Budget Car Hire
in Columbus

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Budget counter at Columbus John Glenn International Airport (CMH) is located inside the consolidated Rental Car Centre at 4106 International Gateway, Columbus, OH 43219, on the first floor of the facility.

After collecting your baggage, follow the purple signs on the Arrivals Level to the purple-painted area in the middle median. Board the free hire car shuttle there. The shuttle runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the journey to the Budget counter takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Once at the Rental Car Centre, proceed to the Budget counter on the first floor. Have your booking confirmation and flight itinerary ready, as Budget may request flight verification at pickup. From the moment you land, allow roughly 20 to 45 minutes in total before you are driving away, accounting for baggage claim, the shuttle ride, and counter processing.

Budget opening hours in Columbus vary by location.

• Columbus Airport (CMH) Rental Car Centre: 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily, with a 24-hour key drop box available for after-hours returns.
• Downtown Columbus (104 E Long St): Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• 3rd Ave Columbus (1030 W 3rd Ave): Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

If you are arriving at Columbus Airport after 1:00 AM, the 24-hour key drop at the Rental Car Centre allows you to return the vehicle outside staffed hours. For city centre Budget locations in Columbus, no after-hours pickup is noted, so plan your arrival within the listed hours. If your flight is delayed by less than 24 hours, Budget will hold your reservation.

Yes, Budget city locations in Columbus offer a free pickup service for customers within a short distance of the branch.

Both the Downtown Columbus location at 104 E Long St and the 3rd Ave location at 1030 W 3rd Ave provide free pickup from nearby areas, generally within 0.51 to 3.58 miles of the city centre. To arrange pickup, call the Budget location directly during business hours and a shuttle will be sent to your location.

This service is only available during the branch's operating hours and is not connected to the airport shuttle system at CMH. If you are arriving at Columbus Airport, you must use the dedicated hire car shuttle from the terminal to the consolidated Rental Car Centre, not the city branch pickup service.

Yes, toll roads exist in Ohio, and they can affect your Budget hire in Columbus if you plan to travel across the state.

The main toll road is the Ohio Turnpike (I-76, I-80, I-90), a 241-mile east-west route connecting the Indiana and Pennsylvania borders, passing near Toledo, Cleveland, and Akron. Typical 2026 passenger vehicle tolls for the full westbound trip are approximately US$19 with E-ZPass or US$27.75 paying by cash or credit card at a plaza.

Your Budget hire car in Columbus will include an electronic toll device. At the counter you have two options:

• Enroll in Budget's toll programme (pay-per-use plus a daily administrative fee, typically around US$4.95 per day, capped at approximately US$34.65 per rental).
• Opt out and pay tolls manually at plazas where cash or credit card is accepted, or prepay online through the Ohio Turnpike website.

If you drive through a cashless toll without enrolling or paying, the charge will be passed to Budget, who will then bill your credit card along with additional administrative fees and potential penalties. To avoid surprises, decide your toll strategy before leaving the Columbus pickup counter.

To pick up your Budget hire car in Columbus, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver's licence in the main driver's name (not a digital copy).
• A major credit card with the driver's name printed on the physical card, used for the authorisation hold.
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight tickets or travel itinerary showing your return date (required at the Columbus Airport CMH location for flight verification).

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 other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP must be carried alongside your original licence and is not accepted on its own.

At the downtown Columbus Budget locations, acceptable secondary ID includes a utility bill from the last 60 days with a matching name and address, a US passport, or a US military ID. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit.

All Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Budget rentals in Columbus, include the Tolls Cashback benefit, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire.

This is especially useful if you drive the Ohio Turnpike or other toll roads during your Columbus trip, as those costs can add up quickly on longer routes across Ohio.

To claim your cashback after returning your Budget vehicle in Columbus:

• 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 from Budget, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid.

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your original booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Note that this benefit reimburses tolls you already paid; it does not mean tolls are included in your prepaid rate. Claims submitted after 30 days will not be accepted.

Yes, a physical major credit card in the main driver's name is required to pick up your Budget hire car in Columbus.

At the Columbus counter, Budget will place a temporary authorisation hold on your card, typically around US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles, though the exact amount varies by vehicle class and location. This hold reduces your available credit until it is released after you return the car, which can take up to 15 business days depending on your bank.

• The card must be a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or similar) with the driver's name printed on the physical card.
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or digital-only cards are not accepted for the deposit at the Budget counter in Columbus.
• Even if you prepaid your booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at pickup.

