SUV 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)

Illinois has five major toll roads you are likely to use during your SUV hire, all managed by the Illinois Tollway.

• Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-39/I-90, Chicago to Rockford): US$2.75 to US$5.50 per trip
• Illinois Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80, Wisconsin line to South Holland): 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, New Lenox to Itasca): US$3.80 to US$7.60
• Chicago Skyway (I-90/I-94, Chicago to Indiana border): US$4.80 to US$47.60

Rates shown are the discounted I-Pass/E-ZPass prices. If your Illinois SUV hire vehicle is billed by plate instead, the standard plate rate is slightly higher. Toll costs also vary by time of day: daytime rates apply from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and overnight rates from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Illinois has no congestion charges or emissions zones, so tolls are the only road fee to plan for.

Illinois toll roads use a cashless system, so your SUV hire will be billed electronically rather than at a traditional cash booth.

You have two main options when collecting your Illinois SUV hire:

• Daily toll programme: hire companies such as Avis, Budget, and National offer an unlimited toll package. National's TollPass Waiver Programme at Chicago airport locations costs US$11.99 per hire day and covers all tolls incurred that day.
• Pay-by-plate (no programme): if you decline the hire company's toll scheme, cameras automatically read your SUV's licence plate and bill tolls at the standard plate rate. No enrolment is needed; the Illinois Tollway handles billing automatically.

If you drive a toll road without enrolling in any scheme, the toll is still recorded and eventually billed to the hire company, which will recharge you plus an administrative fee. Ignoring toll bills can lead to escalating penalties. The pay-by-plate route avoids daily service fees but charges slightly more per toll than the I-Pass/E-ZPass rate. Review both options at the counter before signing your Illinois SUV hire agreement.

To collect your SUV hire in Illinois, bring the following physical documents to the counter:

• Original, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic; an IDP is also recommended if your licence is not in English and not issued by an EU/EEA country
• Physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on it, for the security deposit hold
• Passport or valid government photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets

Digital documents are not accepted at any Illinois SUV hire counter. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence, not instead of it. If your licence is in a Latin-alphabet language other than English, an IDP is recommended but not strictly mandatory. Ensure the name on your credit card matches the name on your licence and hire agreement to avoid issues at collection.

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

Illinois has several heavily used toll roads, including the I-90 Jane Addams Memorial Tollway and the I-88 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, so this benefit can add up meaningfully over a multi-day SUV hire.

To claim your cashback after returning your Illinois SUV:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA[your confirmation number]
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are prepaid; you still pay them normally during your Illinois SUV hire and claim reimbursement afterwards.

In Illinois, the minimum age to hire an SUV without a young-driver surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire in Illinois but will pay a daily underage fee that varies by partner:

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

Drivers under 25 are also restricted from hiring certain SUV classes in Illinois. Full-size SUVs and premium SUVs typically require the main driver to be at least 25. Full-size and premium SUVs are generally unavailable to younger drivers, subject to the surcharge above.

If you are from Latin America or the Caribbean and aged 21 to 24, some Avis and Budget rates waive the underage fee for eligible compact and medium SUV categories. Check your booking confirmation to see if this exception applies to your Illinois SUV hire.

For an SUV hire in Illinois, the hire company will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at collection. For standard vehicles in the United States, typical holds range from US$300 to US$400, though premium or full-size SUV categories in Illinois may carry higher holds.

The hold is not a charge; it temporarily reduces your available credit until the hire company releases it after you return the SUV. Your bank controls how quickly the release appears, and it can take up to 15 working days.

Key requirements for the deposit on your Illinois SUV hire:

• Physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on it
• Card must be in the main driver’s name
• Sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted

Even if you prepaid your Illinois SUV booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the counter for the security hold. Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name is required to collect any SUV hire in Illinois.

The card must have the driver’s name printed on it and carry sufficient available credit to cover the security deposit hold, which typically ranges from US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles in the United States. Premium or full-size SUVs in Illinois may require a higher hold.

