Avis Car Hire
in California

EASTER  45% OFF   

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

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

When collecting your Avis hire at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California, follow the signs from baggage reclaim to the exit and board the purple Avis courtesy bus to the hire facility at 5251 W 98th St. The LAX Avis counter operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so late arrivals are accommodated.

If you are an Avis Preferred member, proceed directly to the Preferred counter where your documents and keys are preprinted and ready. Walk-up renters should follow the 405 motorway to Century Blvd to reach the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility.

For vehicle return at LAX, drive to the Consolidated Rent-A-Car centre at 5251 W 98th St via Concourse Way off Century Blvd. After dropping the vehicle, take the Avis shuttle back to your terminal. A 24-hour drop-off option is available if you return outside standard staffed hours.

At San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in California, Avis operates on a 24-hour basis with 24-hour drop-off available. After landing, follow the airport signs towards the Car Hire Centre on the airport campus. SFO uses a consolidated hire centre, so you will take the AirTrain to reach the facility rather than walking directly from the terminal.

Once at the hire centre, proceed to the Avis counter, present your booking confirmation, driver’s licence, and credit card, and collect your vehicle. For return, follow the airport signs to the Car Hire Return area within the same consolidated facility, then take the AirTrain back to your terminal.

If you are arriving at another major Californian airport such as San Diego International (SAN), the Avis facility is located at 3355 Admiral Boland Way on the north-east side of the airport, also open 24 hours with 24-hour drop-off.

California uses FasTrak as its statewide electronic toll collection system, and Avis vehicles rented in California are equipped with an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system compatible with this network. FasTrak covers all Californian toll facilities, including Bay Area bridges such as the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge, Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, SR-261), and express lanes on routes like I-10, I-110, and I-91.

There are virtually no cash toll booths remaining in California. When you collect your Avis hire, you have two options:

• Purchase an unlimited toll package at approximately GBP 11 to GBP 25 per hire day, covering all toll usage during the hire period
• Decline the package and pay per use, in which case Avis will charge the actual toll amounts plus administrative processing fees to your card, often weeks after the hire ends

If you plan to use your own FasTrak account, you can add your hire vehicle's licence plate with the hire dates. Inform the Avis counter representative so they can deactivate the vehicle's default toll device and help you avoid duplicate charges.

Toll costs in California vary depending on which region you drive through with your Avis hire. Here are approximate costs for common routes:

• Golden Gate Bridge (southbound, 2-axle car): approximately GBP 9.75 with FasTrak, GBP 10.75 by invoice or plate
• Bay Bridge (San Francisco to Oakland, westbound): approximately GBP 8.50 with FasTrak, with higher rates for invoice billing
• Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261, SR-133): approximately GBP 5 to GBP 15 per day depending on usage
• Los Angeles express lanes (I-10, I-110): approximately GBP 0 to GBP 10 per day if used; regular lanes on the same routes are free
• San Diego area: very limited toll exposure

If you do not enrol in an Avis toll programme in California, the toll authority invoices Avis via your licence plate, and Avis then charges you the toll plus administrative fees, which can be 30 to 50 per cent higher than FasTrak rates. Charges may appear on your card days or even weeks after you return the vehicle.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Avis hires in California, include Tolls Cashback of up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire period.

California has significant toll exposure, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area (bridge crossings) and in Southern California (Orange County toll roads and Los Angeles express lanes), so this benefit can provide meaningful savings on an Avis hire here.

To claim your cashback after returning your Avis vehicle in California:

• 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 Avis hire agreement signed at collection, and a toll receipt or statement showing charges paid during the hire

The refund is issued to your original payment method and typically processes within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

To collect your Avis hire in California, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• Your original, unexpired driver’s 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 security deposit hold
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID (required for international visitors)
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom)

If your driver’s licence 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 alongside your original licence. For licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required by Avis in California.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the Avis counter. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit hold.

Yes, Avis charges a young driver surcharge in California for renters between the ages of 21 and 24. The standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge at Avis in California is 25.

Drivers aged 21 to 24 can still hire from Avis in California but will pay a daily underage fee and face restrictions on which vehicle classes they can book. Most premium, full-size, SUV, minivan, convertible, and luxury categories are restricted to renters aged 25 and older.

