Car rental - USA ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Car rental - USA

Replies: 10 - Last Post: 17-Nov-2007 15:25 Last Post By: smartcookie

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Posted
15-Nov-2007 17:27
by: noddy102

Posts: 5
Registered: 15/11/07

Car rental - USA

Looking to rent a car when I travel with friends to USA next summer.
I am 22 and have a full license.
What is required in order to rent a car?
Will I need extra insurance?
Can I rent for example in New York and drive all the way to San Diego and leave car there?
Anything else I should know?

Thanks,

noddy102

Posted
15-Nov-2007 18:43
by: bannedintheusa

Posts: 2,449
Registered: 19/10/05

1

You have to be 30 to rent a car in the United States.
You must show insurance, passport, license, 2 major credit cards, and proof of at least $20,000 or more in liquid assets.
When you are old enough you will need to have insurance and supplemental insurance with no higher than a $1 deductible.
No, it is illegal to cross state lines with a rental car.

This should cover everything about your situation.

Good luck man.

"There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey."

Posted
15-Nov-2007 19:22
by: ianw6705

Posts: 30,714
Registered: 12/07/05

2

Check the FAQs noddy ... there is a lot of information there. Have you considered a Green Tortoise backpacker bus tour across the country? A lot easier, and possibly a lot more fun, and cheaper given you are under 25.

Off the Couch - My Travel Albums 2000-2009

Posted
15-Nov-2007 20:14
by: Willysnout

Posts: 6,056
Registered: 06/04/03

3

See FAQ post 148. It will tell you everything you need to know.

Life's a bitch, and then it has puppies

Posted
15-Nov-2007 22:49
by: smartcookie

Posts: 4,375
Registered: 19/08/07

4

It will probably be cheaper to take the train and rent a car when you get off in various areas for the time that you're there, so you can explore the surroundings. There is a lot of nothingness between NY and CA, which you can skip and save some time this way.

Report on 3-month trip in Africa, Dec 08- Feb 09 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=15631314

Posted
16-Nov-2007 01:00
by: Willysnout

Posts: 6,056
Registered: 06/04/03

5

If you can afford to rent a car, ignore #4. In no way, shape or form is that suggestion even remotely as good as having your own wheels. No way. Check my egotistical profile. I've driven 150,000 miles around this country and have taken my share of trains, planes, and even buses believe it or not. Cars rule. On a scale of 1 to 10 for the strength of that opinion, this one rates a 13.

Life's a bitch, and then it has puppies

Posted
16-Nov-2007 06:21
by: byoder

Posts: 36
Registered: 25/04/06

6

I agree with Willysnout, do rent a car. You can buy extra insurance if needed, and there will be a fee to drop the car in a different city. Typically $75-$100, but check first as the need to move the car to a new location sometimes drives up the price, according to my company's contact at Enterprise.

Brad

Posted
16-Nov-2007 06:39
by: ianw6705

Posts: 30,714
Registered: 12/07/05

7

I still think it's nuts. If you do contemplate this OP, only do so with someone (a) whose driving you can rely on, and (b) hopefully you can sleep with, or in the same room with. You will go crazy with boredom and isolation solo, and it will cost a lot. Look at a train (or even planes) to four or five key places across the country, and explore them locally. Perhaps look at NYC > Washington > Memphis > Santa Fe > Denver > Las Vegas > Los Angeles, but there are a lot of options, including a more northern route for summer, NYC > Chicago > Denver, etc.

Off the Couch - My Travel Albums 2000-2009

Posted
16-Nov-2007 06:47
by: qwovadis

Posts: 14,967
Registered: 25/05/06

8

under 25 rentacar possible noddy with a surcharge hotwire.com advantage rentacar usually best surcharge carrentals.com...you are expected to have your own insurance...will be more costly than other transport but doable if you are persistent...regards,

it is what it is...
it will be what it will be...
acceptance is the answer...
flexibility the key...

Posted
16-Nov-2007 07:07
by: noddy102

Posts: 5
Registered: 15/11/07

9

Well, I'll be travelling with two other guys, one of which will potentially will be driving.

At the moment we are just considering our options, so this is nowhere near a formality at the moment.

Thanks for all your advice and suggestions guys. Lots of areas for me to research.

Posted
17-Nov-2007 15:25
by: smartcookie

Posts: 4,375
Registered: 19/08/07

10

It really depends on how long they have for this. To do this route justice by car, I would think they need at least 2 months. And a car rental for a 22-year-old foreigner and gas is going to cost a fortune, even if they split it three ways. Considering the fact that they won't need a car in the major cities if NYC, DC, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, SF etc, I would definitely prefer to do the train/flight combo if it were me, and just rent a car in areas where I need one.

Report on 3-month trip in Africa, Dec 08- Feb 09 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=15631314

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