Car rental in the United States is very common, especially for the students who can not afford to buy a car. Actually, renting a car to go shopping or self-driving travel is very convenient, especially, under the situation that except for New York and Boston, the public transportation is very underdeveloped in many places in the US. So how can we rent a car in the United States? What do we need to rent a car in the United States and what do we need to pay attention to? Today let’s take a look at the ultimate guide of car rental in the United States.
Process of the Car Rental in the United States
1. Choosing the Best Company for the Car Rental in the US
There are various car rental company for us to make a car rental in the United States, such as Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Alamo, National Car Rental, Thrifty, Dollar and so on.
Enterprise
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the largest car rental company in North America with more than 6,900 locations worldwide and more than 700,000 vehicles. So you can find an Enterprise service station within each 15 miles of the United States. Not only in the United States, Enterprise has service stations at more than 200 airports in Canada, Ireland, Germany and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the price is common, reasonable and the service is good.
Hertz
Hertz is the largest car rental company all over the world and has been offering premium rental services for more than 90 years. Operating in approximately 150 countries around the world, Hertz is committed to providing premium car rental services to business and leisure travelers. With many chain stores, Hertz also provides good service and good car condition. However, the car rental price is expensive.
Avis
Founded in 1948, Avis has more than 3,000 stores in the United States. Along with Hertz and Enterprise, it ranks among the top three rental car companies in the United States. Supporting online booking, off-site car, the procedure of the car renting is also very convenient. Besides, the car rental price is cheaper than the above two.
Alamo
Founded in 1974, Alamo Rent A Car offers low rent and hassle-free customer experiences in the most popular travel destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia. In addition, Alamo customers in the United States can book and select rental car types in advance according to their needs. Furthermore, Alamo has the best reputation among budget car rental companies and is a good choice if you are on a tight budget. Additionally, Alamo has become the official car rental company for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in the United States.
National Car Rental
National Car Rental is an internationally renowned car rental company with more than 1,500 service sites worldwide, meeting the daily rental needs of frequent airport travelers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia.
Thrifty
Thrifty offers car rental services in 1,000 locations in 70 countries around the world. Besides, it mainly provides the high-end cars. The car is new, while the rental price is expensive.
Dollar
Dollar has nearly 300 stores and franchises in the United States. With the cost-effective property, Dollar becomes the first choice of lost of business travelers. Besides, the car is in decent condition but the service efficiency is slow, which worth its price. Actually, Dollar is the US car rental company with the cheapest car rental price among the above companies.
It is generally recommended to choose more well-known American companies, such as Hertz, Enterprise and Avis, which are basically all over the country, and there are pick-up and return locations at the airport, which is very convenient for passengers. If you want to save your budget, you can use the Alamo, National, Dollar, Thrifty, etc. Although the rent is cheap, the car has been shared many time, which is unclean or not new and the service may be worse.
2. Choosing the Type of the Rental Car in the US
Car rental in the United States is generally calculated by class. The levels from smallest to largest are: Economy cars, compact cars, intermediate cars, standard cars, full-size cars, medium SUVs, standard SUVs, full-size SUVs and 7-seater commercial vehicles, as well as high-end luxury cars (convertibles, sports cars, etc.). In addition, most of the non-luxury cars on the market can be rented in the rental company.
Generally speaking, for the car rental in the United States, the larger the model, the more expensive the cost. Besides, the price difference between Full-size and below full-size class cars is very small, so Full-size will be the most cost-effective vehicle type. According to the latest statistic, half of 80% travelers will choose Full-size. However, if it is a field or long-distance travel, like you need to climb, of course you need to choose an SUV through the field. In short, your choice is based on your actual situation.
3. Materials for Car Rental in the US
Driver's License
It is recommended that the minimum interval is between 1 and 2 years from the first time getting the license. Besides, the English version of the license is necessary. In addition, we suggest that you also bring the driver’s license copy just in case.
There are many different versions of the requirements for translated driver’s licenses on the Internet. Generally speaking, as long as it is an English translation of the driver’s license, it does not have to be downloaded at the rental company. However, if the car rental company you choose provides a driver’s license translation template, please use the official template provided by the company. The English translation of the driver’s license can be translated in black and white, without color printing Additionally, be sure to keep the driver’s license image on the translation clean and clear.
Driver's International Credit Card (MasterCard or Visa)
A credit card that supports international payments is required to pay the rental car deposit, which is usually around $200 However, some companies may be higher. In addition, a credit limit of $500 or more is recommended.
GPS
We suggest that you prepare the GPS by yourself. For example, the google map on your mobile phone is a good choice, which is with a very nice real-time navigation. Because in the United States, if you want to use the GPS from the car rental company, you have to pay the rent and the rental price is not cheap, from a few dollars to a dozen dollars a day.
