Quick Summary
- Foreign visitors in the United States are normally expected to present both a physical driving licence and their passport when collecting a vehicle.
- If you are already in the country, domestic journeys still usually follow the same rule, so turning up at the desk with only your licence can be risky.
- Hola Car Rentals shows the ID required by each partner and route so you can keep passport checks in mind when planning airport pick ups and one way trips.
Residents, long stay visitors and passport checks
US citizens and permanent residents often book vehicles for purely domestic journeys, using a state issued driving licence as their main ID. In many cases that licence plus a matching payment card is enough for them to collect the keys, though some suppliers ask for an extra document such as a utility bill or student card if there are concerns about address or age.
For international travellers, the picture is different. When you arrange car hire as a visitor from the UK, Europe or elsewhere, most partners treat your passport as the primary proof of identity and your licence as proof that you can legally drive. Even if you have already passed through immigration and are now on an internal flight, staff usually expect to see both documents at the desk.
If you are already in the US without your passport
Maybe you have left your passport locked in a hotel safe for a domestic side trip, or you are on a student or work programme and mainly carry a campus ID or local card. Turning up at the counter with only your licence in these situations can work with some suppliers, but there is a real risk that they will refuse to release the vehicle because they cannot properly verify your identity or match the name to your booking.
Imagine landing at LAX and heading straight to a late evening Los Angeles airport collection with just your foreign licence and a credit card. If the desk asks for your passport and you do not have it, the only options may be to fetch it, add an additional driver who does have one, or abandon the booking entirely. That is not the start any traveller wants after a long flight.
Best practice for visitors already travelling within the US
The safest approach is simple but requires a little planning. Wherever possible, carry your passport whenever you expect to collect a vehicle, even if the journey is between two US cities and you already cleared immigration days or weeks ago. Keep your licence, passport and payment card in the same name, and store a photocopy or scan separately as a backup in case anything is lost.
If you are planning a west coast loop that includes a San Francisco booking as well as time in Los Angeles, or a city break that ends with a JFK booking, pack your passport with you on the day you collect the vehicle. Some travellers also carry a secondary photo ID such as a national identity card, but this is usually a supplement rather than a substitute for a passport in the eyes of US rental staff.
How Hola Car Rentals helps you prepare documents
Hola Car Rentals works with familiar brands like Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Payless, Avis, Budget and National, consolidating each partner's identification rules in one place. When you book, the driver information and terms explain whether a passport is required, which cards are accepted and any extra proof you might need, such as return flight details.
Many itineraries from Hola Car Rentals include Free Cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up, All Inclusive+ rates with maximum coverage and free travel insurance up to US$150000, so you can adjust your booking if you realise that you cannot meet a particular supplier's ID rules. With everything clearly laid out, you can choose a route and timing that fits the documents you are able to carry.
FAQs
- Do I need my passport to collect a vehicle if I booked it inside the US? International visitors are almost always asked for their passport at collection, even for domestic bookings, whereas US residents may be able to rely on other official photo ID, depending on the supplier.
- Is a photo of my passport on my phone enough? No, suppliers normally require the original physical passport, and a digital photo or scan is treated only as a backup in case the passport is lost.
- Should my travel companions bring their passports too? Only the main and any additional drivers are routinely checked, but it is wise for everyone to carry passports when moving between states or flying, and local border or security rules can change.
If you are already in the United States and planning to add a driving leg to your trip, reserve through Hola Car Rentals and check the document checklist on your voucher so you can arrive at the desk fully prepared.
