Car Rental
in Houston

EASTER  45% OFF   

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

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

At Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), all major rental car brands are consolidated at a single off-airport Rental Car Center, so you will need to take a shuttle from your terminal rather than walking to a counter inside the building.

After collecting your bags, follow the Ground Transportation and Rental Car signs to the blue and white shuttle buses outside baggage claim. Shuttle stops by terminal are:

• Terminal A: Door A-115, south side
• Terminal C: Doors C-105 or C-106, south side
• Terminal E: Door E-203 on Level 2, or Door E-101 on the west side
• International arrivals (Terminal D): route through Terminal E to board the shuttle

Shuttles run every 5 minutes from 7 am to 11 pm, and every 10 minutes from 11 pm to 7 am, 24 hours a day. The ride to the Houston IAH Rental Car Center takes approximately 5 minutes.

Once at the center, go to your brand's counter, present your booking confirmation, driver's license, and credit card, and complete the rental agreement. Budget at least 45 to 90 minutes from the moment you land to the moment you drive away, accounting for baggage, the shuttle, counter queues, and paperwork, especially during peak hours.

When returning your rental car at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), drive to the Rental Car Center and follow the signs for your rental brand. An agent will meet you, inspect the vehicle, and collect the keys.

After dropping off the car, take the return shuttle back to your departure terminal. Shuttles are organized by terminal, so confirm you board the correct bus for Terminal A/B, C/D, or E. Return shuttles run every 5 minutes from 7 am to 11 pm, and every 10 to 15 minutes from 11 pm to 7 am.

A few tips for a smooth Houston return:

• Refuel before reaching the Rental Car Center, ideally within 10 miles of the return location, to avoid the rental company's higher refueling rate plus a service fee
• Take a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer at the return location as evidence of a full tank
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• Allow extra time for the shuttle ride when planning your airport check-in window

If you have questions about after-hours returns, check your rental agreement for specific key-drop instructions from your brand.

Houston has an extensive cashless toll network, and you are very likely to use toll roads during your rental, especially on major commuter routes around the metro area.

The primary toll authority in the Houston area is the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA), which operates the EZ TAG system. Tolls are collected via overhead gantries that read transponders or photograph license plates, so there are virtually no cash booths. Estimated toll costs for Houston driving range from approximately US$5 to US$20 per day depending on your routes.

Your Houston rental vehicle already includes an electronic toll device. At the counter you will typically be offered two options:

• Unlimited toll package: a flat daily rate of approximately US$11 to US$25 per rental day, covering all toll usage during the rental period
• Pay per use: the rental company bills you the actual toll amounts plus daily or administrative processing fees after the rental ends, sometimes weeks later

If you plan to drive toll roads frequently in Houston, the unlimited package often offers better value. If you only expect one or two toll crossings, pay-per-use may cost less overall. You can also opt out at the counter and pay tolls manually through the toll agency's website where available, but inform the agent so they can deactivate the vehicle's default device to avoid duplicate charges.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Houston rental.

Given that Houston's toll network, managed primarily by the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) with EZ TAG, is cashless and covers major routes throughout the metro area, toll charges can add up quickly. This benefit helps offset those costs.

To claim your Houston 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, HOLA1000000)
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation, the rental agreement you signed at pickup, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid

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

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your reservation and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

When renting at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), expect airport-specific surcharges on top of your base rate. These fees are standard for airport rentals in the United States and can add 20% to 30% to the total cost.

Common charges you may see at the Houston IAH counter include:

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): typically up to 12.5% of the base rate, charged by the rental company to recover the cost of operating at the airport
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): approximately US$4.50 to US$5.50 per rental day, covering the Rental Car Center facility
• State and city taxes: Texas applies a 7% state tax and Houston applies a 7% city tax on rental transactions
• Vehicle License Recovery Fee (VLRF): a small per-day charge to recover vehicle registration costs

If your booking confirmation shows Taxes and Fees as Included, those items should not be billed again at the Houston counter. If they are, Hola Car Rentals' No Extra Charges© Coverage applies. Keep your itemized rental agreement and contact support after the rental ends.

One way to reduce these fees is to rent from an off-airport location in Houston, which avoids the airport concession and facility charges, typically saving 20% to 40% compared to the IAH counter rate.

To pick up your rental car in Houston, you must bring a set of physical documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

Required documents for all renters in Houston:

• Original, unexpired driver's license (physical card, not a photo or digital version)
• Major credit card in the main driver's name, with the driver's name printed on the card, for the security deposit hold
• Passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Booking confirmation or printed voucher

If your driver's license is not in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, for example if it is in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original license. If your license uses the Latin alphabet but is not in English, an IDP is strongly recommended. Obtain the IDP in your home country before traveling to Houston, as it cannot be issued abroad.

Additional documents that may be requested at the Houston counter:

• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (commonly required for visitors from outside the United States)
• Any applicable entry visas matching your stay

Every additional driver must also be present at the Houston counter with their own valid driver's license and ID. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit hold.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not always mandatory to rent a car in Houston, but whether you need one depends on your license's language and alphabet.

In Houston, as in the rest of the United States, the rules are:

• If your license uses a non-Latin (non-Roman) alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic (Russian), an IDP is mandatory. You must carry both the IDP and your original license at all times.
• If your license is in a Latin alphabet but not in English, an IDP is strongly recommended, though not always strictly required by every rental brand at the Houston counter.
• If your license is in English, no IDP is needed.

