Car rental tips and information
Automatic transmissions are the norm
Rental cars in the USA normally come equipped with automatic transmissions, air conditioning and a radio-cd player. If you request a standard transmission, the rental company will probably have none available when you arrive as they are extremely uncommon.
Children car restraint seat
If you are travelling with children under 2-years of age make sure you have a child's car restraint seat or request one from the rental agency. It is illegal to carry small children in a car without safety restraint seats in most states.
International driver's license is not required
An international driver's license is not required in the US. You can usually rent a car and drive with a valid driver's license from your home country. An international license may be helpful in convincing the car rental agent that you really have a valid license when they cannot recognize or understand your license.
Age limits
Some rental agencies will not rent cars to anyone less than 25 years old. Other agencies will rent to young people, but will charge a higher fee. Some agencies will not rent to anyone over 71 years old. Be sure to check on these restrictions if you are in these age categories.
Car rental prices are very competitive.
Car rental prices are very competitive in most states and no single agency has the best prices every time. Prices change frequently and every agency offers many special promotions and competitive priced deals. If you spend some time shopping for the best price, you can often save money.
Car Rental Insurance
Car rental agencies always offer collision damage waiver insurance (CDW) and theft insurance. You should not risk driving without insurance, but you can use a credit card that provides free insurance when you rent a car. The American Express Dollar Card and some bank charge cards provide such insurance for free when you use them to rent a car. Check with the credit card issuer to be sure it provides such coverage for USA rentals.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
This is an insurance charge that acts as a guarantee that the rental company will pay for any damage to the rental car, subject to a deductible. By declining a CDW, you accept full responsibility for all the damages inflicted on the car. A CDW does not cover personal injuries or damages to personal property. It is possible that your personal auto insurance or business insurance will cover you and the car, so it is a good idea to check with your insurance agent before purchasing the CDW coverage. Some credit card companies and motor clubs offer free rental protection when you use their cards to pay for the rental, but check to confirm what kind of coverage they provide. Note that it is also possible for some CDWs to revoke coverage under certain circumstances. For example, you may not be covered if you are guilty of driving in a negligent manner, on unpaved roads, out of state, under the influence of alcohol or if a non-authorized driver was using the rental car.
USA car rental with Sixt
www.sixt.com
