Hiring a car in the United States
Planning a trip to the United States? To make the most of your holiday and see as much as possible, consider renting a car during your trip. While some of the large cities have good public transport, such as New York, Boston, and Chicago, many cities in the United States are very car-dependent. The large cities are great, but in order to get the true American experience, you need to spend some time out of them as well. Smaller cities and the countryside are where you’ll get a feel for the true United States. Whether you’re heading to Los Angeles, New York, Miami, or anywhere in between, renting a car will give you the freedom to explore where you would like, when you like.
Things to know before hiring a car in the United States
While the exact age differs slightly by state, the national average age to rent a car in the United States is 21. Up until the age of 26, there is an extra fee added onto the hire car price. Travellers who are 26 or older can score some great deals on cheap car rental in the United States.
It’s important to have car insurance while driving in the USA, especially to protect yourself against any car damage that isn’t your fault. Throughout the United States, foreign driving licenses are accepted as long as they are in English, meaning you can rent a car on an Australian license without any issues. While driving on your Australian driving license, be sure to also keep your passport on you as an extra form of identification.
While visiting the United States, be sure to keep in mind the different road rules from Australia. The major one is that Americans drive on the right side of the road. It may take some time to adjust to driving on the opposite side, especially when it comes to roundabouts and large intersections. Traffic lights in the USA are the same as in Australia, and when you are at a red light, you can turn right on red as long as it is safe to do so. In case you are pulled over at all while driving in the United States, do not get out of your car. Pull over to the side of the road, and the police officer will come to you. Also keep in mind that the United States calculates speeds as miles per hour rather than kilometres per hour. Speed limit signs are posted in mph.
What to do when hiring a car in the United States
With a cheap car rental in the United States, the amount of places you can visit is endless. Being such a large country, the United States offers so many different road trips and landscapes that you can experience by driving.
If you love nature and national parks, some of the best areas to explore by car are the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, and New England. Throughout the Southwest, you’ll experience deserts as well as the Grand Canyon. The Pacific Northwest is made up of some of the tallest trees you can imagine and is full of great hikes. New England has some beautiful mountains and small, quaint towns. Visit in autumn for the region’s vivid foliage.
If the ocean is your thing, rent a car in California, Hawaii, or Florida. California is home to the Pacific Coast Highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Along this route, you’ll see Big Sur and coastal towns, including Malibu and Santa Barbara. Hawaii is made up of several islands, so anywhere you drive will give you some great coastal views. In Florida, head south from Miami to the Florida Keys, where you can literally drive on the ocean.
If you’re hoping to experience the countryside and small towns that make up the heart of the United States, one of the best road trips to take is Route 66. This road starts in Chicago and finishes in Los Angeles. Between the two cities, you’ll get to see all the different landscapes of the United States: big cities, mountains, cornfields and prairies, desert, and ocean.
