Thrifty Car Hire
in Illinois

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

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

Yes, Thrifty has a dedicated counter at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Illinois, located at the Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) at 10255 West Zemke Road, Chicago, IL 60666.

After collecting your luggage, follow the Airport Transit signs inside the terminal to the ATS (Airport Transit System) train. Ride the train to the Multi-Modal Facility station, exit, and follow the signs to the Thrifty counter. Shuttle pick-up services are also available from the terminal if you prefer not to take the train.

The Thrifty counter at ORD is open daily from 06:00 to 23:59. When you return the vehicle, bring it back to the same Multi-Modal Facility. Bring your booking confirmation, a valid driving licence, and a major credit card in the main driver's name for the authorisation hold.

To collect a Thrifty hire car in Illinois, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driving 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 if you are visiting from abroad

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 alongside your original licence. For other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone are not accepted at any Thrifty location in Illinois. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.

Not always, but it depends on your licence. When hiring from Thrifty in Illinois, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory if your driving licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic (Russian) script.

If your licence is in English or uses the Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required by most Thrifty locations in Illinois. However, carrying one alongside your original licence is always a good precaution.

Important points to keep in mind:

• The IDP is a translation document only and is never valid on its own. You must carry it together with your original licence.
• Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling. Organisations in the United States, such as AAA, do not issue IDPs to holders of non-US licences.
• All documents presented at the Thrifty counter in Illinois must be physical originals. Digital versions are not accepted.

Illinois has an extensive toll road network managed by the Illinois Tollway, and you will very likely encounter tolls when driving a Thrifty hire car in Illinois, especially around the Chicago area.

The main electronic toll systems in Illinois are I-Pass and E-ZPass. Most modern gantries are cashless and use either a transponder or plate-based billing. As a hire driver, the pay-by-plate system automatically photographs your licence plate and bills the vehicle registration, so you do not need to stop or have cash.

Common toll roads and approximate costs for a standard car include:

• Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90, Chicago to Rockford): US$2.75 to US$5.50
• Illinois Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80): US$2.35 to US$4.70
• Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88, Chicago to Dixon): US$5.10 to US$10.20
• Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355): US$3.80 to US$7.60
• Chicago Skyway (I-90/I-94 to Indiana border): US$4.80 to US$47.60

At the Thrifty counter in Illinois, you can purchase an unlimited daily toll programme (typically US$11 to US$25 per day) or decline and pay per use. If you decline, tolls are billed at the standard plate rate plus an administrative processing fee charged by Thrifty after the hire ends. Illinois has no congestion charges or city-centre driving fees beyond these toll roads.

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

Given that Illinois toll roads such as the Tri-State Tollway, the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, and the Chicago Skyway can add up quickly, this benefit is especially useful for drivers covering longer distances across the state.

To claim your cashback after returning your Thrifty vehicle in Illinois:

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

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your original booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are free; you still pay them normally and claim reimbursement afterwards.

The minimum age to hire from Thrifty in Illinois without a young-driver surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged an additional daily underage fee at the Thrifty counter in Illinois.

Key details for younger drivers hiring from Thrifty in Illinois:

• Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young-driver surcharge of approximately US$13.50 per hire day plus applicable taxes, with a maximum cap of US$189 plus taxes for Thrifty hires
• Most vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and over, including full-size saloons, SUVs, minivans, luxury, and premium categories
• Drivers aged 21 to 24 are generally limited to economy, compact, and intermediate vehicle classes
• Illinois is not one of the states (like New York or Michigan) that legally requires hires to drivers aged 18 and over, so the standard 21-minimum policy applies at Thrifty locations in Illinois

Regardless of age, all drivers must present a valid driving licence and a major credit card in their own name for the security deposit hold.

When collecting a Thrifty hire car in Illinois, a temporary authorisation hold is placed on your credit card at the counter. For standard vehicles in the United States, this hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by vehicle class, location, and season.

Important things to know about the deposit hold for your Thrifty hire in Illinois:

• The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge. It reduces your available credit until released after the hire ends.
• Only a major credit card with the driver's name physically printed on the card is accepted. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• The card must be in the main driver's name and presented physically at the Thrifty counter in Illinois.
• After returning the vehicle, the hold is released, but your bank controls when the credit becomes available again, which can take up to 15 business days.

Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid fraud blocks on in-person authorisations.

Yes, Thrifty in Illinois charges a fee for additional drivers unless your booking confirmation explicitly states that an additional driver is included at no charge.

