Without any doubt, the United States of America is considered one of the most favorite countries for travelers. Incredible mega-cities, sunny beaches, endless Grand Canyon, bright night lights of Las Vegas, mysterious Death Valley, California Ocean Road, Hollywood: what could be more exciting? And, of course, traveling by car is the perfect complement to exciting adventures. After all, it is comfortable, economical, and allows you to see the country from the inside.
In addition, it is not difficult to rent a car in the USA. The only thing that travelers need to think about the trip in advance.
Driving license
All tourists wishing to drive in the United States must have a valid driver’s license. It is better to have an international variant with you, but some states accept a national driving license as well. The only condition is that the document must be in English, or have a licensed translation.
In general, an international license will be valid for up to 4 months after entering the United States. After the expiration of this period, the foreigner must apply for an American driving license.
Where to rent a car?
Overall, there are several options for renting a car.
Firstly, you can book a car directly through the tour operator or through sites such as Expedia, Net Flights, and others.
Secondly, the ideal option would be to rent a vehicle directly from major companies such as Avis, Hertz, Budget, Alamo, National, and Thrifty. They have offices in all major cities and international airports. Moreover, these companies provide toll-free national phone numbers. And the big advantage is that they often offer special prices and discounts for regular customers.
And thirdly, you can do it in person or at the airport. However, the price there is much higher, and due to the huge demand, it is not always possible to get the desired car.
Requirements for the driver
Of course, in order to rent a car, the driver needs to provide the following documents:
- international or national (less often) driving license;
- foreign passport;
- credit card (for deposit).
At the same time, there are age restrictions for renting a car. According to the rules, if you are under 25 years old, you will need to pay extra. In addition, if the car will be driven by two or more drivers, then you will need to indicate their contact details in the contract. Most often, the renter will charge an extra amount (approximately $10) for an additional driver.
After checking the documents, the company will conclude a lease with you. It will include the duration and cost of the rental.
Insurance
Besides, insurance plays a huge role in car rental. In particular, in the United States – it is essential. The type of insurance can be selected according to the driving experience and driving confidence behind the wheel. For tourists, it is best to extend the insurance before traveling to the United States. In addition, it is important to carefully examine all the details of the vehicle and point out all the “shortcomings” before renting. It will definitely save you from potential problems and losses.
You can use the insurance only under certain conditions:
- if the driver was not intoxicated;
- in case the car was driven by the lessee or an additional driver specified in the contract;
- if the driver did not commit a criminal offense at the time of the accident.
Therefore, if there were no violations on the part of the driver, then the insurance company will cover all costs.
Rental price and deposit
It should be noted that rental prices vary across states. For example, California and Florida are considered the cheapest to rent, while New York and Chicago are the most expensive. Also, all cars are classified by class or size. Furthermore, the price is also influenced by the day of the week, season, and the duration of the car rental. For example, the cheapest cars will cost anywhere from $ 25 per day, with an additional $ 25 for insurance.
In conclusion, a deposit is required. Even if you only rent a car for a day, the company will block a certain amount on your card. And you can get it only after returning the car.
