements for adding an additional driver at the Payless counter in California:

• The additional driver must be present at collection with a valid driving licence
• They must meet the same document requirements as the main driver, including an IDP if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet
• For Payless in California, additional drivers must be at least 25 years old at the time of collection
• 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. If someone not listed on the contract drives the Payless vehicle in California, cover may be void and additional charges could apply.

The insurance cover included in your Payless hire in California depends on the rate plan selected at the time of booking. It is important to review your booking confirmation carefully before arriving at the counter.

The main cover types relevant to a Payless hire in California are:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Payless vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation states zero deductible
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/SLI/ALI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving in California. Some U.S. states require a minimum level of liability, but not all do. Adding supplementary liability cover is strongly recommended

CDW/LDW does not cover third parties, and LIS/SLI does not cover damage to the Payless vehicle itself. These are separate protections that work together.

Neither CDW/LDW nor LIS/SLI covers prohibited use such as driving under the influence, off-road use, or driving by an unauthorised driver not listed on the Payless hire agreement in California.