Car Rental in Baltimore

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car rental brands operating in Baltimore, 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 rental 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 rental experience and peace of mind throughout your trip in Baltimore.

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

Picking up a rental car at Baltimore BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport requires taking a free shuttle to an off-site facility. There is no rental counter inside the terminal itself.

• After collecting your baggage, exit the terminal at Doors 1, 11, or 16 on the lower-level inner curb and look for the rental car shuttle stop.
• Shuttles run every 5 to 10 minutes during regular hours and drop you at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility at 7432-7434 New Ridge Road, Hanover, MD 21076, approximately 5 to 10 minutes from the terminal.
• Between 1 am and 5 am, shuttle frequency drops to approximately every 25 minutes, so plan accordingly if you have a late or early flight into Baltimore.
• At the facility, go to your rental brand's counter with your booking confirmation, driver's license, and a major credit card in the main driver's name.

From baggage claim to driving away, allow 30 to 60 minutes, accounting for the shuttle wait, counter processing, and vehicle inspection. Counter hours vary by brand; for example, some open as early as 6 am and close around midnight, while others offer 24-hour drop-off.

Yes, Baltimore has several toll roads you will likely encounter, and Maryland's toll system is primarily cashless.

Key tolled facilities near Baltimore include:

• Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95): US$3 to US$6 for a standard 2-axle vehicle
• Baltimore Harbor Thruway Tunnel (I-895): US$3 to US$6
• John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95 north of Baltimore): US$6 to US$12
• Intercounty Connector (MD 200): US$0.07 to US$0.35 per mile

Maryland uses E-ZPass as its primary electronic toll system. If you do not have a transponder, cameras capture your plate and you receive a mailed invoice through the Pay-by-Plate system, which includes administrative fees and is more expensive than E-ZPass rates.

At the Baltimore area rental counter, you can enroll in your rental brand's toll program (typically US$4.95 per day plus actual tolls, with a rental-period cap around US$34.65). Alternatively, you can add your rental vehicle's plate to a service like NextPass through their app and pay tolls directly. If you drive through a cashless toll without enrolling in any program, the rental company will charge the toll plus processing fees to your card after the rental ends.

There are no congestion charges or emissions zones in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland.

To pick up a rental car in Baltimore, you must bring the following physical documents:

• A valid, unexpired driver's license in the main driver's name (physical original, not digital)
• A major credit card with the driver's name printed on the card, in the main driver's name, for the security deposit 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 Baltimore from abroad

If your driver's license is not in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For licenses in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original license, not as a replacement.

Debit cards, prepaid cards, and digital or virtual cards are not accepted for the security deposit at Baltimore rental counters. Even if you prepaid your booking online, you must present a physical major credit card at pick-up.

Yes, 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 rental, including tolls on Baltimore area roads such as the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95, the Baltimore Harbor Thruway Tunnel on I-895, and the Kennedy Memorial Highway.

To claim your Baltimore toll cashback:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback, followed by your reservation number (for example, Tolls Cashback - HOLA1000000)
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals confirmation, the signed rental agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid

The refund equals the lesser of the total tolls you paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your booking total is US$500, the cap is US$25. If you paid US$18 in Baltimore area tolls, you receive US$18 back. If you paid US$40, you receive US$25.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

All rental cars in the Baltimore area come equipped with an electronic toll device, since Maryland's major toll roads, including the Fort McHenry Tunnel and the Baltimore Harbor Thruway, are cashless or have very limited cash lanes.

At the counter, you have two main options:

• Enroll in the rental brand's unlimited toll program, typically costing US$4.95 to US$25 per day depending on the brand, which covers all tolls up to a rental-period cap (often around US$34.65 for some brands)
• Decline the program and pay per use, in which case the rental company charges you the actual toll amount plus an administrative processing fee for each toll incurred on Baltimore area roads

If you prefer to manage tolls yourself, you can add your rental vehicle's license plate to a third-party service such as NextPass before driving through Baltimore toll facilities. If you do this, inform the counter agent so they can deactivate the vehicle's default device and prevent duplicate charges.

Be aware that toll charges from Baltimore area roads often appear on your card days or even weeks after the rental ends, as toll agencies process invoices in batches. Keep your rental agreement and any toll receipts until all charges are settled.

Yes, drivers under 25 renting a car in Baltimore are subject to a young driver surcharge, also called an underage fee, charged daily at the counter.

Typical daily surcharge amounts at Baltimore area locations by brand family:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per day plus taxes, with a maximum of US$65 plus taxes per rental
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per day plus taxes, with a maximum of US$189 plus taxes per rental
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day plus taxes (for example, Enterprise at Baltimore area branches charges US$25 per day for drivers aged 21 to 24)

The minimum age to rent in Maryland is generally 21, though most brands restrict certain vehicle classes such as full-size SUVs, minivans, luxury, and premium vehicles to drivers aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, and intermediate categories are typically available to younger renters in Baltimore.

If you are between 21 and 24 and from Latin America or the Caribbean, check whether your Hola Car Rentals confirmation shows the underage fee waived for Avis or Budget bookings, as a specific exception may apply.

Returning a rental car at Baltimore BWI Airport is straightforward. Follow the airport signs for Car Rental Return, which direct you to the ramp leading to the Consolidated Rental Car Facility at 7432-7434 New Ridge Road, Hanover, MD 21076, the same off-site building where you picked up the vehicle.

