Car Hire
Washington

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

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

At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington's busiest airport, all hire car companies operate from an off-terminal Consolidated Hire Car Facility (CHCF), not from inside the terminal itself.

To reach the counters, follow these steps after landing:

• Exit baggage claim and go to the lower level of the terminal
• Look for the designated hire car shuttle stops near Carousel 1 or Carousel 15
• Board the free shuttle, which runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• The ride to the CHCF takes approximately 5 to 7 minutes
• All major partner brands have counters inside the CHCF, where you will also collect your vehicle

When returning your Washington hire car, follow motorway signs for SR 518 West to the Hire Car Return, then SR 99 South. Park in your brand's designated area, drop keys in the box if returning after hours, and take the shuttle back to the terminal from the opposite side of the facility.

If you are picking up at Paine Field (PAE) in Washington, the process is simpler: counters are located inside the baggage claim area and vehicles are parked directly outside, so no shuttle is needed.

Washington state operates several cashless toll roads that hire car drivers are likely to encounter, all managed through the Good To Go! electronic tolling system run by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). There are no cash toll booths in Washington.

Common tolled routes and typical costs for passenger vehicles include:

• SR 520 Bridge (Seattle to Bellevue): US$3.25 to US$6.30 for 2-axle vehicles
• Tacoma Narrows Bridge (SR 16, Tacoma to Gig Harbour): US$5.25 to US$7.25 for 2-axle vehicles
• SR 509 Expressway (near ports): US$1.20 to US$2.40, varying by time of day
• I-405 Express Toll Lanes near Seattle: dynamic pricing up to US$18 each way during peak periods

If you drive a tolled road in Washington without a Good To Go! transponder, tolls are billed via Pay By Mail at higher rates (for example, an additional US$3 surcharge on SR 509 beyond the base toll). The invoice goes to the hire company, which then charges your card plus an administrative fee.

At the Washington hire counter, you can opt into the hire company's toll programme, which typically costs US$11 to US$25 per day and covers tolls automatically. Alternatively, you can pay per use and tolls will be billed after the hire ends.

Washington state increased its retail hire car tax significantly on 1 January 2026, from 5.9% to 11.9% for hires of 30 days or less. This rate is scheduled to decrease to 9.9% in 2027.

In addition to the state hire car tax, Washington renters at major airports such as Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) typically face additional local and airport-related fees, which can bring the total surcharge on a Washington hire to 20% to 30% above the base rate depending on the pickup location.

Off-airport locations in Washington, such as downtown Seattle branches, generally avoid some of these airport-specific fees, which is why off-airport rates can be meaningfully lower than airport rates for the same vehicle class.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the Washington counter at pickup. If your confirmation states that taxes and fees are included, you should not be billed separately for those items at the counter.

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

Washington operates the Good To Go! cashless toll system, covering routes such as the SR 520 Bridge, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the I-405 Express Toll Lanes near Seattle. Whether you pay through the hire company's toll programme or are billed via Pay By Mail, you can submit those charges for cashback.

To claim your Washington toll cashback:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your confirmation number
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for the booking

The refund is issued to your original payment method and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. The cashback covers toll charges only, not administrative fees or traffic fines.

In Washington state, visitors can generally drive with a valid foreign licence. However, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended in certain situations and mandatory in others.

• If your driver's licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an IDP is required at the Washington hire counter. Without it, the hire company may refuse to hand over the vehicle.
• If your licence is in a Latin alphabet but not in English, an IDP is recommended as a translation document, though not always strictly mandatory.
• If your licence is in English, an IDP is generally not required for hiring in Washington.

The IDP is a translation booklet only and must always be carried alongside your original licence. It is not a standalone document and will not be accepted without the original licence.

If you think you may need an IDP for your Washington hire, obtain it in your home country before travelling. US-based organisations such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-US licence holders.

All documents presented at the Washington hire counter must be physical originals. Digital copies are not accepted.

Washington state enforces several driving rules that are stricter than neighbouring states and that frequently catch out-of-state and international hire car drivers off guard.

• Hands-free mobile use only: handheld use is banned in Washington even when stopped in traffic. Violations carry substantial fines and licence points. This is more strictly enforced than in Oregon or Idaho.
• Headlights are required in Washington from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, during inclement weather, and whenever windscreen wipers are in use. Given Washington's frequent rain west of the Cascades, this rule applies often.
• Speed limits on rural interstates in Washington are 70 mph and 60 mph on urban interstates near Seattle. Fines escalate rapidly, and automated enforcement cameras are used in school and construction zones.
• Right turns on red are permitted after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it.
• Washington's move-over law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down for emergency and maintenance vehicles stopped on the roadside.

