Planning a road trip by car in the United States and wondering how to rent a vehicle? Rental conditions, vehicle type selection, insurance... Discover everything you need to know before renting a car for your next trip to the United States!

What is the minimum age requirement to rent a car in the USA?

You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car in the United States. Some rental companies charge a "young driver" surcharge for drivers under 25 years old. However, the number of years since obtaining your license does not affect the price. In other words, you can have held your license for just one year and pay no surcharge if you're over 25.

What driver's license do you need to rent a car in the States?

A simple national driver's license is sufficient to rent a car. Indeed, an international driver's license is not necessary. However, your national license is no longer valid if you stay more than 3 months on the territory. In this case, you will need to obtain a US driver's license.

What are the mandatory conditions for renting a vehicle in the USA?

As you've understood, you must fulfill several obligations to rent a vehicle in the United States, namely:

• Be at least 21 years old,

• Have a valid national driver's license,

• Present the passport of the main driver and those of any additional drivers,

• Present the credit card in the name of the driver at the rental agency. It must be the same card used for the reservation. It will be used for a deposit hold for the security deposit.

What type of vehicle to rent for a road trip in the USA?

Criteria to consider when making the right choice

Wondering what type of vehicle to rent during your road trip in the United States? Then you should consider several criteria before making your choice, namely:

• Budget: obviously, the larger your budget, the more spacious and comfortable a car you can rent;

• Number of travelers and luggage volume: you can rent a small sedan-type car if you're fewer than 3 people, but it's better to plan for a larger model if you're 4 or 5 travelers, or more; 

• Travel itinerary: you won't have the same needs depending on your route. For example, a 4x4 may be necessary to cross certain parts of the country, particularly in rural areas and remote zones. Conversely, a sedan may be sufficient if you want to travel through the eastern United States, Florida (and its famous Overseas Highway), or the American West, such as California. 

Different vehicle categories

To rent a car in the United States, you'll have a choice of several vehicle categories. To give you an idea of the different options, here are all the types of vehicles offered by our Vacances America agency partners:

For travelers dreaming of traversing the mythic roads of the United States (like Route 66) in an exceptional vehicle like a convertible or sports car, it's always possible to do so. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information.

Note:

Most vehicles available in the United States have automatic transmissions. Only 5% of cars have manual transmissions.

Where to rent a car in the USA?

You can rent your car in advance (online) or on-site (directly from rental companies). We strongly recommend reserving your rental car before your trip.

Why? Because you'll have more choices and you can take time to select the vehicle type best suited to your journey, but most importantly, you can enjoy more advantageous rates than a last-minute reservation! Not to mention the practical aspect: you can save considerable time by picking up the vehicle directly upon arrival!

To Remember:

With Vacances America, you can benefit from advantageous rates thanks to our partners. You can also pick up your vehicle directly at the airport exit.

What payment card for renting a car in the USA?

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, you must present a credit card in the name of the driver. Most companies accept only credit cards and not debit cards, which are commonly found in France and Europe. Note that deferred payment debit cards are sometimes accepted.

Be sure to check with your rental company before committing. If you don't have a credit card, you can always request one from your bank before your departure. If you choose a rental company that accepts debit cards, you must present your flight tickets (arrival and return).

What insurance to purchase when renting a car in the States?

This is one of the most important points you absolutely must not neglect! Indeed, you must have good coverage in case of problems. Remember that medical expenses and repair costs are very high in the United States and you can quickly find yourself having to pay thousands of dollars...

Here are the different types of insurance you can purchase when renting the vehicle:

Good to Know:

With Vacances America, all vehicle rental contracts include:

• Liability insurance,

• CDW insurance (Collision Damage Waiver),

• LDW insurance (Loss and Damage Waiver),

• 24/7 assistance,

In case of vehicle theft or accident, these insurances protect you from paying the deductible corresponding to the market value of the vehicle by reducing your financial liability. Rates also include full deductible coverage. 

What budget to plan for vehicle rental in the USA?

The price of car rental depends on the type of vehicle desired, the number of days, additional charges related to options, and the departure city.

Generally speaking, plan for 25 to 40 euros per day for economy-category vehicles and 40 to 60 euros per day for intermediate-type vehicles. For larger models and luxury cars, plan up to 150/200 euros per day.

Now that you know all the ins and outs of car rentals, all that's left is to organize your road trip using one of the most mythic routes in the United States. Need help organizing your self-drive tour? Don't hesitate to contact us to discover our itineraries or create a custom itinerary according to your budget and wishes.