• Park in your rental brand's designated return area within the facility
• A staff member will inspect the vehicle and close out your contract
• After returning the car, take the free airport shuttle back to the BWI terminal; shuttles run on the same schedule as pickup, every 5 to 10 minutes during regular hours

If you are returning outside counter hours, some Baltimore area brands such as Avis offer 24-hour drop-off. In that case, park in the designated return zone, remove all belongings, and deposit the keys in the after-hours key drop box. Keep a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer before leaving the vehicle.

Refuel before arriving at the facility. The full-to-full fuel policy means you must return the car at the same fuel level recorded at pick-up to avoid refueling charges and service fees from the rental company.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can help in situations such as a breakdown on Baltimore area highways like I-695, I-95, or I-395, or any other incident during your rental period.

The travel assistance benefit typically covers:

• 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

If you need assistance while driving in or around Baltimore, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

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

Provide your full name, your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number, your current location in Baltimore or the surrounding area, and a brief description of the situation. Follow the coordinator's instructions before incurring any expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorization.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada. It also does not cover damage to the rental vehicle itself, which is handled by CDW/LDW coverage.

Baltimore has several road features that can catch first-time drivers off guard, particularly those unfamiliar with U.S. urban highway design.

• One-way street pairs: U.S. Route 40 runs through Baltimore as a series of one-way street pairs, which means you cannot simply reverse direction on the same road. Navigation apps handle this well, but be prepared for unexpected turns.
• I-695 Baltimore Beltway quirks: This 51-mile loop uses clockwise exit numbering starting at Quarantine Road rather than the milepost-based system common elsewhere in the U.S. The interchange with I-95 east of Baltimore was historically complex with left-hand ramps, and while it was reconfigured, the geometry remains non-standard compared to most U.S. interchanges.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard: This 1.5-mile, six-lane at-grade road on the west edge of downtown Baltimore acts as a transition between interstate spurs (I-170 and I-395) and city streets. It is not a full freeway, so speed limits and traffic signals differ from what you might expect after exiting an expressway.
• Left turn on red: At certain one-way intersections in Baltimore, a left turn on red is permitted, which differs from rules in many other cities and most countries outside the U.S.

Using a GPS or navigation app is strongly recommended when driving in Baltimore for the first time.

When picking up a rental car in Baltimore, the rental company will place a temporary authorization hold on your credit card. This is not a charge but reduces your available credit until the rental is closed and your bank releases the hold.

Typical hold amounts in the United States, including Baltimore area locations:

• Standard vehicles: approximately US$300 to US$400 on a major credit card
• Premium or specialty vehicles: holds can be significantly higher

The exact amount varies by rental brand, vehicle class, and location. Hola Car Rentals cannot confirm the precise hold amount in advance, as it is set by the rental company desk at pick-up.

Important requirements for the Baltimore counter:

• The credit card must be a major credit card (not debit, prepaid, or virtual) with the main driver's name printed on the card
• The card must be in the main driver's name and presented physically at the counter
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges

After returning the vehicle in Baltimore, the hold is released by the rental company, but your bank controls when it appears back on your available credit, which can take up to 15 business days.

Yes, one-way rentals from Baltimore are generally possible, allowing you to pick up at BWI Airport or another Baltimore location and return the vehicle in a different city such as Washington D.C. or another destination.

A drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, rental brand, vehicle class, and season. This fee is set by the rental partner and is not included in the prepaid rate. You will see it listed under the "To pay at destination" section during the booking process on the Hola Car Rentals website if it applies to your specific Baltimore route.

• Short-distance routes, such as Baltimore to Washington D.C., may carry a lower or no drop-off fee
• Long-distance or cross-country one-ways from Baltimore typically carry a higher fee
• Cross-border one-ways (for example, Baltimore to Canada) may be restricted or require special authorization from the rental brand

The drop-off fee cannot be prepaid and is not covered by No Extra Charges© unless it was not disclosed during booking. Always review your Baltimore booking confirmation to confirm whether a drop-off fee is listed before pick-up.

Yes, a major credit card is required to rent a car in Baltimore. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or digital cards are not accepted for the security deposit hold at Baltimore rental counters.

The credit card must meet all of the following conditions:

• It must be a major credit card with a line of credit, not linked to a bank balance
• The main driver's name must be printed on the physical card
• The card must be presented physically at the counter, not through a digital wallet
• You must have sufficient available credit to cover the security hold (typically US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles in the United States) plus any expected charges

Even if you prepaid your Baltimore rental booking online, you are still required to present a physical major credit card at the counter when you pick up the vehicle. The card is used solely for the temporary authorization hold, which is released after you return the car.

It is a good idea 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 in-person authorizations in Baltimore.

When renting a car in Baltimore, you have access to several insurance and protection options. Understanding what each covers helps you avoid paying for duplicate coverage or leaving gaps in protection.

The main options available at Baltimore rental counters include:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the rental vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation shows zero deductible. This does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving in Baltimore. Some U.S. states require a minimum level of liability, but not all do. Adding supplemental liability up to US$300,000 is strongly recommended.
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): covers your own injuries and those of passengers.
• Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): covers personal belongings inside the vehicle.

In Maryland, including Baltimore, there are no congestion zone fees or emissions-related insurance requirements. Standard U.S. rental insurance rules apply.

Check your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation to see which protections are already included in your rate before accepting add-ons at the Baltimore counter.