The USA is without a doubt a mandatory destination for a travel lover; each corner of this enormous and extraordinary country provides a unique experience worthy of living over and over again. However, there are some important factors to take into account in order to make the most of the trip and enjoy the journey with no setbacks and last minute inconveniences. Transport is, by far, the most important of them. As I just mentioned, the USA is a giant country and regardless the city or cities you choose to visit, transportation must go first on your list of priorities.
Although there are many means of public transportation in most US cities, these might not be the wisest choice if you want to move around freely, and effectively. Waiting, lines, and crowds of people are not part of what I would call and ideal vacation; on the other hand, renting a car is what I always recommend.
Why renting a car would be my best option?
There are many strong points of renting a car for your USA trip:
- Freedom: You will to move freely, without schedules or restrictions of any kind.
- Practicality: You can pick up your car either in airports, train stations or in counters throughout the city.
- Money saving: When you hire a car rental service for a determined period of time you end up spending less money than you would by traveling on public transport with the whole family.
- Comfort: When renting a car you are able to choose the car model that better suits you and your travel group. Remember to choose the car in accordance with your type of trip, number of travelers and luggage capacity.
In general, renting a car in the United States is quite simple but there are some tips to take into account that will make the process even easier than it already is.
Where to rent my car from?
This is a very common question when it comes to renting a vehicle as there are countless car rental agencies in the United States that offer all types of cars, and different rates, discounts, and policies. Having so many options to choose from might sound as an advantage but the truth is this most times becomes overwhelming at the time of decision making especially for first time renters who end up wasting a lot of time trying to figure out what’s the best car rental agency for them.
Renting a car online through a car rental broker is the best way to avoid all this. For those who didn’t know car rental brokers are car rental intermediaries that simply compare prices and deals among the best car rental companies (Alamo, Hertz, Dollar, Avis, etc.) saving you time and making your life a lot easier. What is more, because car rental brokers handle large numbers of reservations (thousands a day) they are able to negotiate much lower rental prices than individual consumers or small companies could and this saves you a lot of money!! Also, this makes the pickup process a lot easier as you will only have to get to the counter, handle your documents and start driving.
Here are the best car rental brokers according to Trustpilot:
1. Miles Car Rental 4.7/5
Scoring 4.7 Miles Car Rental offers its clients an exceptional service with all inclusive rates, the best insurance deals at very affordable prices. The company also offers the added benefit of letting you pay with PayPal and debit card with the Mastercard logo and customers praise their easy reservation process.
2. Viajemos.com 4.7/5
With one of the best Trustpilot score among many companies, this broker is renowned for offering the best prices in the market with special offers and deals every day. Customers also highlight the company’s friendly and competent customer service and its great selections of cars and car rental partnerships.
3. Despegar.com 4.5/5
The company offers a fast and easy reservation process plus an amazing online experience and this is one of the features customers compliment the most. Despegar has a huge vehicle fleet from some of the best car rental agencies. The company also offers various payment methods which is super convenient for its clients.
4. Rentingcarz.com 4.4/5
Clients praise the company’s agile, good and complete options at the time of making a reservation. They are known by offering a good quality service and a fast customer service response whenever their clients have an issue with the reservation process. One of their best features according to its customers is their online chat support.
5. Carrental8 4.4/5
They provide a very easy, safe and clear online platform. According to its customers, Carrental 8 has the most diverse services for needed for car rentals as insurances, reservation extras. Their vehicle fleet is very complete and the reservation process is fast and simple. Another great option if you are renting a car online.
What do I need to rent a car in the USA?
There are certain mandatory documents you need to handle if you want to rent a car the USA, so make sure you have them all on you at the moment of the pickup:
Foreign people:
- Roundtrip plain tickets
- Valid passport
- Valid driver’s license
- Credit card under the reservation’s holder
US Citizens:
- Valid driver’s license
- Valid ID
- Valid credit or Debit card. For debit card customers normally conduct an identity and address verification check.
Important aspects to take into account when renting a car in the US
Buy your all coverage insurance
Car rental agencies require you to buy insurance to rent the car in case of any unfortunate inconvenience (collision or loss, damage you cause to the car and even personal injuries). It is highly recommendable to hire the full coverage car insurance from your online rental supplier as sometimes external agencies do not cover all the essential requirements and you would end up paying double insurance at the counter.
Be aware of the extra fees
- Most agencies offer the possibility of picking up the car in one city and returning it in another one in case you want to go on a road trip or something similar but keep in mind this generally has an additional fee that will be charged to your embossed credit card so make sure to get all the details about this option at the counter.
- You have to be particularly careful with the tolls and fines as these are automatically charged to your embossed credit card usually two months after the car rental. If you are foreigner, make sure you familiarize with the USA traffic laws because charges go straight to your credit card in case you commit an infraction.
Being over 25 years old
Know that you must over 25 years old to rent a car in the USA. If you happen to be younger some agencies might still allow you to rent but with an extra fee for drives under 25 (not cheap).
Recommended Extras
Hiring the GPS and the full tank of gas would be my recommendation. You can normally add them to your rental at the time of making the reservation which lowers the price in comparison of taking them directly in the counter.
Note: If you didn’t include the full tank of gas to your rental, remember to top off the tank before returning the car, otherwise you’ll get hit with a “refueling fee”.
Once you decide to travel to the USA, you must know there are plenty of incredible places to see and a great variety of activities to enjoy. Plan ahead, rent your car, and make your trip a memorable experience to cherish forever.
This is a contribution from one of our contributing writers.
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