Car Rental Illinois

Electric Car Hire

Illinois is seeing more people switch to EVs, especially around Chicago, where charging options and EV adoption keep growing. It fits the way many visitors travel, too. You can move through city traffic quietly, handle airport runs with less hassle, and still plan easy drives out to places like Oak Park, Naperville, or even down toward Springfield.

With that rising demand, choosing an EV can feel like the more practical option, not just a “nice-to-have.” You get a smooth drive, lower fuel stops, and a cleaner way to cover both city and highway miles.

That’s where Hertz makes things simple. Hertz offers electric car hire in Illinois, so you can pick an EV that matches your trip and travel in a more eco-conscious way.

Charging Points

Illinois currently has about 5,280 public EV charging points (ports) across the state. The network keeps expanding as more drivers switch to electric, especially in and around Chicago and other major travel corridors.

That wider coverage makes it easier to plan charging stops while you travel, whether you are driving around Chicago for the day or heading out toward places like Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, or down to Springfield.

Congestion Charges

Illinois does not have a congestion charge for driving your own car into Chicago, unlike some other cities. What you will run into instead are tolls on certain roads.

So if you’re driving a rental car, you typically won’t pay any congestion fee, but you should plan for toll routes depending on where you drive.

One extra detail worth knowing: starting January 2026, ride-hailing trips (like Uber and Lyft) started facing a congestion-zone surcharge in parts of Chicago.

Key Roads

• I-90 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway / Kennedy Expressway): This is a big east–west route that helps you move between Chicago, the northwest suburbs, and up toward Rockford and Wisconsin. Parts of it are toll-based, so it’s one of those roads you’ll likely use for airport or suburb drives.
• I-94 (Tri-State Tollway / Chicago corridors): Think of I-94 as a key Chicago-area connector. It runs from the Wisconsin border through the metro area and continues toward Indiana, making it useful for downtown access and cross-city travel.
• I-55 (Stevenson Expressway): This is the go-to route when you’re heading south from Chicago. It connects the city to central Illinois (like Springfield) and further toward the St. Louis area, so it’s great for longer drives.

Toll Roads

• I-88 (Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway): A key toll road that runs west from the Chicago area, popular for drives toward the western suburbs and out toward central/northern Illinois routes.
• Chicago Skyway: A short but important toll road that links Chicago to the Indiana border and the Indiana Toll Road, often used for southeast exits from the city.
• IL-390 (Illinois Route 390 Tollway): A useful toll route near O’Hare and the western suburbs, often used when you’re moving between nearby suburbs and airport-area roads.

Driving Tips: When you are in Illinois

Driving a car rental in Illinois is an easy task as long as you acknowledge a few rules, especially around Chicago and on faster highways. If you’re driving a rental, keep these driving rules in mind so you stay safe and avoid tickets.

• Stick to posted speed limits. Illinois notes max limits like 70 mph on interstates outside urban areas and 55 mph near/in major cities, unless signs show otherwise.
• Wear your seat belt (front and back). Illinois requires all drivers and passengers age 8+ to buckle up; kids under 8 need the right child restraint.
• No handheld phone use while driving. Using a handheld device is not allowed, even if you’re stopped at a red light. Use hands-free if you need to take a call.
• Right turn on red is usually allowed, but only after a full stop. You must stop first, yield to people crossing and traffic, and follow any “No turn on red” signs.
• Always stop for school buses with red lights and the stop arm. On a two-lane road, both directions stop. On a 4+ lane road, only traffic going in the same direction as the bus must stop.