Car Hire
at Calgary Airport

EASTER  45% OFF   

Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car hire companies at Calgary Airport, 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 at Calgary Airport.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking at Calgary Airport 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 at Calgary Airport 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)

On-site hire brands at Calgary Airport, including Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Alamo, are all located at the Rental Car Centre on the Departures Level, directly across the roadway from the Domestic Terminal.

After clearing immigration and customs, follow these steps:

• Exit the international arrivals area between Doors 15 and 16 (or Doors 16 and 17 for trans-border US flights) and collect your baggage from the international baggage claim on the Arrivals level.
• Exit the Arrivals building and cross the roadway using the elevator lobby located opposite the Arrivals entrance to reach the Departures Level.
• Walk to the Rental Car Centre, where all on-site brand counters are located. No shuttle or people mover is required, just a short walk across the roadway.
• Present your documents at the counter, collect your keys, and pick up your vehicle from the adjacent on-site lot.

Off-site companies use courtesy shuttles departing from Bus Bay 22 on the Arrivals roadway. Contact your off-site provider in advance to confirm shuttle timing and pickup arrangements at Calgary Airport.

No, there are no toll roads anywhere in Alberta, so drivers picking up a hire car at Calgary Airport will not encounter any tolls, toll booths, or cashless toll systems during their trip.

Alberta has no provincial toll infrastructure, meaning you can drive any highway or road in the province without a transponder, toll pass, or toll-related fees. There are also no congestion charges or emissions zone fees similar to those found in some European cities.

If your itinerary takes you beyond Alberta into other Canadian provinces, toll roads may exist in those regions. In that case, the Tolls Cashback benefit included with your booking allows you to claim up to 5% of your total booking value back for any tolls paid during the hire period. Submit your claim to [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle at Calgary Airport, along with your hire agreement and toll receipts.

To collect your hire car at Calgary Airport, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name (original physical copy only; digital or photocopied licences are not accepted).
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold.
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID (required for visitors).
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher if required by the partner brand.
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for non-residents).

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

All documents presented at the Calgary Airport hire counter must be physical originals. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.

For international arrivals at Calgary Airport, plan for a minimum of 45 to 90 minutes from landing to driving away, though this can vary significantly depending on queue lengths and time of day.

The typical breakdown is as follows:

• Immigration and customs clearance: 20 to 60 minutes, depending on flight volumes and staffing.
• Baggage collection from the international claim area: approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
• Walk from the Arrivals exit to the Rental Car Centre on the Departures Level: approximately 5 to 10 minutes (short walk across the roadway via the elevator lobby).
• Counter paperwork, document verification, and vehicle inspection: approximately 10 to 20 minutes.

If you are using an off-site hire company with a shuttle from Bus Bay 22 at Calgary Airport, add approximately 15 to 20 minutes for the shuttle ride to the off-site location. Arriving during peak travel periods or on busy international flight days may extend all of these steps. Building in extra time is always advisable.

At Calgary Airport, hire companies place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at the time of pickup. For standard vehicles in Canada, the typical hold ranges from CA$ 300 to CA$ 500, though some locations may require a hold of approximately CA$ 750 or more depending on the vehicle class, hire brand, and season.

This hold is not a charge. It temporarily reduces your available credit and is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank or card issuer controls how quickly the hold disappears from your statement, which can take up to 15 business days after the hire concludes.

To avoid issues at the Calgary Airport counter:

• Bring a physical major credit card with your name printed on it and sufficient available credit to cover the hold.
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations.
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

The exact hold amount is set by the hire partner at the counter and may differ from the estimates above.

Yes, when you hire a car at Calgary Airport, provincial law in Alberta requires every hire vehicle to carry third-party liability cover, and this statutory liability is included by default in your hire.

This means you are covered for bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the hire vehicle. However, the default statutory minimum may be lower than what you need for full peace of mind. You can purchase additional liability insurance (LIS/ALI/SLI) to increase your coverage limits, with options available up to US$300,000 in supplementary protection.

It is important to understand what third-party liability does not cover at Calgary Airport:

• Damage to the hire vehicle itself, which requires CDW/LDW cover.
• Your own personal injuries, which require Personal Accident Insurance (PAI).
• Your personal belongings, which require Personal Effects Cover (PEC).

