Tips for car rental in the USA
Planning a family vacation to visit the hottest attractions? Or a cross-country road trip with friends? Maybe you travel for business?
The United States cannot be taken in one visit, but wherever you decide to visit in this huge country, car rental is the cheapest and most convenient solution. Whether in Florida, California or New York, renting a car will make your journey to the U.S. more engaging, interesting and inspiring.
The United States is one of the most convenient places in the world to rent a vehicle. The process is easy, simple and cheap and the transition between states is fast and easy.
Here are some tips to make your U.S. car rental experience particularly comfortable and affordable:
◾ Be sure to book a vehicle in advance
Preferably to do it as you buy the plane tickets, and make sure you have an international credit card which you must present as a deposit to the rental company. Please note - the rental companies in the USA do not allow Diners or Debit credit cards to be presented as a deposit credit card. An international credit card in the name of the driver of other credit companies must be presented.
◾ Book your car with a leading and reliable rental company
Ofran operates with the largest rental companies in the US - Alamo and National - which have won first place in consumer surveys for many years.
These companies have thousands of car rental stations with locations in all major airports, parks, tourist sites and bustling city centers.
Alamo and National offer advanced 24/7 road services and one-way rentals on favorable terms, so that you can enjoy your trip comfortably with no worries.
◾ Want to choose the model you want? It's your 'Choice'!
Another service that Alamo exclusively offer in the US is 'Choice' - a specific vehicle selection service from the range of the pre-booked category vehicles available at the location.
This allows you to choose a vehicle that best suits your travel needs and preferences, according to the rental company conditions.
Please note - this service is only available at rental stations at major airports. To view the list of stations where the service is offered click here.
◾ In a hurry? Save time!
'Save time' service in the US and Canada allows you to shorten the queue time at ALAMO locations in the US and Canada.
You can check-in online by clicking here - all you need to do is fill in the details according to the instructions, print the certificate and show it at the rental station.
◾ Planning on driving via a toll road? Don't forget to add a 'Toll Pass 'device when collecting the car!
A large number of toll roads are operated in the US.
'Toll Pass' is a device offered at Alamo and National's selected rental stations. The device is installed in the vehicle and allows a discounted, fast and convenient payment of the tolls.
This way you can pay directly from your credit card, without wasting time on queuing or dealing with small change, without any fines or double payments.
◾ You should check the traffic guidelines in the country
Each of the 50 states in the United States has its own traffic rules and regulations. Some are similar or overlapping and some are completely different.
We recommend that you ask your car rental official for traffic guidance, especially if you plan to move between states.
On the other hand, the rental vehicles are larger than the selection offered in Europe, they all have automatic transmission and include a full insurance coverage including a third-party insurance up to $ 1 million USD.
◾ Children safety chairs
In most states it is mandatory to seat children in a car seat or booster according to the child's age, height and weight, while babies are required to be seated in a rear-facing safety seat in the back seat. The fine if you break these rules is hundreds of dollars. If you are not sure what you should order, you can consult us or the car rental clerk.
◾ Traffic inspectors audit
If a car is driving closely behind you while flashing its lights, this is a sign that it is asking you to stop slowly on the side of the road. In such a case, note that you must stay in the vehicle and wait for the policeman/inspector, with your hands on the steering wheel.
◾ Hitchhiking
In most states in the US, it is illegal to hitchhike or to pick up hitchhikers. In some areas there is a sign indicating the ban (especially in prison areas), but the ban is valid for the entire country.
◾ Indirectness
It is forbidden to takeover the students' buses in the USA (you can identify them by their yellow color) when they are dropping off or picking up students. You will know when the bus is dropping off/picking up students by the red lights of the bus thath turn on and flash.
◾ Issue your international driver's license in advance and take it with you
International driving license is required in most states. Even in states that permit driving with a national license, the car supplier may, in his discretion, require that an international driver's license will be presented.
For more information and recommendations on car rental in the United States, you can click the relevant destination:
Car rental in Florida | Car rental in Orlando | Car rental in Miami | Car rental in California
Car rental in Los Angeles | Car rental in San Francisco | Car rental in New York
Planning to travel to Canada as well on your trip to the USA? you can find more information here: car rental in Canada
Ofran wishes you a safe and pleasant trip. 
