Car Hire in Los Angeles

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

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

All hire car companies at Los Angeles International Airport operate from a single off-terminal facility called the Consolidated Rent-A-Car centre, known as ConRAC, located at 5251 W 98th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

After landing, follow these steps:

• Collect your bags and exit to the Lower/Arrivals level of your terminal
• Walk to the centre median and look for the purple "Hire Car Shuttles" signs
• Board the free shuttle displaying the logo of the hire brand shown on your booking confirmation
• The shuttle ride to ConRAC typically takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on terminal traffic and loop conditions
• Inside ConRAC, go to your brand's counter, then follow signs to your vehicle row

Plan for 15 to 25 minutes total from the arrivals kerb to the counter, not counting immigration and baggage claim time. If you arrive on an international flight, allow 60 to 90 minutes from landing to driving away. Shuttles run frequently, including late at night, and the Los Angeles ConRAC facility operates 24 hours daily.

To pick up a hire car in Los Angeles, you must present all documents in physical form. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

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

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original licence. For licences in Roman characters but not in English, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation document only and is not valid without your original licence.

Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the excess deposit at Los Angeles hire counters. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, toll roads exist in and around Los Angeles, and nearly all of them are fully cashless, meaning there are no cash payment options at the toll plaza.

The main toll facilities affecting Los Angeles drivers include:

• Express Lanes on I-10 and I-110 inside Los Angeles, which use dynamic pricing and require a FasTrak transponder. Driving in these lanes without one can result in a violation
• Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, SR-261), which are common if you drive south from Los Angeles towards Anaheim or the coast

California uses the FasTrak system statewide. Your hire vehicle in Los Angeles will already include an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system. At the counter you can choose between two options:

• An unlimited toll package at approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, depending on the hire company
• Pay-per-use billing, where actual tolls plus administrative processing fees are charged to your card, sometimes weeks after the hire ends

If you plan to avoid toll roads entirely, most major Los Angeles freeways such as the I-405, I-5, and US-101 are free to use in standard lanes. Sticking to regular lanes on the I-10 and I-110 can reduce or eliminate toll exposure.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Los Angeles hire.

This benefit is useful in Los Angeles because toll exposure is real, particularly if you use the I-10 or I-110 Express Lanes or drive south into Orange County on SR-73 or SR-241.

To claim your cashback after returning the vehicle:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - followed by your reservation number (for example, Tolls Cashback - HOLA1000000)
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll invoice or statement showing charges paid

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your Los Angeles booking totals US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

At Los Angeles hire counters, the security deposit is placed as a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at pickup, not as an actual charge. The hold reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the vehicle is returned.

Typical hold amounts in the United States, including Los Angeles, are approximately US$300 to US$400 for a standard vehicle. Premium or speciality vehicles may require a higher hold. The exact amount is set by the hire desk and can vary by brand, location, and vehicle class.

Important requirements for the deposit at Los Angeles pickup:

• The card must be a major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the physical card
• The card must be in the main driver’s name, not a third party’s
• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted
• Virtual or digital-only card numbers are not accepted

After you return the vehicle in Los Angeles, the hold is released by the hire company, but your bank controls when it appears back on your available credit. This can take up to 15 working days. Notify your bank before travelling to avoid fraud blocks on a high-value authorisation.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory in Los Angeles if your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. In that case, you must carry both your original licence and the IDP together at all times.

If your licence is in Roman characters but not in English, an IDP is strongly recommended, as some hire partners at Los Angeles counters may request one. The IDP is a translation document only and cannot be used as a standalone licence.

Key points to know before collecting in Los Angeles:

• Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling. Organisations like AAA in the United States do not issue IDPs to non-US licence holders
• The IDP must be the physical booklet. Digital versions are not accepted
• Your original licence must accompany the IDP at the counter
• All additional drivers in Los Angeles must also meet the same document requirements

Visitors from countries with English-language licences in Roman script, such as Australia, Canada, or the United Kingdom, generally do not need an IDP to hire in Los Angeles, though confirming with your specific hire brand is always advisable.

Hiring at Los Angeles International Airport adds several mandatory fees on top of the base hire rate. These are charged because the hire facility operates on airport-controlled land and the City of Los Angeles imposes its own hire taxes.

Common surcharges applied to Los Angeles airport hires include:

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): typically 10 to 12% of the base rate, charged by the hire company to recover the cost of operating at LAX
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): approximately US$4.50 to US$7.50 per day, covering the cost of the ConRAC facility
• City of Los Angeles hire tax: approximately 9 to 10%
• Los Angeles County use tax: approximately 9.5 to 10.25%

Combined, these surcharges can add 20 to 30% to the base rate for Los Angeles airport pickups. Your booking confirmation will show which fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the counter under the "To pay at destination" section.