Review your booking confirmation to confirm what liability cover is included in your rate and whether additional supplementary liability is recommended for your trip from Calgary Airport.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire car at Calgary Airport, either as part of your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

Some rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation for the line stating additional driver is included. If it is not included, the daily fees at Calgary Airport vary by brand:

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

The additional driver must be present at the Calgary Airport counter at the time of pickup with a valid driver’s licence and any required identification. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the vehicle without being listed on the agreement will not be covered by CDW/LDW or liability protections.

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

Hiring a car at Calgary Airport involves several local taxes and fees that may be due at the counter or included in your prepaid rate, depending on your booking.

Key fees to be aware of include:

• Airport Improvement Fee (AIF): Calgary Airport increased this fee to CA$ 40 for most departing passengers effective 1 January 2026. This charge is typically passed through to hire customers picking up at the airport.
• Tourism levy: Alberta increased its tourism levy from 4% to 6% effective 1 April 2026, which applies to accommodation and certain tourism-related services.
• Vehicle hire tax: A new 6% vehicle hire tax on passenger vehicles seating eight or fewer is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are listed as due at the Calgary Airport counter under the total to pay at destination section. If a fee marked as included on your confirmation is charged again at the counter, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply. Review your confirmation carefully before pickup.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory at Calgary Airport if your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. In all other cases, an IDP is strongly recommended but not strictly required.

Visitors driving on a foreign licence at Calgary Airport should keep the following in mind:

• A valid, unexpired foreign driver’s licence with a photo is generally accepted in Canada.
• If your licence is not in English or French but uses Latin characters, carrying an IDP alongside your original licence is advisable and may be requested by the hire counter agent.
• The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without your original licence.
• Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

At the Calgary Airport counter, present your original physical licence and IDP together. Digital or photocopied documents are not accepted. If you are unsure whether your licence qualifies, obtaining an IDP before your trip is the safest approach.

The nearest fuel station to Calgary Airport for last-minute refuelling before returning your hire car is a Shell station at 9182 Airport Link N.E., approximately 1.3 km from the airport. An Esso station is also available approximately 4.7 km away at the intersection of 36 Street and 104 Avenue N.E.

Refuelling close to Calgary Airport before return is important because the standard fuel policy is Full to Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid charges.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting fuel level at Calgary Airport, the hire partner may charge:

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

To protect yourself, take a photo of the fuel gauge on the dashboard immediately after refuelling and keep your receipt showing the station address, date, and time. For after-hours returns at Calgary Airport, leave the receipt in the key drop envelope and retain a copy for your records.

All bookings include the Tolls Cashback benefit, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire. Since Alberta has no toll roads, this benefit is most relevant if your trip from Calgary Airport takes you into other Canadian provinces where toll roads exist.

To claim your cashback after returning your vehicle at Calgary Airport:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle.
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback, followed by your reservation confirmation number.
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid.
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last four digits of the card used for the booking.

The refund is processed to the original payment method used for your Calgary Airport hire and typically takes 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. The maximum reimbursement is capped at 5% of your total booking value, so if your booking total was US$600, the cap would be US$30.

Returning your hire car at Calgary Airport follows a straightforward process for on-site brands such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Alamo, Dollar, and Thrifty.

• Drive to the Rental Car Centre on the Departures Level, across the roadway from the Domestic Terminal, the same building where you picked up the vehicle.
• Follow the signage for your hire brand within the Rental Car Centre lot and park in the designated return area.
• A counter agent will inspect the vehicle and close out your contract. Request an itemised receipt before leaving.
• Ensure the fuel gauge matches the level recorded on your hire agreement to avoid refuelling charges.

If you rented from an off-site company at Calgary Airport, such as one using the Park2Go shuttle, return the vehicle to the off-site address, leave the keys with the valet or per the company's instructions, and take the shuttle back to the airport. The shuttle drops off at Post 24 for domestic departures and Post 38 for international departures.

For after-hours returns, confirm key drop procedures with your hire company in advance, as policies vary by brand at Calgary Airport.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance coverage through Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if an unexpected situation arises during your hire at Calgary Airport or on the road in Alberta.

Core benefits typically include:

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

This cover is designed for travellers hiring abroad and is particularly useful given that Alberta's highways can involve long distances between towns. If you experience a medical emergency or need legal support after an accident near Calgary Airport or elsewhere in the province, contact the assistance line 24 hours a day at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to Canadian or US residents. It covers non-North American customers only. It also does not cover damage to the hire vehicle (that requires CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (that requires LIS/ALI/SLI). Check your Calgary Airport booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits applicable to your reservation.