Thrifty Car Hire
in Birmingham

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

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

Thrifty operates two main locations in Birmingham: one at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) at 5600 Airline Drive, and one at a city centre location at 2508 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233.

The Thrifty desk at Birmingham Airport is open Sunday to Friday from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM, and Saturday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The city centre Birmingham location operates approximately 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, though hours may vary.

• Airport (BHM): 5600 Airline Drive, on-site at the terminal complex
• City centre: 2508 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, referred to as Birmingham City Centre TSH

If you are arriving by plane, the airport Thrifty location is the most convenient option. The city centre Birmingham location is roughly 15 to 20 minutes from BHM by taxi or ride-share and may suit those who need a vehicle after settling into the city. Always confirm current hours directly with Thrifty before your pickup date.

To collect your Thrifty hire car in Birmingham, you must bring the following physical documents to the desk:

• A valid, original driving licence in the main driver’s name
• A physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on it, for the authorisation hold
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for international visitors)

If your driving licence is not in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory at the Thrifty desk in Birmingham. For licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted by Thrifty at the Birmingham desk. Bring a backup credit card in your name as well, in case your primary card is declined during the authorisation process.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to hire from Thrifty in Birmingham.

At pickup, the Thrifty desk in Birmingham will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card to cover potential incidentals such as fuel shortfalls or late returns. For standard vehicles in the UK, this hold is typically around GBP 300 to GBP 400, though the exact amount depends on the vehicle class and location.

• The card must be a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) with the driver’s name printed on it
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the hold
• The card must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold amount
• Even if you prepaid your Thrifty Birmingham booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the desk

The hold is released after you return the vehicle, but your bank may take up to 15 working days to reflect the release. Notify your bank of your travel plans in advance to avoid the authorisation being flagged as suspicious.

Yes, there are several toll roads in and around Birmingham that Thrifty renters may encounter.

Alabama uses the Alabama Freedom Pass system for electronic tolling. Unlike many other UK regions, Alabama toll booths still accept cash and credit or debit cards in addition to transponders, so cashless-only roads are not an issue here. Typical toll costs for standard 2-axle vehicles include:

• Montgomery Expressway Bridge (Alabama River Parkway): US$1.50
• Tuscaloosa Bypass (Joe Mallisham Parkway): US$1.50
• Emerald Mountain Expressway (Dozier Road): US$1.75
• Foley Beach Express Toll Bridge: US$2.75

Your Thrifty hire vehicle in Birmingham will be equipped with an electronic toll device. At the desk you can opt for an unlimited toll package (typically US$11 to US$25 per day depending on the programme) or pay per use, where Thrifty charges you the actual toll plus an administrative fee after the hire period.

Hola Car Rentals includes Tolls Cashback on all bookings: you can claim up to 5% of your total booking value back for tolls paid during your Birmingham hire. Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle with your rental agreement and toll receipts.

The minimum age to hire from Thrifty in Birmingham without a young driver surcharge is 25 years old.

Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire from Thrifty in Birmingham, but a daily young driver surcharge applies. For Thrifty, this fee is GBP 13.50 per rental day plus taxes, up to a maximum of GBP 189 plus taxes for the hire period. Alabama is not one of the states (like New York or Michigan) that requires rentals to drivers as young as 18, so the standard Thrifty policy applies in Birmingham.

• Drivers under 25 are also restricted from hiring certain vehicle classes, including full-size SUVs, minivans, luxury, premium, and convertible categories
• Eligible classes for under-25 drivers typically include economy, compact, intermediate, and compact SUV
• All standard document and credit card requirements still apply regardless of age

If you are aged 21 to 24 and booking a Thrifty vehicle in Birmingham, factor the daily surcharge into your budget. The fee is paid at the desk and cannot be prepaid online.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Thrifty hire in Birmingham, either as part of your rate or for a fee at the desk.

For Thrifty in Birmingham, the additional driver fee is GBP 13.50 per rental day plus taxes, with a maximum charge of GBP 189 plus taxes for the hire period. Some Hola Car Rentals rate plans include one additional driver at no extra cost, so check your booking confirmation before arriving at the desk.

• The additional driver must be present at the Thrifty desk in Birmingham at the time of pickup
• They must bring a valid driving licence and, if applicable, an International Driving Permit
• They must meet the same minimum age requirements as the main driver
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the Thrifty hire agreement in Birmingham are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability cover. Anyone who drives the vehicle without being named on the contract may void those protections entirely.

Thrifty hires in Birmingham follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default.

This means you receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges. If you return the car to the Birmingham location with less than a full tank, you will be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the retail pump price, plus an administrative fee.

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the Thrifty agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the Birmingham location
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Birmingham return location before dropping off the vehicle
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address as proof

For after-hours returns at the Birmingham location, leave the fuel receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone. Using the correct fuel type is also important, as wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy and may incur additional charges.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings for Thrifty in Birmingham include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, though this benefit does not apply to UK or Irish residents.

