Car Hire
in Columbus

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

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), hire car counters are not inside the terminal. After collecting your bags, follow the purple Hire Car Shuttle signs on the Arrivals Level to the purple painted area in the middle median between the purple columns.

Board the consolidated shuttle bus, which takes you to the Hire Car Centre at 4106 International Gateway, Columbus, OH 43219. Once there, proceed to the hire counter on the first floor, where you will present your booking confirmation and required documents. Your vehicle will be waiting on the ready line outside the building.

Allow extra time beyond your flight arrival, as the full process including baggage claim, shuttle ride, counter service, and vehicle pickup typically takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on crowds and queue length at the Columbus Hire Car Centre.

Counter hours at the Columbus CMH Hire Car Centre vary by brand. As a general reference for planning your Columbus pickup:

• Avis and Budget at CMH: Monday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM
• Enterprise at CMH: Daily, 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM

After-hours vehicle returns are available at the Columbus Hire Car Centre, with a 24-hour drop-off option and a key drop box. However, after-hours pickups are generally not available, so plan your arrival within counter operating hours.

If your flight lands after counter hours, contact your hire brand directly using the number on your booking confirmation before travelling to Columbus. Hours can also change on public holidays, so always verify against your confirmation.

Yes, there are hire car locations in downtown Columbus and other neighbourhoods, separate from the CMH airport Hire Car Centre.

• Downtown Columbus: 104 E Long St, Columbus, OH 43215 (approximately 0.51 miles from the city centre), open Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
• Columbus 3rd Ave: 1030 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212, open Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
• Columbus 5th Ave: 1717 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212

Downtown Columbus locations offer free pickup service from nearby areas, which can be convenient if you are already in the city. Note that city locations have shorter hours than the CMH airport counter and may not offer after-hours key drop. If you are arriving by plane, the CMH Hire Car Centre is the most practical starting point for your Columbus hire.

Columbus itself does not have toll roads within the city, but if you drive beyond Columbus towards Cleveland, Toledo, or Akron, you will encounter the Ohio Turnpike (I-76, I-80, I-90), a 241-mile east-west toll road.

The Ohio Turnpike accepts E-ZPass electronically and cash or credit card at staffed plazas. Typical passenger vehicle tolls for the full westbound trip range from US$16 to US$27.75 depending on payment method, with E-ZPass saving roughly 33% compared to cash or credit.

Hire cars collected in Columbus do not come with a personal E-ZPass account. Your options are:

• Enroll in the hire company's toll programme (such as Avis e-Toll or Enterprise TollPass) at the Columbus counter, typically charged at US$4.95 per day only on days you use tolls, with a maximum of US$34.65 per rental
• Pay tolls manually at cash or credit plazas on the Ohio Turnpike
• Pay online via the Ohio Turnpike website within the allowed grace period

If you drive through a toll without paying or enrolling, the charge is passed to the hire company, which then bills your card along with administrative fees and potential penalties.

To pick up your hire car in Columbus, you must bring the following physical documents. Digital copies are not accepted at the counter.

• Valid driving licence (original, unexpired, in the main driver's name)
• International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic. An IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence
• Major credit card physically printed with the main driver's name, for the security deposit hold
• Passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight tickets or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United Kingdom)

At Columbus CMH airport locations such as Avis, you may also be asked to present your flight itinerary at the counter. Make sure all names match across your licence, passport, and credit card. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit in Columbus or anywhere else in the United Kingdom.

Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Columbus trip, including Ohio Turnpike charges incurred when driving beyond Columbus.

To claim your refund after returning the vehicle:

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

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your Columbus booking totalled US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. If you paid US$18 in Ohio Turnpike tolls, you receive US$18 back. Refunds are issued to the original payment method within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, a major credit card is required to hire a car in Columbus. The card must be physically present at the counter, printed with the main driver's name, and have sufficient available credit to cover the security deposit hold.

Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit at Columbus hire counters, including those at CMH airport and downtown locations.

The security deposit hold in the United Kingdom is typically around US$300 to US$400 for a standard vehicle, though the exact amount varies by hire brand, vehicle class, and location. The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the funds become available again, which can take up to 15 business days.

Even if you prepaid your Columbus booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at the counter for the deposit. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, downtown Columbus has a road layout that can catch first-time visitors off guard. The city historically relied on a one-way street network designed in the 1960s for high-speed traffic flow, and several of those streets are currently being converted to two-way operation.

