Van Hire in Nova Scotia

Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car hire companies in Nova Scotia, 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 in Nova Scotia.

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

To pick up your van hire in Nova Scotia, you must present all of the following physical documents at the counter. Digital copies are not accepted.

• A valid, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card (debit and prepaid cards are not accepted 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 driver’s licence is not in English and does not use a Latin alphabet (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For all other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence. Obtain it in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

All named drivers on the Nova Scotia van hire agreement must be present at pickup with their own valid licence and ID.

Not always, but it depends on your licence. For your van hire in Nova Scotia, an IDP is mandatory if your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. If your licence is in English or uses a Latin alphabet, an IDP is not strictly required but is still recommended as a precaution.

The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted at the Nova Scotia van hire counter without your original licence. You must carry both together.

Obtain your IDP in your home country before you travel. Issuers in Canada, such as CAA, do not issue IDPs to holders of foreign licences, so this must be arranged in advance.

The minimum age to hire a van in Nova Scotia is typically 21, though this can vary by hire brand and vehicle class. Renters between 21 and 24 years old are generally subject to a young driver surcharge on top of the base van hire rate.

For example, Avis applies a daily surcharge for renters aged 21 to 24, and may restrict certain van categories for that age group. Enterprise similarly charges a young driver fee at Nova Scotia locations for renters under 25. The exact surcharge amount varies by location and is paid at the counter.

If you are under 25 and planning to hire a van in Nova Scotia, check the specific age policy of your chosen brand at the time of booking, as some larger van models may carry additional restrictions for younger drivers.

Yes, there are a small number of toll roads that can affect your van hire in Nova Scotia, and it is worth planning for them before you drive.

• The Cobequid Pass on Highway 104 is a 45-km tolled section between Masstown and Thomson Station. The toll for a passenger van is approximately CAD 4.00 one way. Cash lanes are available, and if your hire van carries Nova Scotia plates, you may be waved through at the cash booth. Confirm this with the attendant when you stop.
• The Halifax bridges (Angus L. Macdonald and A. Murray MacKay) previously charged tolls via the MACPASS cashless system, but those tolls were removed entirely in March 2025. No bridge toll applies to your Nova Scotia van hire at this time.

If you drive through a cashless toll lane without a transponder, the hire company will receive an invoice and bill your credit card for the toll amount plus an administrative fee of approximately CAD 15 to CAD 25. To avoid this, use cash lanes at the Cobequid Pass or ask about a transponder programme at the counter when picking up your van in Nova Scotia.

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

The main toll you are likely to encounter is the Cobequid Pass on Highway 104, which costs approximately CAD 4.00 per crossing for a passenger van. If you cross it multiple times or use other tolled roads during your trip, those costs can add up and are eligible for reimbursement under this benefit.

To claim your cashback after returning the van in Nova Scotia:

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

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your booking and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

You must present a physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card at the counter when picking up your van in Nova Scotia. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or digital wallet cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.

In Canada, the typical security hold for a van hire is approximately CAD 300 to CAD 500, though some locations may authorise up to CAD 750 depending on the vehicle class and hire company. This is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after you return the van.

• The card must be in the main driver’s name
• The name on the card must match the hire agreement
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations

Even if you prepaid your Nova Scotia van hire online, you are still required to present a physical credit card at pickup for the deposit hold.

Van hires in Nova Scotia follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the van with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

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 gauge before you drive away.

When returning your van in Nova Scotia:

• Refuel within approximately 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
• Take a photo of the full gauge at the station as evidence
• For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a copy

If you return the van 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 pump prices, plus a service fee. Refuelling near the return point is always the most cost-effective option.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your van hire in Nova Scotia, either as part of your rate or for a fee paid at the counter.

Some rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation for the line that reads additional driver free of charge. If it is not included, the daily fees at Nova Scotia van hire counters are approximately:

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

The additional driver must be present at the counter at the time of van pickup in Nova Scotia. They must bring their own valid driver’s licence and any required IDP, and they must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the van without being listed on the agreement may void the protections on your booking.

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

Most bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be especially useful if something goes wrong during your Nova Scotia van hire, such as a medical emergency on a remote highway or a flight disruption on your way in or out of Halifax.

Core benefits typically include:

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

This benefit does not cover damage to the van itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or liability to third parties (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI). It also does not apply to pre-existing medical conditions.

Important: this cover only applies to non-North American customers. Canadian and US residents do not qualify for this benefit.

If you need assistance during your Nova Scotia van hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day at +1 888 980 9992 or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Yes, a one-way drop-off fee may apply if you pick up your van in one Nova Scotia location and return it to a different one, or if you return it outside the province entirely.

Whether the fee applies and how much it is depends on the specific route, the hire brand, the season, and the van class. Common patterns for Nova Scotia van hires include:

• Returning to the same city or airport where you picked up: no drop-off fee
• Returning to a different city within Nova Scotia: a drop-off fee typically applies and varies by distance and vehicle class
• Returning to a location in another province: a higher fee usually applies, and some routes may not be permitted

The drop-off fee is always shown during the booking process under the To pay at destination section on the rate details page. Review your booking confirmation to confirm whether a fee applies to your Nova Scotia van hire route. This fee cannot be prepaid and is paid directly at the counter.

If you need to change your return location after booking, be aware that the route will be re-priced and the drop-off fee may change.

When hiring a van in Nova Scotia, there are two main types of coverages to consider.

The first is Collision Damage Waiver or Loss Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW), which reduces your financial liability if the van is damaged or stolen. A deductible may still apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

The second is Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI), which covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the van. Under Canadian provincial law, every hire vehicle in Nova Scotia must carry a minimum level of third-party liability, so this statutory cover is included by default. You can purchase higher limits as supplementary liability if you want additional protection.

• CDW/LDW covers the van itself
• LIS/ALI/SLI covers damage or injury to others
• Neither covers your personal belongings or your own injuries

Review your booking confirmation to see which coverages are already included in your Nova Scotia van hire rate before accepting or declining anything at the counter.

If you return your van after the agreed drop-off time in Nova Scotia, the hire company will typically allow a grace period of up to 30 minutes before additional charges apply. This grace period is not guaranteed and varies by hire brand and location.

After the grace period, you may be charged for extra hours or an additional full day, depending on how late the return is. A late fee may also apply on top of the time charge.

To avoid unexpected charges on your Nova Scotia van hire:

• Plan your return with enough time to refuel the van before drop-off
• Account for any delays on Nova Scotia roads, particularly if returning from a rural area or after a ferry crossing
• If you know you will be late, contact the hire company directly using the number on your hire agreement as early as possible

If you need more time and want to formally extend your Nova Scotia van hire, contact the hire company or reach out to support before the original return time. Extensions are subject to vehicle availability and may reprice the hire.

Yes, in most cases you can drive your Nova Scotia van hire to other Canadian provinces, but you should confirm this with the hire company before your trip, as some brands and van categories have specific cross-border or cross-province restrictions.

Driving a hire van from Nova Scotia into the United States is subject to stricter rules. Cross-border travel to the US is often restricted or requires prior authorisation from the hire company. If permitted, a higher one-way or cross-border fee may apply, and your insurance cover may change at the border.

• Always check your hire agreement for geographic restrictions before leaving Nova Scotia
• Entering a restricted area in your van can void CDW/LDW and liability cover
• If you plan to take a ferry with the van, follow crew instructions and turn off the engine once parked on board

If your Nova Scotia van hire involves a one-way drop-off in another province, a drop-off fee will likely apply. This fee is shown during booking under the To pay at destination section and is paid at the counter.