For eligible renters, this coverage can be especially useful when driving in and around Birmingham, where motorway junctions such as M6, M42, and M5 converge tightly around the city centre. A breakdown or accident on these busy routes can be stressful, and having legal and medical assistance available 24 hours a day provides important peace of mind.

Coverage typically includes:

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

To reach assistance at any time, call +44 20 7946 0123 (toll-free), contact WhatsApp at +44 7912 345678, or email [email protected]. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Always check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your specific Thrifty hire in Birmingham.

When hiring from Thrifty in Birmingham, you have several insurance and protection options to consider.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability for damage to the Thrifty vehicle itself. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or persons.

Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the Thrifty vehicle in Birmingham. In the UK, not all hire situations automatically include the statutory minimum liability, so Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding Liability Insurance Supplementary (up to GBP 300,000) to your booking.

• CDW/LDW: covers the hire car for collision, theft, and vandalism (subject to deductible and exclusions)
• LIS/ALI/SLI: covers third-party injury and property damage
• Neither covers your personal belongings (PEC) or your own injuries (PAI)

Review your Hola Car Rentals confirmation carefully to see which protections are already included in your Thrifty Birmingham rate before accepting or declining anything at the desk.

Yes, one-way hires are available through Thrifty in Birmingham, allowing you to return the vehicle to a different location, but a drop-off fee usually applies.

The drop-off fee for a Thrifty one-way hire from Birmingham varies depending on the destination city, the distance involved, the vehicle class, and the season. This fee is route-specific and is shown during the booking process on the Hola Car Rentals website under the "To pay at destination" section. It cannot be prepaid and is settled at the Thrifty desk in Birmingham or at the return location.

• Same-city returns (for example, Birmingham Airport to Birmingham city centre) often carry no drop-off fee
• Returns to other UK cities or neighbouring countries will generally incur a one-way fee
• Cross-border one-ways (for example, driving the Thrifty vehicle from Birmingham into another country) may be restricted or require prior approval

Always confirm the drop-off fee shown on your booking confirmation before finalising. If the Thrifty desk in Birmingham charges a fee that was not disclosed on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact Hola Car Rentals support, as No Extra Charges© Coverage may apply.

Birmingham has some road layout features that can catch first-time visitors unawares, especially when driving a Thrifty hire vehicle in the city centre.

City centre Birmingham is gradually converting some one-way street pairs to two-way operation. This means you may encounter a patchwork of legacy one-way segments alongside newly converted two-way streets. Navigation apps may not always reflect the most current lane configurations, so pay close attention to signage.

• Streets such as 17th Street North (southbound) and 18th Street North (northbound) remain one-way between 1st Avenue North and 8th Avenue North
• 4th Avenue North has been redesigned as two-way, which can be unexpected if following older navigation data
• The convergence of M6, M42, M5, and A38 around Birmingham creates abrupt transitions between motorway and city driving
• Streets near the University of Birmingham (UoB) campus shift between two-way and one-way segments, which can be disorientating

UK toll roads accept cash, credit cards, and the UK Toll transponder, so you will not be caught out by cashless-only booths. Your Thrifty hire in Birmingham comes with a toll device, and you can choose a daily toll package or pay per use at the desk.

If you return your Thrifty hire in Birmingham after the scheduled drop-off time, additional charges may apply once the grace period has elapsed.

The standard grace period at Thrifty is usually 30 minutes, though this is not guaranteed at every location. If you exceed the grace period at the Birmingham return point, Thrifty may charge for extra hours or a full additional day, plus a late fee depending on your hire agreement.

• Plan your return to the Birmingham Thrifty desk with enough time to refuel nearby before dropping off the vehicle
• If you need more time, contact the Birmingham location before your scheduled return to discuss an extension
• For after-hours returns, follow the key-drop instructions in your hire agreement and understand liability for the vehicle may continue until it is checked in by staff

If you need to extend your Thrifty hire in Birmingham during your trip, contact the location as early as possible. Extensions depend on vehicle availability and may alter your hire cost. Always review the late return terms on your hire agreement at collection to avoid surprises.

When collecting a Thrifty hire in Birmingham, a temporary authorisation hold will be placed on your credit card as a security deposit.

For standard vehicles hired in the UK, the typical hold is around GBP 300 to GBP 400, though the exact amount for your Thrifty Birmingham hire depends on the vehicle class, location, and season. Premium or speciality vehicles may require a higher hold. This is an authorisation, not a charge, but it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after you return the vehicle.

• Only a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name printed on it is accepted for the deposit hold
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted at the Birmingham desk
• After returning the vehicle, the hold is released by Thrifty, but your bank may take up to 15 working days to reflect the release
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined during authorisation

Even if you paid for your Thrifty Birmingham booking in advance, you must still present a physical credit card at the desk for the deposit hold. Ask the Birmingham staff to confirm the exact hold amount before they process the authorisation.