Front Street and Marconi Boulevard, for example, completed their conversion to two-way traffic by November 2024. If you are navigating downtown Columbus with an older GPS map or from memory of a previous visit, you may encounter unexpected lane directions, new traffic signals, and digital signage alerts that reflect these recent changes.

Additional things to be aware of when driving in Columbus:

• Columbus recently introduced its first mini-roundabout at SR 161 at Maple Canyon Avenue. Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout and do not block the intersection
• Highways such as I-71 feature Single Point Urban Interchanges and Partial Cloverleaf designs with tight loop ramps that require careful navigation, especially for drivers unfamiliar with U.S. highway interchange styles
• Depressed medians on converted streets are designed for emergency vehicle access and alter left-turn expectations

Using a current navigation app while driving in Columbus is strongly recommended.

Most bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which covers incidents that may occur during your Columbus trip and beyond. This benefit does not apply to customers who are residents of the United Kingdom or Canada.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel and medical insurance for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident, including on Columbus highways such as I-71 or I-270
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

If you need assistance during your Columbus hire, for example after a breakdown on the Ohio Turnpike or an accident on I-71, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

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

Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. This coverage is separate from CDW/LDW (damage to the hire vehicle) and third-party liability insurance. Always review your booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your Columbus reservation.

Yes, after-hours vehicle returns are available at the Columbus CMH Hire Car Centre located at 4106 International Gateway, Columbus, OH 43219. The facility offers 24-hour drop-off with a key drop box, so you can return your vehicle even if the counter is closed.

To complete an after-hours return at Columbus CMH:

• Drive to the Hire Car Centre at 4106 International Gateway
• Park the vehicle in the designated return area for your hire brand
• Note the odometer reading and fuel level, and take a photo of the dashboard as evidence
• Place the keys in the key drop envelope and deposit it in the key drop box
• Keep your hire agreement and any fuel receipts until you receive your final invoice

After dropping off the vehicle, take the consolidated shuttle back to the Columbus CMH terminal. Note that after-hours pickups are generally not available, so if your flight arrives very late, confirm counter hours in advance and plan accordingly. If unexpected charges appear after your Columbus return, contact support with your hire agreement and final receipt.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 are subject to a young-renter surcharge when collecting a hire car in Columbus. Ohio is not one of the states (such as New York or Michigan) that legally requires hires to drivers aged 18 and older, so the standard UK minimum age of 25 applies at most Columbus locations.

Typical daily surcharge amounts at Columbus counters:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: GBP 10 per rental day, maximum GBP 50 per rental (plus taxes)
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: GBP 10.50 per rental day, maximum GBP 147 per rental (plus taxes)
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: GBP 12 per day (plus taxes)

Drivers under 25 renting in Columbus are also restricted from booking certain vehicle classes, including full-size SUVs, minivans, luxury, premium, and convertible categories. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are generally available.

One exception: if you are aged 21 to 24 and hold a passport from Latin America or the Caribbean, certain Avis and Budget rates booked through Hola Car Rentals may waive the underage fee. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver is shown.

Yes, one-way hires are possible from Columbus, allowing you to pick up at CMH airport or a downtown Columbus location and return the vehicle in a different city. However, a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, hire brand, and vehicle class.

How the drop-off fee works for Columbus one-way hires:

• Same-city routes (for example, CMH airport to downtown Columbus) often have no drop-off fee
• Columbus to another Ohio city or a neighbouring state typically incurs a drop-off fee that varies by distance and car class
• Long-distance or cross-country one-ways from Columbus usually carry higher fees, and some routes may not be permitted

The drop-off fee, if applicable, is shown during the booking process under the section labelled as charges due at the destination. It cannot be prepaid and is paid directly at the Columbus counter or the return location.

Cross-border one-ways (for example, Columbus to Canada) are subject to additional restrictions and must be confirmed with the hire partner before travel. Always review your booking confirmation to verify whether a drop-off fee applies to your specific Columbus route.

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

To follow the Full-to-Full policy correctly during your Columbus hire:

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the agent 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 of the Columbus return location before dropping off the vehicle
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns at Columbus CMH, leave the receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the hire company will charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee. There are several petrol stations near the Columbus CMH Hire Car Centre at 4106 International Gateway, so refuelling close to the return point is straightforward. Ask the counter agent at pickup to confirm the nearest station to the Columbus return location.