10 tips for renting a car in the United States
The United States is a country that cries out to be explored by car, at your own pace. We leave you some tips for you to do it.
United States in a vast country that has a great diversity of landscapes, cities, monuments and attractions to offer the tourist. Its veins and arteries are made up of an immense network of roads that are capable of taking you to cross modern cities or the most unpopulated desert landscapes, passing through forests full of lakes.
Although Route 66 monopolizes all media attention, there are many American routes that deserve to be traveled with all possible parsimony and independence. So that you can do it, in Skyscanner we leave you these tips to rent a car in the United States:
1. Check that you have all the necessary documentation
The first step is to verify that you have all the documentation they ask for when you try to rent a car in the United States.
There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at the rental company counter and realizing that you have an expired driver's license or your payment card is invalid. Although it is advisable to have an international driver's license, it is not mandatory, so a valid national one should suffice.
As for the mode of payment, it is better to always carry a credit card since most car rental companies in the United States do not accept payment with a debit card and, if they do, they need to charge you - or block you - the Deposit in a credit.
White House
2. Compare the prices of the different rental agencies
The car rental market in the United States lives in constant fierce competition.
Although Premium companies - of higher quality, but also of a higher price - have historically been the most used, in recent years, low-cost agencies have made their way into the market. Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Europcar and Alamo are some of the best known.
It is convenient to compare the different prices of the companies, be attentive to the offers and packages - such as those that include flight, hotel and rental - and choose according to the best possible quality / price ratio.
Route 66
3. Become familiar with driving an automatic car
If you are used to driving a car with manual gearshift, you better practice with an automatic one before renting a car in the United States.
Most of the huge fleet of American rental cars are of this type. The truth is that it is not complicated to get used to it and, once you have achieved it, it makes driving easier (although you may consume more fuel).
If you prefer to drive a manual car, you must notify the rental company in advance, so they can check their availability of vehicles of this type by the requested date.
Grand Canyon
4. Age matters
The minimum age at which cars can be rented in the United States is 21 years and not the 18 or 19 that they usually accept in Spain and Europe.
In addition, most rental agencies impose penalties on drivers between the ages of 21 and 24, making the daily rental cost more expensive. It seems that 25 years is the age considered "mature" in the field of vehicle driving.
motorhomes lakes and mountains
5. Choose the type of car you need properly
Before renting a car in the United States, you must be clear about the route you are going to travel.
It is a huge country, with really important landscape, climatic, orographic and urban differences. For example, if on your trip you are going to travel through various urban areas, perhaps the best is a medium-sized and small-sized car.
However, if you are going to visit some of the great natural parks of the country, you may want a 4 × 4 or an SUV, of great power and capacity.
Las Vegas sign
6. Consider the traffic rules of the different states
Despite being in a country of Anglo-Saxon descent, in the United States you drive on the same side of the road as in Spain and most European countries. So far so good.
However, each state in the country may have different traffic regulations. Before starting the trip, you should know what states you are going to travel and check things like speed limits and road signs.
old car with surfboard
7. You must make sure where you can take your rental car
Very linked to the previous point. Being a federal country, renting cars in the United States forces you to be aware of what states you can drive in. This will depend on the internal conditions of the rental agency you choose. Not all accept the change of state, although most do.
It is also usual to be allowed to cross into Canada, but not to Mexico.
One of the very common favorable policies in the United States is that of One Way. Most rental agencies allow you to pick up the car
United States in a vast country that has a great diversity of landscapes, cities, monuments and attractions to offer the tourist. Its veins and arteries are made up of an immense network of roads that are capable of taking you to cross modern cities or the most unpopulated desert landscapes, passing through forests full of lakes.
Although Route 66 monopolizes all media attention, there are many American routes that deserve to be traveled with all possible parsimony and independence. So that you can do it, in Skyscanner we leave you these tips to rent a car in the United States:
1. Check that you have all the necessary documentation
The first step is to verify that you have all the documentation they ask for when you try to rent a car in the United States.
There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at the rental company counter and realizing that you have an expired driver's license or your payment card is invalid. Although it is advisable to have an international driver's license, it is not mandatory, so a valid national one should suffice.
As for the mode of payment, it is better to always carry a credit card since most car rental companies in the United States do not accept payment with a debit card and, if they do, they need to charge you - or block you - the Deposit in a credit.
White House
2. Compare the prices of the different rental agencies
The car rental market in the United States lives in constant fierce competition.
Although Premium companies - of higher quality, but also of a higher price - have historically been the most used, in recent years, low-cost agencies have made their way into the market. Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Europcar and Alamo are some of the best known.
It is convenient to compare the different prices of the companies, be attentive to the offers and packages - such as those that include flight, hotel and rental - and choose according to the best possible quality / price ratio.
Route 66
3. Become familiar with driving an automatic car
If you are used to driving a car with manual gearshift, you better practice with an automatic one before renting a car in the United States.
Most of the huge fleet of American rental cars are of this type. The truth is that it is not complicated to get used to it and, once you have achieved it, it makes driving easier (although you may consume more fuel).
If you prefer to drive a manual car, you must notify the rental company in advance, so they can check their availability of vehicles of this type by the requested date.
Grand Canyon
4. Age matters
The minimum age at which cars can be rented in the United States is 21 years and not the 18 or 19 that they usually accept in Spain and Europe.
In addition, most rental agencies impose penalties on drivers between the ages of 21 and 24, making the daily rental cost more expensive. It seems that 25 years is the age considered "mature" in the field of vehicle driving.
motorhomes lakes and mountains
5. Choose the type of car you need properly
Before renting a car in the United States, you must be clear about the route you are going to travel.
It is a huge country, with really important landscape, climatic, orographic and urban differences. For example, if on your trip you are going to travel through various urban areas, perhaps the best is a medium-sized and small-sized car.
However, if you are going to visit some of the great natural parks of the country, you may want a 4 × 4 or an SUV, of great power and capacity.
Las Vegas sign
6. Consider the traffic rules of the different states
Despite being in a country of Anglo-Saxon descent, in the United States you drive on the same side of the road as in Spain and most European countries. So far so good.
However, each state in the country may have different traffic regulations. Before starting the trip, you should know what states you are going to travel and check things like speed limits and road signs.
old car with surfboard
7. You must make sure where you can take your rental car
Very linked to the previous point. Being a federal country, renting cars in the United States forces you to be aware of what states you can drive in. This will depend on the internal conditions of the rental agency you choose. Not all accept the change of state, although most do.
It is also usual to be allowed to cross into Canada, but not to Mexico.
One of the very common favorable policies in the United States is that of One Way. Most rental agencies allow you to pick up the car
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