Car Rental
in Nova Scotia

Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car rental companies in Nova Scotia, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes extra benefits that no other company can match:

• Full vehicle coverage with no deductible (applies only for certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: get back up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls charged during your rental
• Premium travel medical assistance for up to 5 passengers in case of emergency, covering up to CAD 200,000 (pre-existing conditions excluded)
• 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 at no additional cost, ensuring a unique rental experience with complete protection and peace of mind during your trip in Nova Scotia.

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

Rental car counters at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Nova Scotia are not inside the main terminal. After clearing baggage claim and customs, you need to exit the terminal, cross Bell Boulevard and Silver Dart Drive, and enter the covered Airport Parkade. All major brands, including Alamo, National, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, and Budget, are consolidated on the Lower Level of that parkade.

The walk from the terminal to the counters is short, and staff will often escort you directly to your vehicle from the counter, so no shuttle bus is required. This setup is more convenient than many larger airports that use remote rental car centers with mandatory bus transfers.

Counter hours vary by brand and may be reduced on public holidays, so if you are arriving on a holiday or late at night in Nova Scotia, confirm your brand's hours in advance. After-hours returns may be available at some locations, but after-hours pickups are generally not offered, so plan your arrival accordingly.

To pick up a rental car in Nova Scotia, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver's license in the main driver's name
• A major credit card with the driver's name printed on the card, used 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 from abroad

If your driver's license 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 in Nova Scotia. For licenses in other non-English scripts or languages, an IDP is strongly recommended even if not strictly required, as rental desks in Nova Scotia may request one.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the counter. Bring a backup credit card in your name as well, since the security hold in Canada typically ranges from CAD 300 to CAD 750 depending on the location and vehicle class.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not automatically required to rent a car in Nova Scotia, but it depends on your license.

If your driver's license uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an IDP is mandatory when renting in Nova Scotia. Rental desks in Canada will not accept a license they cannot read without a certified translation.

If your license is in English or uses a Latin alphabet, you can generally drive in Nova Scotia on your valid foreign license without an IDP. However, carrying one is still recommended as a precaution, since individual rental company policies may vary.

Important: the IDP is a translation document only and must always be carried alongside your original license. It is not a standalone license and will not be accepted on its own. Obtain your IDP in your home country before traveling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

Yes, Nova Scotia has a small number of toll roads that rental car drivers should be aware of before hitting the road.

The main toll road in Nova Scotia is the Cobequid Pass, a 45-kilometer section of Highway 104 between Masstown and Thomson Station. The toll for a passenger car is CAD 4.00 each way. This plaza accepts cash, credit, and debit, so you can pay directly at the booth. If your rental car carries Nova Scotia plates, the attendant may waive the toll, but this applies only if you use the cash lane and inform the attendant. Out-of-province drivers are charged the standard rate.

The Halifax bridges (Angus L. Macdonald and A. Murray MacKay) previously used the MACPASS cashless transponder system, but tolls on those bridges were removed entirely in March 2025, so you no longer need to worry about them.

If you drive through a cashless toll lane without a transponder in Nova Scotia, the rental company will receive an invoice and bill your card for the toll amount plus an administrative fee of CAD 15 to CAD 25. To avoid this, use cash lanes at the Cobequid Pass or ask your rental company about their toll program options at pickup.

All bookings include Tolls Cashback, which lets you claim up to 5% of your total booking value back for tolls paid during your Nova Scotia rental. See the next FAQ for details.

Yes, every booking includes Tolls Cashback, which reimburses you for tolls paid during your Nova Scotia rental, up to 5% of your total booking value.

For example, if your booking total is US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. If you paid CAD 4.00 at the Cobequid Pass on Highway 104 in Nova Scotia and that amount is less than the 5% cap, you receive the full toll amount back.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after your Nova Scotia trip, follow these steps:

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

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your reservation and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted, so keep your receipts from any Nova Scotia toll plazas and submit promptly after your return.

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

In Canada, including Nova Scotia, typical security deposit holds range from CAD 300 to CAD 500 for standard vehicles. Some locations, particularly at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, may hold up to approximately CAD 750 depending on the brand, vehicle class, and season.

A few important points to keep in mind for your Nova Scotia pickup:

• Only a major credit card with the driver's name printed on the card is accepted for the deposit. Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted.
• The card must be in the main driver's name and presented physically at the counter.
• Notify your bank before traveling to Nova Scotia to prevent fraud blocks on a large in-person authorization.
• After you return the vehicle, the hold is released, but your bank may take up to 15 business days to reflect this on your account.

Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined at the Nova Scotia counter.

Nova Scotia has several driving rules that may differ from what visitors are accustomed to, particularly those arriving from the United States.

Speed limits in Nova Scotia are posted in kilometers per hour, not miles per hour. The default residential speed limit is 50 km/h where no sign is posted, and highway maximums reach 110 km/h. All road signs throughout Nova Scotia use metric units exclusively.