The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone license and will not be accepted without your original license. You must obtain the IDP in your home country before traveling to Houston, as it cannot be issued in the United States to non-US license holders.

Even if the Houston rental counter does not ask for an IDP, carrying one protects you if you are stopped by local law enforcement and your license is not in English.

Yes, drivers under 25 renting a car in Houston are subject to a young-driver surcharge, also called an underage fee, charged daily at the counter on top of the base rental rate.

In Texas, the standard minimum age to rent without a surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can rent in Houston but will pay an additional daily fee. The amounts vary by brand:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per rental day, capped at US$65 total
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per rental day, capped at US$189 total
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per rental day, with no stated cap

Drivers under 21 are generally not permitted to rent in Houston outside of New York and Michigan exceptions, which do not apply here.

Additionally, most vehicle classes are restricted to renters aged 25 and older in Houston. Drivers aged 21 to 24 are typically limited to economy, compact, intermediate, and compact SUV categories. Premium, luxury, full-size SUV, minivan, and convertible classes usually require the renter to be at least 25.

If you are from Latin America or the Caribbean and are aged 21 to 24, check your booking confirmation, as certain Hola Car Rentals rates with Avis or Budget may waive the underage fee for eligible vehicle categories.

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

For standard vehicle classes at Houston locations, typical holds are approximately US$300 to US$400 on a major credit card. Premium or specialty vehicles may require a higher hold. The exact amount is set by the rental brand at the Houston counter and can vary by location, season, and vehicle class.

Important requirements for the Houston deposit:

• The card must be a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) in the main driver's name, with the driver's name printed on the card
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit hold
• The card must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges

After you return the vehicle in Houston, the rental company releases the hold. Your bank or card issuer controls how quickly it reappears as available credit, which can take up to 15 business days. Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined at the Houston counter.

Houston has a road layout unlike most other cities in the United States, and it can be disorienting for first-time visitors driving a rental car here.

Nearly every major freeway in Houston is flanked by parallel frontage roads, also called service roads, that run alongside the highway. These frontage roads are typically one-way and multi-lane in urban areas. To enter or exit a Houston freeway, you usually merge onto the frontage road first rather than using a direct on-ramp as you would in most other US cities.

A related feature unique to Houston and Texas is the Texas turnaround, a U-shaped loop that passes under an overpass and allows drivers to reverse direction on a frontage road without accessing the freeway. If you miss an exit or need to change direction in Houston, you will likely use one of these loops rather than making a U-turn at an intersection.

Practical tips for driving a rental car in Houston:

• Follow GPS navigation closely, as it will guide you through frontage road merges and turnarounds
• Do not assume that exiting a Houston freeway leads directly to your destination, as you may need to travel along the frontage road for some distance first
• Allow extra time when navigating downtown Houston, where the ongoing North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) is rerouting sections of I-45 and reconstructing major interchanges through at least 2025 and beyond

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Houston rental car, but the extra driver must be physically present at the Houston counter at the time of pickup with their own valid driver's license.

Whether there is a fee depends on your booking:

• If your booking confirmation states Additional Driver Included or Additional Driver Free of Charge, the first extra driver is covered at no extra cost
• If not included, daily fees apply at the Houston counter: Avis, Budget, and Payless charge US$13 per day (capped at US$65); Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar charge US$13.50 per day (capped at US$189); Alamo, National, and Enterprise charge US$15 per day

Requirements for adding a driver at the Houston counter:

• The additional driver must be present in person and show a valid driver's license
• They must meet the minimum age requirements for Houston rentals (generally 25, or 21 to 24 with a young-driver surcharge)
• For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must be at least 25 years old
• If their license uses a non-Latin alphabet, they will also need an IDP
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the rental agreement

Only drivers listed on the Houston rental agreement are covered by the vehicle's protections such as CDW/LDW. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the car may void coverage.

The insurance and protection coverages included in your Houston rental depend on the rate plan you selected at booking. Check your booking confirmation for the specific coverages listed.

The two main protections to look for are:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the rental vehicle itself from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may still apply unless your confirmation states zero deductible. CDW/LDW 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 the Houston rental. In Texas, not all rental locations are required by state law to include minimum liability, so confirm whether this is included or available as an add-on for your Houston booking.

CDW/LDW and liability coverage are separate protections. Having one does not replace the other. If your Houston confirmation includes both, you have broader protection. If only one is listed, consider whether you need to add the other at the counter.

Neither CDW/LDW nor liability coverage protects your personal belongings or covers your own medical costs in an accident. Those require separate add-ons (Personal Effects Coverage and Personal Accident Insurance respectively).

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to your Houston rental as well. However, this benefit is not available to residents of the United States or Canada.

If you are traveling to Houston from outside North America, your booking likely 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

This coverage can be particularly relevant in Houston, where the freeway system is complex, construction zones on I-45 and major interchanges are ongoing, and incidents can occur in unfamiliar road conditions. If you are involved in an accident or have a medical emergency while driving in Houston, contact the assistance line immediately before incurring expenses, as some reimbursements require prior authorization.

To reach the 24-hour assistance line:

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

Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Check your booking confirmation for the exact coverage limits and terms that apply to your Houston trip.