It is advisable to bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and to notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

Columbus has several road features that can catch first-time drivers off guard, especially if you are not familiar with the city after collecting your Budget hire car.

• Downtown Columbus is undergoing a gradual conversion from one-way streets to two-way traffic. Streets like Front Street and Marconi Boulevard have already been converted, but the transition is ongoing. Expect new two-way signals, shifting lane configurations, and utility work that can cause temporary disorientation.
• Columbus has introduced mini-roundabouts, including at SR-161 and Maple Canyon Avenue. These have a 90-foot inscribed circle, mountable splitter islands for larger vehicles, and restricted left turns. They are uncommon in many parts of the US and require slower, careful navigation.
• The I-270 outerbelt has a dense cluster of interchanges, including at SR-161, I-670, US-33, and SR-315, that confuse many first-time drivers. Speed cameras are also more prevalent on Columbus urban highways than in many other US cities, particularly at I-270 exits and along I-70 and I-71.

Before leaving the Budget counter in Columbus, take a moment to review your route and allow extra time for navigation in downtown and beltway areas.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings for Budget hire cars in Columbus include Travel Assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, at no extra cost.

This benefit is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or accident while driving the Columbus highway network, including the I-270 outerbelt or on longer drives towards the Ohio Turnpike.

Coverage typically includes:

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

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this benefit does not apply to US or Canadian residents. It is designed for travellers visiting Columbus from outside North America. It also does not cover damage to the Budget hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/SLI).

Return your Budget hire car in Columbus to the same consolidated Rental Car Centre at 4106 International Gateway, Columbus, OH 43219, where you originally collected it.

The facility offers 24-hour drop-off with a key drop box, so you can return the vehicle even if the Budget counter is closed (staffed hours are 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily). After dropping off the car, a free shuttle runs continuously from the Rental Car Centre back to the CMH terminal.

Before returning your Budget vehicle in Columbus, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Rental Car Centre to comply with the full-to-full fuel policy. Keep your fuel receipt as proof. If you return the car with less than a full tank, Budget may charge a fuel shortfall at their refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus an administrative service fee.

Take a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer before leaving the vehicle, and keep all paperwork from the return in case any post-rental charges appear on your card.

Yes, a young driver surcharge applies to Budget hire cars in Columbus for drivers aged 21 to 24.

In Ohio, the minimum age to hire with Budget in Columbus is 21, but drivers under 25 are subject to a daily underage fee. For Budget, this fee is US$13 per rental day plus applicable taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes for the rental period. Most premium and speciality vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older.

There is one exception worth noting: if you are a traveller from Latin America or the Caribbean aged 21 to 24, certain Hola Car Rentals rates fulfilled by Budget waive the underage fee for the main driver. To qualify:

• The waiver must be explicitly shown on your Hola Car Rentals confirmation.
• You must present a passport or government ID proving Latin American or Caribbean nationality or residency at the Columbus Budget counter.
• The vehicle must belong to an eligible category such as Economy, Compact, Medium Sedan, Standard Sedan, Compact SUV, or Medium SUV.

This exception applies to the main driver only. Additional drivers aged 21 to 24 at the Columbus Budget counter may still be charged the underage fee or may not be accepted.

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

Some Hola Car Rentals 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, Budget in Columbus charges US$13 per rental day plus taxes for each additional driver, with a maximum charge of US$65 plus taxes for the rental period.

To add a driver at the Columbus Budget counter:

• The additional driver must be present at pickup with a valid driver's licence (and an IDP if their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet).
• For Budget in Columbus, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may be charged the underage fee or may not be accepted as additional drivers.
• 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 protections such as CDW/LDW and liability cover. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the Budget vehicle in Columbus may void those protections.

Yes, one-way hires with Budget in Columbus are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location.

When you search for a Budget hire in Columbus with a different return city, the Hola Car Rentals booking page will display any applicable drop-off fee under the to pay at destination section before you confirm. Common patterns include:

• Returning to a different Columbus location (for example, airport to downtown): often no drop-off fee.
• Returning to another Ohio city or neighbouring state: a drop-off fee typically applies, varying by distance and vehicle class.
• Cross-country or remote returns: fees are higher and some routes may not be permitted.

The drop-off fee is set by Budget and cannot be prepaid through Hola Car Rentals. It is charged at the Columbus pickup counter or at the return location. If the fee shown at the counter differs from what appeared on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact Hola Car Rentals support, as the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply to undisclosed fees.

Cross-border one-way hires (for example, Columbus to Canada) are subject to Budget's specific cross-border policies and may carry restrictions or higher fees.