There is one notable exception for Avis in California: if you are a citizen or resident of Latin America or the Caribbean (LAC) aged 21 to 24, certain Hola Car Rentals rates fulfilled by Avis waive the young-renter fee. This waiver must appear explicitly on your Hola Car Rentals confirmation and applies only to eligible vehicle categories such as Economy, Compact, Medium Sedan, Standard Sedan, Compact SUV, and Medium SUV. It does not apply to travellers from Europe, Asia, Africa, or other regions.

If you are unsure whether the waiver applies to your booking, check your confirmation or contact Hola Car Rentals support before collection.

When collecting your Avis hire in California, a temporary authorisation hold is placed on your credit card at the counter. For standard vehicles in the United Kingdom, this hold is typically around GBP 300 to GBP 400, though the exact amount varies by Avis location, vehicle class, and season.

Premium or speciality vehicles may require a higher hold. Airport locations in California such as LAX, SFO, and SAN may also apply different amounts than downtown or neighbourhood Avis locations.

A few important points to bear in mind:

• The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge; it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends
• Only a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name printed on the card is accepted; debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the deposit
• Your bank controls how quickly the hold is released after return, which can take up to 15 working days
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined

Hola Car Rentals cannot confirm the exact hold amount in advance, as this is set by the Avis counter and local rules at your California collection location.

Yes, Avis offers after-hours drop-off at several Californian airport locations, though procedures vary by site.

• LAX (Los Angeles): Open 24 hours with 24-hour drop-off available at the Consolidated Rent-A-Car centre at 5251 W 98th St
• SFO (San Francisco): Open 24 hours with 24-hour drop-off at the consolidated hire centre
• SAN (San Diego): Open 24 hours with 24-hour drop-off at 3355 Admiral Boland Way
• SMF (Sacramento): Open 6:00 AM to midnight; for after-hours returns, lock the vehicle and place keys in the drop box in the return area; the vehicle is checked in the next working day
• OAK (Oakland): Open 6:00 AM to midnight; between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM, hand keys to the security guard; between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM, use the grey drop box

At city centre Californian locations such as the Avis office at 888 S Figueroa St in Los Angeles, hours are more limited (Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM), and after-hours drop-off may not be available. Always confirm the specific return instructions on your Avis hire agreement before your return date.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Avis hires in California, include Travel Assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection at no extra cost. This benefit is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or accident whilst driving California's motorways or more remote areas such as the Sierra Nevada or the Central Valley.

Cover typically includes:

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

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, contact Terrawind 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 benefit applies only to non-North American customers. Residents of the United Kingdom and Canada do not qualify for Travel Assistance on Avis hires in California or elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

The insurance included in your Avis hire in California depends on the rate plan you selected when booking through Hola Car Rentals. Here is a general overview of the main coverages available:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Avis vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation states zero excess
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to other people or vehicles whilst driving. Some Californian states require a minimum level of liability; not all Californian Avis locations include this automatically, so check your confirmation

CDW and LDW do not cover third-party liability, your personal injuries, or your belongings. Those require separate coverages (LIS/ALI/SLI and PAI/PEC respectively).

Always review your Hola Car Rentals confirmation before arriving at the Avis counter in California to confirm exactly which protections are included and whether any deductible applies. At collection, verify the coverages listed on the Avis hire agreement match your confirmation before signing.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Avis hire in California, either as part of your rate or for a fee payable at the counter.

If your Hola Car Rentals confirmation states that an additional driver is included, the first extra driver is added at no charge. If it is not included, Avis in California charges GBP 10.50 per hire day plus taxes, with a maximum cap of GBP 52.50 plus taxes for the hire period.

Requirements for adding an additional driver at the Avis counter in California:

• The additional driver must be physically present at collection
• They must present a valid driver’s licence and any required ID
• For Avis in California, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old; drivers aged 21 to 24 may be subject to an underage surcharge or may not be accepted depending on location
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement

Only drivers listed on the Avis hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW and liability insurance. Anyone not named on the contract who drives the vehicle may void cover.

Avis hires in California 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 Avis hire in California:

• Check the fuel gauge with the Avis agent at collection and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• Show the gauge at full when returning the vehicle

If you return the Avis vehicle in California with less than a full tank, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

For after-hours returns at Californian airports such as SFO or OAK, leave your fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as evidence in case a dispute arises.