For Thrifty hires in Illinois, the additional driver fee is approximately US$13.50 per hire day plus applicable taxes, with a maximum cap of US$189 plus taxes for the full hire period. This fee is paid directly at the Thrifty counter in Illinois at the time of collection.

Requirements for adding a driver to your Thrifty hire in Illinois:

• The additional driver must be present at the Thrifty counter at collection
• They must present a valid driving licence and any required ID
• They must meet the minimum age requirements (21 to 24 with a surcharge, 25 and over without)
• 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 named on the contract drives the Thrifty vehicle in Illinois, cover may be void. Always check your booking confirmation before arriving at the counter to confirm whether an additional driver is included in your rate.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals for a Thrifty hire in Illinois include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, at no extra cost.

This benefit is particularly relevant in Illinois, where long drives on highways such as I-90 or I-88 can put you far from urban centres. If a medical emergency or travel disruption occurs during your trip, this coverage provides support.

The travel assistance typically includes:

• Medical coverage for up to 5 passengers for accidents and non-pre-existing illnesses
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

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

Important: this benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify for this coverage. Always check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Thrifty hire in Illinois.

Thrifty hires in Illinois 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 additional charges.

Steps to follow for the fuel policy on your Thrifty hire in Illinois:

• At collection, 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
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location before dropping off the vehicle
• Keep your final fuel receipt as proof in case of any dispute

If you return the Thrifty vehicle in Illinois 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 an administrative service fee.

At Chicago O'Hare, the Thrifty return location is the Multi-Modal Facility on West Zemke Road. Plan your refuelling stop before reaching the airport to ensure the gauge reads full at drop-off. Using the correct fuel type is also important, as wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy.

Yes, one-way hires are generally possible with Thrifty in Illinois, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location and the route you choose.

Key points about one-way hires from Thrifty in Illinois:

• Returning to a different city or state from where you collected in Illinois typically triggers a drop-off fee, which varies by route, vehicle class, and season
• The drop-off fee is shown during the booking process under the section labelled as charges due at destination. It is not included in any rate plan and cannot be pre-paid
• Cross-border hires, such as driving from Illinois into Canada, may be restricted or require prior authorisation from Thrifty. Always confirm cross-border permissions on your hire agreement before departing
• Driving across state lines within the United States is generally permitted when allowed by your contract

If you need to change your return location after booking, be aware that this may reprice the hire and recalculate or add a drop-off fee. Always review your booking confirmation for the exact terms that apply to your Thrifty hire in Illinois before making any changes.

You cannot truly ignore a toll on Illinois roads when driving a Thrifty hire car. Illinois uses a cashless, plate-based billing system on its toll roads, meaning cameras automatically photograph the licence plate of every vehicle that passes through a toll gantry, including your Thrifty hire vehicle.

Here is what happens if you drive through a toll without enrolling in a programme:

• The Illinois Tollway records the toll against the vehicle's plate and bills it at the standard pay-by-plate rate, which is slightly higher than the discounted I-Pass or E-ZPass rate
• The toll authority sends the bill to Thrifty as the registered owner of the vehicle
• Thrifty will then charge the toll amount to your credit card, along with an administrative processing fee
• Unpaid or escalating toll violations can result in penalties and, in serious cases, debt collection

To avoid unexpected post-hire charges on your Thrifty hire in Illinois, either enrol in the daily toll programme at the counter or keep records of all toll roads used so you can verify any charges that appear after the hire ends. If you believe a toll charge on your Thrifty hire in Illinois is incorrect, contact support with your hire agreement and toll documentation.

Yes, Thrifty has both airport and off-airport locations in Illinois, giving you flexibility depending on where you need to collect your hire car.

Airport locations in Illinois include:

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), at the Multi-Modal Facility, 10255 West Zemke Road, open daily 06:00 to 23:59
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), with locations near the airport
• Quad City International Airport (MLI) and Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI)

Off-airport and neighbourhood Thrifty locations in Illinois include:

• West Loop, Chicago: 181 W Washington Street
• State Street, Chicago: 401 N State Street
• Oak Park: 629 Madison Street
• Evanston: 1901 Green Bay Road
• Rockford: 7549 Walton Street
• Bloomington: 1605 Morrissey Drive
• Springfield: 2934 S 6th Street

Off-airport Thrifty locations in Illinois may offer lower base rates since they do not carry airport concession fees, but you will need to organise your own transport from the airport to the collection point. Always confirm the hours of your chosen Thrifty location in Illinois before booking, as neighbourhood branches may have more limited operating hours than airport counters.