Car Hire
in Santa Ana

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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 John Wayne Airport (SNA), located at 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707, hire car counters are found in the Arrivals hall on the lower level between Terminals A and B. From there, you proceed to Level 0 of Parking Structures A2 and B2 to collect your vehicle.

To reach Level 0, take the lift from the terminal down to the parking structure. Most major partner brands available through Santa Ana bookings, including Avis, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, and National, are located in these consolidated structures.

Budget at SNA operates Sunday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Airport counters generally open as early as 5:30 AM and close around 11:30 PM, though hours vary by brand. Always confirm your specific brand's hours on your booking confirmation before arriving in Santa Ana.

To collect your hire car in Santa Ana, you must bring the following physical documents to the counter:

• A valid, original driving licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the authorisation hold
• A passport or valid government photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United States)

If your driving licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory at Santa Ana counters. For licences in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

All documents must be physical. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at any Santa Ana hire counter. A second credit card as backup is also advisable in case your primary card is declined.

It depends on your licence. Visitors hiring a car in Santa Ana can generally drive on a valid foreign licence, but an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic.

If your licence is in English or uses the Latin alphabet, an IDP is not strictly required at Santa Ana counters, though it is recommended as a precaution since individual hire partners may request one.

Important points to keep in mind for your Santa Ana hire:

• The IDP is a translation booklet only and is invalid without your original licence
• You must obtain the IDP in your home country before travelling, as U.S. issuers like AAA do not issue IDPs to non-U.S. licence holders
• All additional drivers must also meet the same document requirements at the counter

Check your booking confirmation for any partner-specific requirements that apply to your Santa Ana pickup location.

The Santa Ana area sits within Southern California's toll network, which is nearly entirely cashless. The main toll roads near Santa Ana are the Orange County Toll Roads: SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, and SR-261. Los Angeles area Express Lanes on I-10 and I-110 are also accessible from Santa Ana. All of these use California's FasTrak electronic system, and cash payment is not accepted.

When you pick up your hire in Santa Ana, you will typically have two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a fixed daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per day, depending on the hire partner, covering all toll usage during your hire
• Pay per use: the hire company charges you the actual toll amounts plus administrative or processing fees, billed to your card after the hire ends, sometimes weeks later

If you prefer to manage tolls yourself, you can opt out at the Santa Ana counter and pay directly through the toll agency's website, or use a compatible personal FasTrak pass. If you use your own pass, ask the counter agent to deactivate the vehicle's default toll device to avoid duplicate charges.

Avoiding express lanes on routes like I-10 and I-110 can significantly reduce or eliminate toll costs during your Santa Ana hire.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 hiring a car in Santa Ana are subject to a daily young-renter surcharge, and most vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older.

Typical daily surcharge amounts at Santa Ana counters vary by partner:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day, capped at US$65 per hire period (plus taxes)
• Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty: US$13.50 per hire day, capped at US$189 per hire period (plus taxes)
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day (plus taxes)

In Santa Ana, as in most of California, the minimum hire age is 21. Drivers under 21 cannot hire. Vehicle classes such as full-size, SUV, premium, luxury, minivan, and convertible are generally restricted to drivers aged 25 and over. Economy, compact, and intermediate categories are typically available to younger drivers.

If you are aged 21 to 24 and from Latin America or the Caribbean, certain Avis and Budget rates in Santa Ana may waive the underage fee for the main driver. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver applies to your reservation.

All bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Santa Ana hire. This is especially useful given the Orange County Toll Roads (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261, SR-133) and Los Angeles Express Lanes that are commonly used when driving in and around Santa Ana.

To claim your cashback after returning your vehicle in Santa Ana:

• 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 reservation confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll receipt or statement showing charges paid during the hire
• Include your full name, travel dates, and the last 4 digits of the card used for your booking

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your reservation and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are included in your Santa Ana booking rate; you still pay tolls normally and claim reimbursement afterwards.

When picking up a hire car in Santa Ana, the partner desk will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. For standard vehicles hired in the United States, this hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by hire brand, vehicle class, and location.