If your confirmation shows "Taxes and Fees: Included," you should not be billed separately for those items at the Los Angeles counter. If you are charged for something not disclosed on your confirmation, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Los Angeles hire, but the process must be completed at the counter during pickup. The additional driver cannot be added remotely before or after the hire begins without visiting a branch.

Requirements for adding an additional driver in Los Angeles:

• The additional driver must be physically present at the Los Angeles pickup counter
• They must present a valid driver’s licence and, if required, an IDP
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement
• The additional driver must meet the minimum age requirements for the hire location

Whether the additional driver fee is included or charged locally depends on your rate. Check your booking confirmation for the line "Additional driver free of charge." If it is not included, typical daily fees in Los Angeles are:

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

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the vehicle in Los Angeles may void cover.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be especially valuable when driving in Los Angeles given the city's complex motorway system and long distances between destinations.

Core benefits typically included are:

• 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 accident while driving in Los Angeles, contact the assistance line 24 hours a day:

• 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 in Los Angeles, and a brief description of the situation. Follow the coordinator's instructions before incurring expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada. It also does not cover damage to the hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/SLI). Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms applicable to your reservation.

In Los Angeles, the standard minimum age to hire a car without additional surcharges is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged a daily young-driver surcharge at the counter.

Key age rules for Los Angeles hires:

• 25 and older: no age-related surcharge applies
• 21 to 24: eligible to hire but subject to a daily young-driver fee, which varies by hire brand
• Under 21: not eligible to hire in California through standard hire programmes

Drivers under 25 in Los Angeles are also restricted from hiring certain vehicle classes. Categories typically limited to drivers 25 and older include full-size saloons, SUVs, minivans, convertibles, luxury, and premium vehicles. Economy, compact, and intermediate classes are generally available to younger drivers.

One exception applies to certain Hola Car Rentals rates fulfilled by Avis or Budget: drivers aged 21 to 24 who are citizens or residents of Latin America or the Caribbean may have the young-driver fee waived, provided the waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation and an eligible vehicle category is selected.

A major credit card in the main driver’s name is required regardless of age for the excess deposit at any Los Angeles hire counter.

Hire cars in Los Angeles follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Steps to follow for the fuel policy in Los Angeles:

• At pickup, 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 fuel gauge
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Los Angeles return location before dropping off the vehicle
• Keep the final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns at the Los Angeles ConRAC facility, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge a fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

If the vehicle was not full at pickup, ask the agent to record the exact level on the agreement. You are only required to return it at that same recorded level, not necessarily full.

Ask the agent at the Los Angeles counter for the nearest fuel station to the return location, or use a navigation app to find one close to the ConRAC facility before returning the vehicle.

Yes, Los Angeles has some of the most complex motorway interchanges in the United States, and first-time drivers in the city often find them disorienting compared to road systems in other countries.

Key driving challenges to be aware of in Los Angeles:

• The East LA Interchange, where I-5, I-10, US-101, and SR-60 converge, handles over 430,000 vehicles daily and has no direct ramp from southbound US-101 to westbound I-10, forcing a detour via the Four Level interchange
• The Four Level interchange at US-101 and I-110 features ramps requiring sharp turns and tight merges into fast-moving traffic
• The I-405 and US-101 junction at Sepulveda Pass has dual entrances that merge immediately, requiring quick lane decisions
• Express Lanes on I-10 and I-110 require a FasTrak transponder. Entering them without one can result in a toll violation
• Some Los Angeles streets follow steep gradients due to hilly terrain, with certain roads reaching inclines that can challenge vehicles with smaller engines

For drivers unfamiliar with Los Angeles motorways, using a GPS navigation app is strongly recommended. Plan your route before entering the motorway system, particularly around the downtown Los Angeles interchange area, and allow extra time when merging across multiple lanes.

Yes, after-hours vehicle returns are accepted at the Los Angeles International Airport hire facility. The ConRAC centre at 5251 W 98th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045 offers 24-hour drop-off service, so you can return the vehicle at any time of day or night.

Steps for an after-hours return in Los Angeles:

• Drive to the ConRAC centre and follow signs to the return area for your hire brand
• Park the vehicle in the designated return bay
• Use the key drop box at the facility to return the keys
• Leave your fuel receipt inside the key envelope if you refuelled before returning
• Take a photo of the fuel gauge, odometer, and the vehicle's condition before leaving

Keep in mind that when you drop off after hours, a hire agent will not inspect the vehicle with you at that moment. The vehicle will be checked when the counter reopens. To protect yourself, photograph any pre-existing damage and the fuel level before leaving the Los Angeles return area.

Downtown Los Angeles hire locations also offer key drop facilities for after-hours returns, but their standard operating hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays with reduced weekend hours. If you need 24-hour flexibility, the LAX ConRAC centre is the most reliable option in Los Angeles.