West of the Cascades, Washington roads are frequently wet, which increases stopping distances and the risk of hydroplaning. Mountain passes such as Snoqualmie and Stevens can close in winter. Check real-time conditions at wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or dial 511 before driving through Washington's mountain corridors.

To collect your hire car at any Washington location, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• Your original, unexpired driver's licence in the main driver's name
• An International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. The IDP must be carried alongside the original licence, not instead of it.
• A major credit card physically printed with the main driver's name, with sufficient available credit for the security deposit hold. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher if required by the partner brand
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting Washington from abroad

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at Washington hire counters.

Name mismatches between your licence, passport, and credit card are one of the most common reasons for problems at pickup. Make sure all names match the main driver listed on the reservation before travelling to Washington.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable when driving in Washington state, particularly on remote mountain passes or rural highways east of the Cascades where help may not be immediately available.

The coverage typically includes:

• Medical coverage for up to 5 passengers for accidents and non-pre-existing illnesses
• 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 hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI).

Important: this travel assistance benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify for this coverage, regardless of where in Washington they are hiring.

If you need assistance while driving in Washington, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

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

Always call first to open a case before incurring expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorisation.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 hiring a car in Washington state are subject to a daily young-renter surcharge, also called an underage fee, charged at the counter by the hire partner.

Typical daily surcharge amounts by partner brand in Washington:

• 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, with no stated cap

In addition to the surcharge, most vehicle classes are restricted for drivers under 25 in Washington. Economy, compact, and intermediate SUV categories are typically the only classes available to younger renters.

The minimum age to hire in Washington is generally 21. Drivers aged 18 to 20 cannot hire in Washington state, unlike New York and Michigan where state law requires hires to 18-year-olds.

If you are aged 21 to 24, from Latin America or the Caribbean, and your booking is fulfilled by Avis or Budget, the underage fee may be waived on eligible rate plans. Check your booking confirmation to see if this exception applies to your Washington reservation.

Hire cars in Washington follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

To avoid fuel charges on your Washington hire:

• Check the fuel gauge with the agent at pickup and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge at the start of the hire
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the Washington return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep the final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns at Washington airports, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level in Washington, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

If the vehicle was not full at pickup, ask the Washington counter agent to record the exact level on the agreement. You only need to return it at that same level, not necessarily full.

When you pick up your hire car in Washington, the partner brand will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge but it reduces your available credit until the hold is released after you return the vehicle.

Typical deposit hold amounts for standard vehicles in Washington and across the United States are approximately US$300 to US$400. Premium or speciality vehicles may require a higher hold.

Requirements for the deposit at Washington hire counters:

• A physical major credit card with the main driver's name printed on the card. Digital wallets, virtual cards, and prepaid cards are not accepted.
• The card must be in the main driver's name, not a third party's name.
• Sufficient available credit to cover the hold amount plus any expected charges.

After you return the vehicle in Washington, the hold is released by the hire company. However, your bank or card issuer controls when the credit reappears on your account, which can take up to 15 business days.

It is advisable to bring a backup credit card in your own name when picking up in Washington, in case your primary card is declined or flagged for a foreign transaction.

When hiring a car in Washington state, there are two main types of coverage to consider: protection for the hire vehicle itself and protection for third parties.

Coverage for the hire vehicle:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) reduces your financial liability if the Washington hire car is damaged or stolen. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.

Coverage for third parties:

• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving in Washington. Some US states require hire companies to include state-minimum liability by law, but not all states do. Washington renters are strongly encouraged to add Liability Insurance Supplementary (up to US$300,000) to their booking.

Neither CDW/LDW nor LIS/ALI/SLI covers your personal injuries (that requires PAI) or your belongings (that requires PEC).

Only drivers named on the Washington hire agreement are covered by these protections. If someone not listed on the contract drives the vehicle in Washington, coverage may be void.

Yes, one-way hires are available in Washington, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, the hire partner, and the vehicle class.

How drop-off fees work for Washington one-way hires:

• Returning within the same Washington city, such as from Seattle-Tacoma Airport to a downtown Seattle branch, often carries no drop-off fee.
• Returning to a different Washington city or to a neighbouring state such as Oregon or Idaho typically triggers a drop-off fee, which varies by distance, partner brand, and season.
• Cross-border one-ways, for example from Washington to Canada, may be restricted or carry higher fees depending on the partner brand's rules.

The drop-off fee for your Washington hire will be shown during the booking process on the rate details page under the section labelled "To pay at destination." It will also appear on your booking confirmation. This fee cannot be prepaid and is paid directly at the Washington pickup counter.

If you need to change your drop-off location after booking your Washington hire, be aware that the route will be re-priced and the drop-off fee may change or new restrictions may apply.