Key things to know about the deposit for your Santa Ana hire:

• The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge; it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends
• Premium or speciality vehicles may carry a higher hold amount
• Your bank controls when the hold is released after drop-off, which can take up to 15 business days
• Only a physical, major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card is accepted; debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted

Hola Car Rentals cannot confirm the exact hold amount in advance, as this is set by the hire partner desk at the Santa Ana counter. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on in-person authorisations.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire car in Santa Ana, either at no cost if your rate includes it, or for a daily fee paid at the counter if it does not.

Daily fees for adding a driver at Santa Ana counters vary by partner:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per day, capped at US$65 per hire (plus taxes)
• Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty: US$13.50 per day, capped at US$189 per hire (plus taxes)
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day (plus taxes)

The additional driver must be present at the Santa Ana counter at pickup with a valid driving licence and any required IDP. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability coverage.

For Avis, Budget, and Payless hires in Santa Ana, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. Check your booking confirmation to see whether your rate already includes one additional driver at no charge before arriving at the counter.

Driving in and around Santa Ana involves several road features that can disorient first-time visitors, particularly those unfamiliar with Southern California's freeway system.

Key road challenges near Santa Ana include:

• The Orange Crush interchange, where I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway), SR-22 (Garden Grove Freeway), and SR-57 (Orange Freeway) converge near the city. This junction is known for severe congestion and requires precise lane selection; choosing the wrong lane can send you in the wrong direction
• SR-55 (Costa Mesa Freeway), a north-south artery running through the Santa Ana area, has a mix of general lanes and HOV carpool lanes. Solo drivers must stay out of HOV lanes during peak hours or face fines
• Downtown Santa Ana has one-way street segments, particularly around Santa Ana Boulevard, which shifts between two-way and one-way configurations. Navigation apps may not always reflect the latest lane changes

HOV lanes on I-5, SR-55, and SR-57 near Santa Ana require 2 or more occupants during peak hours. Solo drivers in a hire car must use general lanes only. A GPS or navigation app is strongly recommended for first-time drivers in the Santa Ana area.

Hire cars picked up in Santa Ana follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. This means you receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

To avoid fuel charges on your Santa Ana 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 of the Santa Ana return location before dropping off the vehicle
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address as proof

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

If the vehicle was not full at pickup, ask the agent to record the exact level on the agreement and return it at that same level. Some Santa Ana counter locations may offer an optional prepaid fuel plan; if accepted, any unused fuel is generally non-refundable.

It depends on the rate you selected. Hire bookings in Santa Ana through Hola Car Rentals may include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), which reduces your financial liability for damage to the hire vehicle. Check your booking confirmation to see exactly what is included.

Key coverage points for Santa Ana hires:

• CDW/LDW covers damage to the hire car from a collision, theft, or vandalism, subject to any deductible shown on your confirmation
• CDW/LDW does not cover third-party liability, meaning injuries or property damage you cause to others while driving in Santa Ana
• Third-party liability (LIS/ALI/SLI) is a separate coverage; some U.S. states require a minimum, but not all do, and California does not mandate it be included by default in every hire
• Personal injuries and personal belongings are not covered by CDW/LDW

At the Santa Ana counter, review the hire agreement carefully before signing to confirm which coverages are active, what deductibles apply, and whether any exclusions affect your driving plans in the area. Adding all drivers to the agreement is essential, as coverage only applies to named drivers.

Yes, one-way hires from Santa Ana to another city are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, hire partner, and vehicle class.

How one-way fees work for Santa Ana hires:

• The drop-off fee is a one-time charge set by the hire partner to reposition the vehicle and is not included in any rate plan
• Routes between Santa Ana and nearby cities in the same region may carry a fee; longer cross-state routes typically carry higher fees
• The fee is shown during the booking process under the section labelled as payable at destination, so you will see it before confirming your reservation
• Premium, large SUV, and speciality vehicle classes may carry higher one-way fees or may not be available for one-way trips from Santa Ana

Cross-border one-way hires, such as from Santa Ana to Mexico or Canada, are generally restricted or require prior partner approval and may carry significantly higher fees. Always check your booking confirmation for the exact drop-off fee applicable to your Santa Ana departure route. If the counter charges a different amount than shown on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance through Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if you experience a medical emergency or accident while driving in the Santa Ana area or on nearby freeways such as I-5, SR-55, or SR-57.

Coverage typically includes:

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

If you need emergency assistance during your Santa Ana hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach them by phone at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada. It also does not cover damage to the hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI). Review your Santa Ana booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your reservation.