How to Hire a Car in the USA? 5 Steps to a Successful Trip

[Iness Greener]

It's hard to deny that road trip is one of the most comfortable and engaging ways to discover new countries. That’s why many travelers try to hire a car immediately after landing at the airport.

In this sense, the USA is a great destination for a car trip. High quality roads, easy traffic rules and cheap car hire prices fully contribute to this.

If you are going to hire a car in the USA, there are some peculiarities you should know. Where’s the best place to book a car? Can you pick up car hire USA under 25 ? How to get the best price? 

Check out a few important steps for a successful car hire...

Search for a car in advance

If you want to save time searching for a car hire company and avoid lengthy paperwork, we advise you to think over the option of an advance booking. Here you need to focus on several factors at once:

• car hire cost per day;
• service quality.

As for the service quality, you can trust the reviews available in special sections of the companies' websites or consult with friends and relatives who have already had this experience.

Remember that early booking is always much more favorable in terms of price. Plus, you get a much wider choice of vehicles.

 

Choose the right company

Experienced car travelers don’t recommend contacting the company directly. It’s easier and faster, and somewhat cheaper to conclude an agreement with an intermediary. For this, use search aggregator websites that show all available deals in one place. This will allow you to choose the best company much quicker.

After booking, you will receive a confirmation voucher to your email. Print it out and then you will need to present it at the counter.

In addition, in 99% of cases you will need a bank credit card to conclude a car hire agreement. At the time of picking up a car, an insurance deposit of about $200-300 will be frozen on it. After returning the car to the company, the debited amount appears in full on your bank card. The operation may take up to 5-7 days.

 

Pick up the best car

The most important rule when choosing a hire car is to book exactly what you need. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to pick up the exact model you have booked. Indeed, when reserving a car, you only indicate the vehicle type or category: compact, economy, full-size, minivan, SUV, etc.

When hiring a car directly at the company's office, you have to choose from what is currently available on the parking lot or accept what the manager will provide you.

If you are looking for a specific car hire model, try looking for top-end brands such as a Ford Mustang. However, prepare to pay a little more for a guaranteed model.

 

Protect yourself with insurance

Hiring a car in a foreign country and not taking out insurance can cost you money during your trip. Some companies already include insurance in the car hire price, while some leave it to the driver to decide whether he needs such guarantees.

In addition, you can take advantage of your credit card insurance or personal car insurance, which may also apply to your hire car.

Today in America you have two major types of insurance:

• LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) or CDW, which covers vehicle damages.
• SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), which protects you from material liability for damage caused to third parties.

Since the imposition of additional services is one of the features of American management, employees of car hire companies will offer additional types of insurance. For example, in case of a car breakdown or a tyre puncture. The choice of the desired insurance depends mainly on your driving experience. Of course, you will feel more confident when purchasing full coverage. However, it will cost more. 

Benefit from additional options

You can choose additional options at the car booking stage or at the office of the car hire company. Some of them are optional, but some you just can't do without:

Prepaid fuel. This option is convenient if you don’t plan to travel a lot and don’t want to look for a gas station.

Additional insurance plans. You can additionally insure your personal belongings, health and potential medical expenses.

Additional driver. This will allow someone else to drive your hire car, which is very convenient on long-distance trips.

Satellite navigation system. It will be useful if you are in the United States for the first time and don’t know where to go. In addition, the GPS system will allow you to save fuel by making the shortest routes.

Child seat. A necessary for those who travel with children. By the way, in some states it’s cheaper to buy a child seat than to hire it.

EZ-Pass Device. You need it to pay for toll roads. Choose this option if you plan to travel a lot on toll roads.

One way. This option allows you to pick up the car in one place and return it to another location. Be careful because it can significantly increase the full car hire cost.