Car Rental in the USA

CarRentalChoice compares live rates from major suppliers across the United States — at airports, city centre locations and hotel pickup points nationwide. Suppliers include Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Alamo, National, Dollar, Thrifty and Sixt. A full estimated price breakdown is shown before you confirm your booking, so you can compare on a like-for-like basis across all available options.

Car rental prices in the USA vary significantly by location, season, vehicle category and how far ahead you book. Airport locations typically carry higher surcharges than city or off-airport alternatives. Comparing multiple suppliers in one search makes it easier to see available options and pricing across the market rather than relying on a single provider. Availability and pricing can change throughout the day as suppliers update inventory and demand fluctuates.

What You Need to Know Before You Drive in the USA

The USA drives on the right. Most rental vehicles in the United States are automatic transmission — manual cars are rarely available and may need to be requested in advance at specific locations.

Speed limits are posted in miles per hour and vary by state. Interstate highways generally operate at 65 to 75 mph, urban areas at 25 to 35 mph, and school zones at 15 to 25 mph when children are present. Speed limit enforcement varies by state but is consistently active on major highways.

The legal blood alcohol limit for driving is 0.08% across all US states. Some states set lower limits for commercial drivers and drivers under 21. Penalties for drink driving in the United States are severe.

Pickup arrangements at US airports vary by supplier. Most major airport rental operations are located at a consolidated Rental Car Center — a dedicated facility reached by a free shuttle from the terminal. Some airports have on-terminal counters. Always check your booking confirmation for the specific pickup location before you travel.

Documents Required at Collection

Valid driving licence — a full driving licence from your home country is accepted at most US rental locations. Most suppliers require the licence to have been held for at least one year. International visitors do not typically need an International Driving Permit to rent in the USA, though some suppliers may request one for licences not in the Roman alphabet.

Passport or photo ID — required to confirm identity at collection.

Credit card in the lead driver's name — essential at almost all US rental counters. The credit card is used for the security deposit pre-authorisation. Debit card acceptance is limited and varies significantly by supplier and location — some accept debit cards only with a return flight itinerary, additional insurance purchase or credit check. Confirm before travel if you plan to pay by debit.

Booking confirmation — digital or printed.

Age Rules and Young Driver Surcharges

The minimum age to rent a car in the USA is 21 at most major suppliers. Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young driver surcharge — the daily amount varies by supplier, state and vehicle category but can add significantly to the total cost of a weekly rental. This charge is not always visible at the initial search stage.

Some suppliers, including Enterprise and Alamo, rent to drivers aged 18 to 20 at select locations, typically with additional restrictions and higher surcharges. Premium, luxury and full-size SUV categories often require drivers to be 25 or older regardless of supplier.

Maximum age policies vary by supplier and location — most do not impose a strict upper limit, though insurance terms may differ for older drivers. Always confirm with your chosen supplier if this applies to your booking.

Driving in the USA as an International Visitor

The United States drives on the right. If you are arriving from the UK, Australia, Japan, India or another left-hand traffic country, allow extra time to adjust — particularly at junctions, roundabouts and when pulling out of parking spaces. Most rental vehicles in the USA are automatic transmission, which removes the gear-change adjustment for many international drivers.

Speed limits are posted in miles per hour on white rectangular signs. Limits vary by state and road type — interstate highways generally run at 65 to 75 mph, urban roads at 25 to 35 mph and school zones at 15 to 25 mph when children are present. Unlike some countries, US speed limits are enforced strictly and speed cameras, highway patrol officers and unmarked vehicles are common on major routes.

A right turn on a red traffic light is permitted in most US states unless a sign specifically prohibits it. This catches many international visitors off guard — come to a full stop first, check for pedestrians and cross traffic, then proceed if clear. Left turns on red are only permitted from a one-way street onto another one-way street, and only in states that allow it.

At a four-way stop — common throughout the USA — all vehicles stop and proceed in the order they arrived. If two vehicles arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the right goes first. This system replaces roundabouts in many residential and suburban areas.

International visitors can drive in the USA on their home country licence. An International Driving Permit is not required at most rental counters, but is recommended if your licence is not in English or not printed in the Roman alphabet. Carry both documents together if you bring a permit.

Fuel Policy

The standard fuel arrangement at most US rental locations is full-to-full — collect with a full tank and return with a full tank. Refuel before returning to avoid supplier refuelling charges, which are consistently higher than pump prices.

Some suppliers offer a prepaid fuel option at the counter — you pay for a full tank upfront and return the car at any fuel level. This is rarely cost-effective unless you return the vehicle genuinely close to empty, as no refund is given for unused fuel.

Your booking confirmation states the fuel policy that applies. Review it before collection.

Toll Roads Across the USA

The United States has an extensive but non-uniform toll road system. Tolls are managed at state and local level — there is no single national system. Major tolled routes include highways, expressways, bridges and tunnels, particularly in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois and California.

Most US tolls are now collected electronically via transponder systems. Common systems include E-ZPass (Northeast and Midwest), FasTrak (California), SunPass (Florida) and TxTag (Texas). Many rental vehicles carry a transponder, but agencies charge a daily access fee on days when you do not use a toll road. This fee can exceed the cost of the tolls themselves on short trips.

Some toll roads offer licence plate billing for vehicles without a transponder. If your rental vehicle is billed this way, the supplier will charge the toll to your account after the trip plus an administrative fee on top.

Before accepting a transponder at the counter, check which toll roads your route uses and whether the daily access fee represents value for your specific trip.

Driving Around the USA — Key Routes

The US Interstate Highway System connects the country coast to coast. I-95 runs the length of the East Coast from Maine to Miami. I-10 crosses the southern states from Jacksonville, Florida to Santa Monica, California. I-5 connects the West Coast from San Diego to Seattle.

Popular road trip routes:

Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) — runs along the California coastline from San Francisco south through Big Sur to Los Angeles. One of the most scenic coastal drives in the world.

Route 66 — the historic highway from Chicago to Los Angeles, crossing Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

Blue Ridge Parkway — 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Florida's Overseas Highway (US-1) — connects Miami to Key West across 42 bridges over open water.

One-way rentals between major US cities are widely available. A one-way fee applies and varies by distance and supplier. Collecting in New York and dropping in Miami, or Los Angeles and dropping in Las Vegas, are among the most commonly booked one-way routes.

Popular USA Car Rental Locations

New York — JFK Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty Airport (EWR)

• Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Miami Airport (MIA)
• Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD)
• San Francisco Airport (SFO)
• Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport (LAS)
• Denver Airport (DEN)
• Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW)
• Boston Logan Airport (BOS)
• Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL)

Supplier terms, toll systems and regulations referenced in this guide vary by state and are subject to change. Always confirm current requirements with your supplier and relevant authorities before travel.