- Learn the simple stuff: petrol is known as ‘gas’ and traffic drives on the right.
- Seatbelts are compulsory for both drivers and passengers in the United States. All states require child safety seats for babies and children of a certain size and age. It’s best to check exact requirements with the rental company when you book a car.
- On freeways (motorways), vehicles overtake on both sides.
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Search for the best car hire deals in the USA
Book car rental on USA holidays and the open road beckons. Whether it’s a family car in Orlando, a group-sized people carrier for trips on Route 66, or a classy convertible in California, you can compare and book low-cost cars with TravelSupermarket.
Why TravelSupermarket?
We compare prices from leading car hire companies so you can find the best deal for you.
Where to hire a car
You can easily rent a car in America from any major airport, city or large urban area, where all of the big USA car rental firms, including Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Budget and National, have representation.
To rent a car in the United States in 2017, you need a full driving licence. Some states also require an International Driving Permit (IDP) which you can apply for by post or at selected Post Offices across the UK.
Flexibility and fees
If you want to hire a car from one location and drop it off in another, you’ll usually have to pay an extra fee.
If you’re aged under 25, check with your rental company if they’ll accept your reservation. Even if they are happy with your age, you might be charged extra for being a young driver.
It’s worth renting a Sat Nav for tricky navigation within cities. These can be expensive, as can the hire of child car seats, so consider bringing your own.
To get the best deal on car hire in America for 2017 breaks, it pays to shop around; it’s a competitive market with numerous companies touting for your business and rates can be very low. Booking well in advance is the best way to find the cheapest deal while being able to choose from the widest range of vehicle types.
Automatics as standard
It’s unlikely that any USA car hire company will have cars with manual transmission, so expect automatic as standard. If you’ve never driven one before, it’s simple. Just remember that when in gear the car will creep forwards unless you’re pressing the brake.
In some vehicles, the automatic gear lever is on the steering column rather than between the two front seats.
Cruise and camp
Hire a campervan, known as an RV or recreational vehicle. Many campgrounds have facilities for RVs where you can hook up to power.
Sites are also available inside America’s National Parks, where amenities are especially good.
Road trip USA
Despite the huge distances involved, driving is still, for many, the best way to experience the USA.
Car hire in America makes the more remote spots of this great country instantly accessible, and travelling by road affords a freedom and independence, which captures a very American spirit.
Classic road trips in the USA include the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to San Francisco, Route 66 from Chicago to LA and Nashville to New Orleans in the Deep South.
Along the way you’ll experience American cultural icons such as the roadside diner and the motel and get a taste for an older America that seems a world away from the blinking neon of Las Vegas or the manic energy of New York.
Classic road trips in the USA include the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to San Francisco, Route 66 from Chicago to LA and Nashville to New Orleans in the Deep South – with one-way car hire you can re-create some of these epic drives!
Top tips for car hire in
USA
Find out about other forms of transport in the United States on our getting around the USA page.