SUV 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)

At Ottawa International Airport (YOW), your SUV hire counter is located on the main level of the parking facility, directly across from Airport Arrivals. Due to ongoing construction, some counters may be positioned across from International Arrivals near baggage claim instead. No shuttle or off-site transfer is required; the hire facility is on-site and accessible immediately after you collect your bags.

Partners operating at Ottawa YOW include National, Enterprise, and Alamo, among others. Once you clear baggage claim, follow the car hire signs to the counter, present your documents, sign the hire agreement, and walk to the on-site lot to collect your SUV.

From the moment your plane lands, allow roughly 30 to 60 minutes total: approximately 20 to 40 minutes for deplaning and baggage claim, plus 10 to 20 minutes for counter processing and walking to the vehicle. Minor additional delays are possible during construction periods.

To collect your SUV 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
• An International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence is not in English or French, or if it uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold
• Your passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies are not accepted at the Ottawa hire counter. If you think you may need an IDP, obtain it in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

Ottawa itself does not have local toll roads. However, if you drive your SUV hire west from Ottawa towards Toronto, you may encounter Highway 407 ETR, a privately operated, fully electronic toll highway spanning 108 km across the Greater Toronto Area. All other major Ontario highways such as the 401 and 400-series are toll-free.

The 407 ETR is 100% cashless with no cash booths. Tolls are charged by licence plate photography. If you drive through without a transponder, the hire company is billed and will pass the toll cost plus an administrative fee on to you. For a sample 25 km peak-period trip, costs can reach approximately CAD 30.45 before any hire programme fees are added.

Hire companies offer toll programmes such as Enterprise TollPass at roughly CAD 3.95 to 4.95 per day, capped at CAD 30 per hire. If you do not enrol and trigger a toll, a per-use administrative fee (around CAD 15 per toll) may apply on top of the actual toll charge.

Ottawa has no congestion charges, emissions zones, or city-centre driving fees of any kind.

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

This benefit is especially relevant if you drive your SUV from Ottawa towards Toronto and use Highway 407 ETR, where toll costs can add up quickly. The cashback does not mean tolls are free; you pay them normally and then submit a claim afterwards.

To claim your cashback:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning your SUV
• 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 charges paid during your Ottawa hire period

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used at booking and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, Ontario regulations require proper winter tyres on vehicles including SUV hires in Ottawa during winter conditions, and all-season tyres are not accepted as a substitute in designated zones. Fines for non-compliance can reach up to CAD 1,000, and enforcement checkpoints can leave non-compliant vehicles stranded, which is a more serious consequence for larger SUV vehicles.

When you pick up your SUV hire in Ottawa during winter months, confirm with the counter agent that the vehicle is equipped with approved winter tyres. Reputable hire partners at Ottawa YOW are expected to comply with provincial requirements, but it is your responsibility to verify this at pickup before signing the hire agreement.

If you are hiring an SUV in Ottawa between late autumn and early spring, ask specifically about tyre compliance. Do not accept a vehicle that does not meet the winter tyre standard, as any fines or incidents resulting from non-compliant tyres may fall on the renter.

When you pick up your SUV hire in Ottawa, the hire partner will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. For Canada, typical holds range from CAD 300 to CAD 500, though some Ottawa locations may require a minimum authorisation of approximately CAD 750, particularly for larger SUV vehicles or premium classes.

This hold is not a charge. It temporarily reduces your available credit and is released after you return the SUV. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears, which can take up to 15 working days after the hire concludes.

Important requirements for the deposit:

• The card must be a major credit card (not debit or prepaid) with the driver’s name printed on the card
• The card must be in the main driver’s name
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges
• Virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted

Even if you prepaid your Ottawa SUV booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the counter for the deposit hold.

Ottawa enforces several Ontario driving rules that are worth knowing before you take your SUV hire on the road.

• Expanded community safety zones: Speed limits drop to 30 km/h near seniors' facilities, recreation centres, and places of worship during active hours. Fines in these zones are doubled, with a minimum of CAD 300. These zones extend beyond typical school or hospital areas.
• Distracted driving: Ontario fines for glancing at a phone, even while stopped at a light, start at CAD 615 and can reach CAD 1,000. Enforcement is active in Ottawa's expanded safety zones.
• Overnight parking restrictions for large vehicles: Vehicles over 6.5 metres in length are prohibited from overnight on-street parking. Some SUV models with trailers or extended configurations may fall into this category, so check your SUV's dimensions before parking overnight on Ottawa streets.
• Wheel positioning: Ottawa by-laws require wheels to be parallel to the kerb within 15 cm when parked on a one-way street.