• Debit cards are not accepted for the deposit hold
• Prepaid or virtual cards are not accepted
• The card must belong to the main driver, not a travel companion
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted at the counter

Even if you paid for your Illinois SUV hire in full online, you must still present the physical credit card at collection. If your card is declined, you may use another credit card in your own name. A third-party’s card is never accepted. Notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

SUV hires in Illinois are available across a range of sizes and classes. Common models you may encounter include:

• Compact and intermediate SUVs: Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Nissan Kicks, Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape
• Full-size and premium SUVs: GMC Yukon and similar large-format vehicles

Availability is concentrated at major Illinois airports, including Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Chicago Midway (MDW), Chicago Rockford (RFD), and Quad City International (MLI). Brands offering SUV hires at ORD include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty, among others.

Remember that your booking confirms a vehicle category, not a specific model. The hire company may substitute a similar SUV of equivalent size and class if your exact model is unavailable. Illinois roads are predominantly flat and well-maintained, making any SUV class suitable for statewide driving. If you require a specific feature such as AWD or a hybrid, check vehicle details carefully before confirming your Illinois SUV hire.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable during an Illinois SUV hire, especially if you experience a medical emergency or other covered incident while driving the state's highways.

Core benefits typically included are:

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

This cover is designed for travellers hiring abroad and does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada. If you qualify and need assistance during your Illinois SUV hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provide your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number.

Note that travel assistance does not cover damage to the SUV itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or liability to third parties (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI). Always check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Illinois SUV hire.

The standard fuel policy for an SUV hire in Illinois is Full-to-Full. You receive the SUV with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Steps to follow during your Illinois SUV hire:

• At collection, 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
• Use the correct fuel type for your SUV; wrong-fuel incidents are not covered and may generate charges
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return your Illinois SUV below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a service fee. For after-hours returns at Illinois airport locations, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge as proof.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your SUV hire in Illinois, either at no cost if your rate includes it or for a daily fee payable at the counter.

When the additional driver fee applies to your Illinois SUV hire, the per-day rates are:

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

The additional driver must be present at the Illinois collection point with a valid driver’s licence and any required IDP. They must meet the same minimum age requirements as the main driver. For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must be at least 25 years old. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by the SUV hire protections in Illinois, so never let an unlisted person drive the vehicle.

Yes, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) coverage reduces your financial liability for damage to your SUV hire in Illinois from a collision, theft, or other covered incidents.

What CDW/LDW typically covers for your Illinois SUV hire:

• Collision damage to the hire SUV
• Theft or vandalism
• Repairs up to the vehicle's value, minus any applicable excess

What it does not cover:

• Damage to third parties (use LIS/ALI/SLI for that)
• Tires, wheels, undercarriage, or roof damage unless specifically included
• Incidents involving prohibited use such as off-road driving, DUI, or an unauthorised driver
• Late or missing incident reports

Illinois roads are generally flat and well-maintained, but urban driving in Chicago can involve tight spaces where SUV scrapes are possible. Always inspect your SUV at collection, photograph any pre-existing damage, and confirm the excess amount on your Illinois hire agreement before driving away. Report any incident to the hire partner immediately using the number on your confirmation.

Yes, one-way SUV hires starting in Illinois and ending in another state are generally permitted, but a drop-off fee will typically apply and must be confirmed before booking.

How one-way fees work for Illinois SUV hires:

• The drop-off fee is route-specific and varies by hire company, destination state, season, and SUV class
• Large or premium SUVs in Illinois may carry higher repositioning fees than compact SUVs
• The fee appears under the "To pay at destination" section during checkout and on your booking confirmation
• This fee cannot be prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© Coverage unless it was not disclosed at booking

Cross-border travel from Illinois into neighbouring states such as Indiana, Wisconsin, or Missouri is generally allowed under standard hire agreements, but always verify the permitted territory on your hire agreement at the counter. Some partner brands restrict certain SUV classes from crossing into specific states or regions. If you need to change your drop-off location after booking your Illinois SUV hire, contact support as soon as possible, since route changes may reprice the reservation and recalculate the drop-off fee.