Thrifty Car Hire
District of Columbia

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

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

The Thrifty counter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the District of Columbia is located at 1 Aviation Circle. This is the most popular Thrifty location in the District of Columbia, handling approximately 97% of all Thrifty reservations in the area.

When you arrive at DCA, head to the first floor of Parking 1, where 18 car hire agencies are consolidated. If you are a Thrifty Club member, you can proceed directly to the 2nd or 3rd floor of Parking 1 to collect your vehicle keys without waiting at the counter.

Thrifty also provides shuttle and airport pick-up services from DCA. For vehicle return, drive to 2500 National Avenue Parking Garage A.

The DCA Thrifty location is open daily from 07:00 to 23:00, which is significantly later than the two downtown District of Columbia locations, which close at 16:00 on weekdays. If you are arriving on an evening flight, the airport location is your best option for picking up your Thrifty hire.

Thrifty operates three locations in the District of Columbia, each with different hours.

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 1 Aviation Circle: open daily 07:00 to 23:00
• 707 7th Street Northwest (downtown): open Monday through Friday, 08:00 to 16:00
• 1919 Connecticut Ave NW at the Hilton Washington DC: open Monday through Friday 08:00 to 16:00, and Saturday 09:00 to 12:00

The airport Thrifty location in the District of Columbia offers the most flexible hours, staying open until 23:00 every day. If your flight arrives in the evening, the DCA location is the only Thrifty option that will still be open.

The two downtown District of Columbia Thrifty locations close at 16:00 on weekdays, so plan your pickup accordingly if you intend to use one of those. Note that the downtown locations are closed on Sundays, and the 7th Street location is also closed on Saturdays.

If your arrival is delayed, Thrifty will generally hold your booking for up to 24 hours from the original pickup time. For delays beyond 24 hours, contact support as soon as possible.

No, there are no toll roads within the District of Columbia itself. However, if you drive your Thrifty hire beyond the District of Columbia into neighbouring Maryland or Virginia, you will encounter cashless toll roads and bridges.

Common toll routes near the District of Columbia include:

• Wilson Bridge (I-95/I-495): approximately US$6 to US$8 per crossing
• 495 Express Lanes on the Virginia side: dynamic pricing of US$4 to US$20 per segment during peak hours
• Dulles Toll Road to/from Dulles Airport: approximately US$5.75 to US$6.25 one way
• I-95 Express Lanes toward Baltimore: approximately US$8 to US$15 total

Nearly all toll facilities in the area are fully cashless, meaning your Thrifty hire's registration plate is photographed and billed electronically. At the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia, you can enrol in a toll programme (typically US$11 to US$25 per day for unlimited use) or pay per use, where the actual toll plus a daily administrative fee of approximately US$4.95 to US$5.35 is charged to your card after the hire.

There are no congestion charges or emissions zones in the District of Columbia, unlike cities such as New York or London.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals, including Thrifty hires in the District of Columbia, include Tolls Cashback of up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire.

Since the District of Columbia itself has no toll roads, this benefit applies when you drive your Thrifty hire into nearby Maryland or Virginia, where cashless toll roads such as the Wilson Bridge, the 495 Express Lanes, and the Dulles Toll Road are common.

To claim your cashback after returning your Thrifty vehicle in the District of Columbia:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your confirmation number
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking 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. Claims submitted after 30 days will not be accepted.

To pick up a Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name (unexpired and valid for the entire hire period)
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the physical card, for the security deposit authorisation hold
• A passport (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom)
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for foreign visitors)

If your driver’s 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 licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required at the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies on a phone or tablet are not accepted. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit; only a major credit card in the main driver’s name qualifies.

Yes, Thrifty applies a young driver surcharge in the District of Columbia for renters between the ages of 20 and 24. At the DCA airport location, this fee is approximately US$25 per day and is paid at the counter on top of your prepaid rate.

The minimum age to hire at Thrifty in the District of Columbia without a surcharge is 25. Drivers under 20 are generally not eligible to hire.

In addition to the daily surcharge, under-25 renters face vehicle class restrictions. Categories such as full-size, premium, luxury, SUV, minivan, and convertible are typically reserved for renters aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are usually the available options for younger drivers.

A valid driver’s licence and a major credit card in the main driver’s name are still required regardless of age. If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit is also required at the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia.

When you pick up your Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia, the counter agent will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge; it is a hold that reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the vehicle.