Tips
Be sure to have a credit Card ready when you pick up the car (Neither the cash nor the debit card works.) with the same name on it as on your driver’s license. Because once the car is fined, it is convenient for the United States car rental company to deduct money.
4. Insurance for the Rental Car in the US
1) Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): This type of insurance covers the rental car in case of an accident, and is highly recommended.
2) Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): Car rental company agreements include basic liability insurance that covers the other party in the event of an accident (For example, if you hit someone, the medical expenses are covered.). In addition, the car rental company usually wants to sell an additional liability insurance to you, that is the basic liability insurance which may not be enough to cover the other party’s medical expenses caused by a major accident, etc., and it depends on you whether to buy this or not.
3) Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): It covers your medical expenses after an accident. However, if you already have personal safety insurance, you don’t need to buy the PAI when renting a car in the US.
4) Personal Property Insurance (PEC): If personal belongings are stolen in the rental car or damaged due to a traffic accident, this insurance can cover the corresponding loss. However, there is a certain limit. Additionally, this insurance will usually be included in the PAI.
5) Road Assistance Insurance (RP): If your rental car has a flat tire or breaks down on the road this insurance will cover the cost of calling for backup.
5. Pick up the Rental Car in the US
1) The driver should bring all the relevant documents to pick up the car and ensure that the international credit card (MasterCard/Visa/American Express) in the name of the driver has sufficient amount. Meanwhile, the car rental deposit is generally between $500 and $3000 according to different models. So it is recommended that the driver can carry two international credit cards in his name to ensure that there is enough available amount for the pre-authorization frozen of the car deposit.
2) If you pick up the car in advance with the store’s permission, please return the car in advance at the same time, otherwise the store will charge you an additional rental fee according to the store price which is generally an extra day’s rent.
3) If there is an extra driver, be sure to present the relevant information and register the extra drive also at the store. Otherwise if the extra driver drives an accident, the insurance will be invalid.
4) If you are traveling by air and planning to pick up the car in the landing city, besides, the pick up point is at or near the airport, the airport will take you to the car rental company airport office via a special bus with free of charge. Nevertheless, if you have not booked online in advance, you can complete all the booking and pickup procedures directly at the airport car rental office. However, the cost may be higher than the cost of booking in advance. In addition, check with the service to see what areas the vehicle can operate in. The rental company may have restrictions for individual states or countries.
5) When picking up the car, the company service staff may ask you whether it is necessary to upgrade the class of the car. Under this situation, you need to confirm with the staff whether the upgraded model is in accordance with the original price or increasing the price. In some cases, the car rental company will upgrade the class for the customer for free, while some will promote the upgrade with additional charge. So be sure to confirm the situation with the service staff when picking up the car.
6) After all the documents are completed, the service staff will lead you to the parking lot to pick up the car. Besides, you and the service staff need to check the vehicle and the checking points are the appearance of scratches, the amount of oil in the car, the integrity of the necessary equipment and other issues. All the above points need to be registered by the service staff. Therefore, if you find any problem with the vehicle, you must inform the service staff in time. As soon as you drive the rental car out of the parking lot, the renter is fully responsible for the damage to the vehicle. However, if the renter has already purchase the full insurance, the renter do not need to worry about that.
7) Take care of all contracts and documents.
6. Return the Rental Car in the US
1) When you arrive at the car return site, the staff will check the vehicle, make records, and print out the statement on the spot. You have to check carefully if there is any extra charge.
2) If you want to return the car by yourself during non-business hours, it is best to confirm with the car rental company in advance whether you can return the car during non-business hours or not. If possible, the store will generally require you to park the vehicle to the designated area of the car and lock it. Meanwhile, you need to record the number of fuel meters, mileage and take photos of the fuel meter, odometer, vehicle appearance, etc. (Take pictures of the camera to turn on the time display function to prove the time of the photos you took). Then put the car keys in the key/drop off box. However, between the time you return the car and the opening hours of the store, you are at your own risk.
3) Remember not to smoke in the car, or you may be charged for a cleaning fee!
4) If your fuel policy is “full pick up, full return”, please keep your fuel ticket within 5 kilometers from the return location, as the service staff may ask you to ensure that the tank is full.
5) After returning the rental car in the United States, it is recommended to keep all contracts and receipts properly for a period of time. Besides, if there is no violation during the rental period, the deposit will be automatically unfrozen and returned to the driver’s credit card, usually within a month.
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FAQ
How much does it cost to rent a car in the US?
The rental price range is from $20 to $104 per day and on average a rental car in the United States costs $62 per day.
Can I drive a rental car across the US?
In the US, most rental car can be driven across the US and across the US border. However, some class of the rental cars, like Exotics, Large Passenger or Cargo Vans, and other specialty vehicles are not allowed to drive outside the US. So remember to confirm with the service staff in the car rental station about the details on cross-border restrictions.
Can my wife use my credit card to rent a car in the US?
No. The car renter cannot use a credit or debit card belonging to someone else to rent a car in the US.
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