Ottawa does not have congestion charges, emissions zones, or unusual one-way road systems that differ significantly from other Canadian cities.

Your SUV hire in Ottawa will include certain protections depending on the rate plan you selected at booking. In Canada, provincial law requires every hire vehicle to carry third-party liability insurance by default, so basic liability cover is included when you hire an SUV in Ottawa through Hola Car Rentals.

Beyond the mandatory liability, cover for damage to the SUV itself depends on your rate:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability if the SUV is damaged or stolen. A deductible may still apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible.
• CDW and LDW do not cover third-party injuries or property damage to others; that is handled by liability cover.
• Common exclusions include tyres, undercarriage, roof, keys, and damage from prohibited use such as off-road driving.

Review your booking confirmation carefully to see exactly which protections are included in your Ottawa SUV rate. If you want supplementary liability above the provincial minimum, you can add it at the counter. All named drivers on the hire agreement must be listed for cover to apply.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to your SUV hire in Ottawa as well. However, this benefit does not apply to Canadian or US residents; it is available only to travellers from outside North America.

If you qualify, the cover included with your Ottawa SUV booking typically covers:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of an accident, which is particularly useful if your SUV is involved in a collision on Ottawa roads or on the highway
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This cover does not include damage to the SUV itself (that is CDW/LDW) or liability to third parties (that is LIS/ALI/SLI).

To use the assistance, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready. Always contact them before incurring expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation.

Your SUV hire in Ottawa follows a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the SUV with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

At pickup in Ottawa, 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 gauge before leaving the lot.

When returning your SUV to Ottawa Airport (YOW) at 1003 Airport Parkway Private, refuel within approximately 15 km of the return location. Fuel stations are available along Airport Parkway and Hunt Club Road near the South Keys area, roughly 5 to 10 minutes from the airport lot.

If you return the SUV below the recorded starting level, you may be charged:

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

Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address. For after-hours returns at Ottawa YOW, leave the receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your SUV hire in Ottawa, either as an included benefit or for a fee paid at the counter, depending on your rate.

Check your booking confirmation for the line "Additional driver free of charge." If it appears, the first additional driver is included at no extra cost. If it does not appear, fees apply per hire day:

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

The additional driver must be present at the Ottawa pickup counter with a valid driver’s licence and, if required, an International Driving Permit. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the SUV without being listed on the agreement is not covered by CDW/LDW or liability protections.

For Avis, Budget, and Payless hires in Ottawa, the additional driver must be at least 25 years old at the time of pickup.

Yes, you can pick up your SUV hire in Ottawa at several downtown and off-airport branch locations rather than at Ottawa International Airport (YOW).

Downtown Ottawa options include locations such as Enterprise at 226 Queen Street and branches along Bank Street. These city-centre locations typically offer lower daily rates than airport counters, with savings of roughly CAD 20 to 40 per day, because airport locations include concession fees and airport surcharges that off-airport branches do not.

Key differences to consider when choosing a downtown Ottawa SUV pickup:

• You will need to arrange your own transport from the airport to the branch, such as a taxi or rideshare
• Downtown branch hours are more limited than airport counters. For example, some Bank Street branches close at noon on Saturdays and are closed Sundays
• After-hours key drop may be available at some branches, but confirm this in advance
• SUV availability at downtown Ottawa locations may be more limited than at the airport, especially during peak travel periods

Review your booking confirmation for the exact address and operating hours of your chosen Ottawa pickup location before you travel.

Yes, one-way SUV hires from Ottawa to another city are generally possible, but a drop-off fee will apply and the amount varies by route, hire partner, vehicle class, and season.

When booking your Ottawa SUV hire, select a different return location during the search. The drop-off fee will appear on the rate details page under the "To pay at destination" section before you confirm. This fee is not prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© Coverage unless it was not disclosed during booking.

Things to keep in mind for one-way SUV hires from Ottawa:

• Routes between Ottawa and Toronto or Montreal are common and typically available, though fees vary
• Cross-border one-way hires (for example, Ottawa to a US city) may be restricted or carry significantly higher fees depending on the partner
• Larger SUV classes may have higher repositioning fees than standard vehicles
• Changing your return location after booking may reprice the entire hire and recalculate the drop-off fee

Always confirm the drop-off fee shown on your Ottawa SUV booking confirmation matches what the counter presents at pickup. If there is a discrepancy, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire is complete.