For standard vehicles in the United States, typical holds range from approximately US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount at the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia may vary based on the vehicle class, hire duration, and location policies. Premium or specialised vehicles may carry higher holds.

Important requirements for the deposit at Thrifty in the District of Columbia:

• The card must be a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) with the driver’s name printed on the physical card
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit hold
• The card must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges

After you return the vehicle, the hold is released. Your bank or card issuer controls how quickly it appears back on your available credit, which can take up to 15 working days. Bringing a backup credit card is always a good precaution.

At the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia, the specific coverages included in your booking depend on the rate plan you selected. Based on available data for the DCA airport location, both the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) excess and the third-party liability insurance excess are listed at US$0, meaning these coverages are included with no out-of-pocket deductible for covered incidents.

Here is what each coverage means for your Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia:

• CDW (Collision Damage Waiver): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Thrifty hire vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. It does not cover tyres, undercarriage, or personal belongings.
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to other people or vehicles while driving the Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas.

CDW does not cover third parties, and liability cover does not cover damage to the hire car itself. They are separate protections that work together. Always review the hire agreement at the Thrifty counter to confirm the exact terms, limits, and any exclusions that apply to your specific booking.

Yes, if your Thrifty booking in the District of Columbia does not explicitly include an additional driver, a daily fee applies at the counter. For Thrifty (part of the Hertz group), 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 hire period.

To add a driver to your Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia:

• The additional driver must be present at the Thrifty counter at pickup
• They must present a valid driver’s licence (and an IDP if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet)
• They must meet the minimum age requirements; a young driver surcharge may apply if they are under 25
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by the vehicle’s insurance protections. If someone not named on the contract drives the Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia and an incident occurs, cover may be void. Check your booking confirmation before arriving at the counter to confirm whether an additional driver is already included in your rate.

Thrifty hires in the District of Columbia follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges.

To avoid fuel fees on your Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia:

• At pickup, verify the fuel gauge reads full 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 (2500 National Avenue Parking Garage A for DCA returns) so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return the Thrifty vehicle in the District of Columbia 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 retail pump price, plus an administrative service fee. The counter may also offer a prepaid fuel option; if you accept it, any unused fuel is generally non-refundable.

Yes, one-way hires are possible with Thrifty in the District of Columbia, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location. This fee is route-specific and varies based on the destination city, vehicle class, and season.

When booking a one-way Thrifty hire from the District of Columbia:

• The drop-off fee, if applicable, will appear under the "To pay at destination" section during checkout and on your booking confirmation
• If no fee is shown, no drop-off charge applies to your specific route
• The fee is paid at the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia or at the return location, not prepaid online

Cross-border one-way hires (for example, returning the Thrifty vehicle in Canada) may be restricted or carry significantly higher fees. Always confirm cross-border permissions on your hire agreement before driving outside the United States from the District of Columbia.

If the Thrifty counter charges a drop-off fee that was not disclosed on your booking confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support. Hola Car Rentals' No Extra Charges© Coverage can help resolve undisclosed counter charges after verification.

Yes, most bookings made through Hola Car Rentals, including Thrifty hires in the District of Columbia, include Travel Assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. However, this benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada.

For eligible renters driving a Thrifty vehicle in the District of Columbia or on nearby highways in Maryland and Virginia, the coverage typically includes:

• 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 need assistance while driving your Thrifty hire in the District of Columbia area, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

• Phone: +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free)
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Have your full name and Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. This coverage does not replace CDW/LDW for vehicle damage or third-party liability insurance. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your Thrifty hire.

Yes, you can use a foreign driver’s licence to hire from Thrifty in the District of Columbia, but additional documentation may be required depending on the language and alphabet of your licence.

• If your licence is in English or uses a Latin (Roman) alphabet, it is generally accepted at the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended but not strictly mandatory.
• If your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic (Russian), an IDP is mandatory. You must carry both your original licence and the IDP together; the IDP is a translation only and is not valid on its own.

You must also present your passport and, if applicable, a valid visa or entry document. Round-trip flight or cruise tickets are required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom renting from Thrifty in the District of Columbia.

Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling. In the United States, organisations such as AAA issue IDPs only to holders of a US licence, so foreign visitors cannot obtain one after arriving. All documents presented at the Thrifty counter in the District of Columbia must be physical originals; digital copies are not accepted.