Other important rules to know before driving in Nova Scotia:

• Right turns on red are permitted after a full stop, unless a sign prohibits it. You must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic before turning.
• Handheld cell phone use while driving is banned province-wide. Fines for a first offense can reach CAD 614.25, which is significantly higher than in many U.S. states. Use a hands-free device at all times.
• Low-beam headlights are required in rain, snow, fog, or any low-visibility conditions, which are common along Nova Scotia's coastal roads.
• Winter driving in Nova Scotia brings black ice, snow drifts, and slush. Bridges and overpasses freeze before road surfaces, so reduce speed in cold weather.
• Some rural roads in Nova Scotia are gravel or unpaved, requiring slower speeds and longer stopping distances.

Check 511.novascotia.ca for live road condition updates before driving in winter or during storms.

Yes, when you rent a car in Nova Scotia, a basic level of third-party liability coverage is included by law.

Canadian provincial law requires every vehicle on the road, including rental cars, to carry third-party liability insurance. This statutory liability follows the vehicle and is included by default when you rent in Nova Scotia. It covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to other people while driving the rental car.

However, the mandatory minimum may not be sufficient for all situations. You can purchase supplemental liability insurance (LIS or SLI) to increase your coverage limits up to US$300,000, which is strongly recommended for peace of mind while driving in Nova Scotia.

Keep in mind that third-party liability does not cover:

• Damage to the rental vehicle itself (that requires CDW or LDW)
• Your own injuries (that requires Personal Accident Insurance)
• Your personal belongings (that requires Personal Effects Coverage)

Review your booking confirmation to confirm exactly what liability coverage is included in your Nova Scotia rental rate before you arrive at the counter.

Yes, drivers under 25 years old may be subject to a young driver surcharge when renting a car in Nova Scotia.

The surcharge amount varies by rental brand and specific location within Nova Scotia. As a general reference for the partner brands operating in Nova Scotia:

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

These fees are paid directly at the counter in Nova Scotia and are not included in your prepaid rate. The exact amount for your specific Nova Scotia pickup location may differ, so confirm the surcharge with the rental desk when you arrive.

In some cases, rental companies may also restrict certain vehicle classes for drivers under 25. If you are an additional driver under 25, the same surcharge rules apply and the additional driver must be present at the Nova Scotia counter to sign the rental agreement.

The standard fuel policy for rental cars in Nova Scotia is Full to Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Here is how to handle fuel correctly during your Nova Scotia rental:

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the rental agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard.
• Use the correct fuel type. Putting the wrong fuel in the vehicle is not covered by the fuel policy and may result in significant charges.
• Before returning the car in Nova Scotia, refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 kilometers of the return location so the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive.
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address as proof.

If you return the vehicle in Nova Scotia with less than a full tank, the rental company will charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refueling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refueling service fee. Ask the agent at your Nova Scotia pickup location about the nearest fuel stations to the return area so you can plan ahead.

After-hours return policies in Nova Scotia vary by rental brand, and not all companies at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) offer this option.

Some brands, such as Enterprise, allow after-hours vehicle returns at YHZ in Nova Scotia. Others, such as Budget, require you to return the vehicle during office hours and do not permit after-hours drop-off. Counter hours at YHZ can also be reduced on public holidays, so check your specific brand's schedule before planning a late return in Nova Scotia.

If after-hours return is available for your brand at the Nova Scotia location, the typical process involves:

• Following airport signs to the car rental return area in the Airport Parkade
• Recording the mileage and fuel level yourself
• Dropping the keys and rental agreement in the designated drop box
• Keeping a photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge and odometer as evidence

Be aware that if you return outside of staffed hours, you remain responsible for the vehicle until the rental company officially checks it in. Any damage discovered at check-in will still be assessed against your rental agreement. Confirm the after-hours process with your Nova Scotia rental brand before your return date.

Yes, one-way rentals from Nova Scotia to another Canadian province are generally possible, but a drop-off fee will apply and availability depends on the rental brand and route.

When booking a one-way rental from Nova Scotia, the drop-off fee is shown during the booking process under the section labeled as charges due at the destination. This fee is set by the rental partner and varies based on the route, distance, vehicle class, and season. It cannot be prepaid and is paid at the counter in Nova Scotia at pickup.

A few things to keep in mind for one-way rentals from Nova Scotia:

• Cross-border rentals from Nova Scotia into the United States may be restricted or require prior written authorization from the rental company. Confirm this before booking if you plan to drive across the border.
• Some vehicle classes, particularly premium or specialty vehicles, may not be eligible for one-way rentals.
• Changing your drop-off location after booking may reprice the rental and recalculate the drop-off fee.

Review your booking confirmation carefully to confirm the drop-off fee for your specific Nova Scotia route before you travel.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be especially useful if you experience a medical emergency or accident while driving in Nova Scotia.

This benefit is particularly relevant in Nova Scotia given the province's rural stretches, coastal roads, and winter driving conditions where incidents can occur far from urban centers. Coverage typically includes:

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

If you need assistance while in Nova Scotia, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach them by phone at the toll-free number listed on your booking confirmation, or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001, or by email at [email protected]. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this travel assistance benefit does not apply to customers who are residents of the United States or Canada. If you are a Canadian or U.S. resident renting in Nova Scotia, this coverage is not available to you. Check your booking confirmation to verify whether this benefit is included in your specific rate.