Does the United States have any unique traffic laws?

There's one thing that makes the USA rather unique when it comes to driving laws. While most driving laws are universal across the country, each state also has their own set of driving rules with varying penalty degrees for disobeying them. If you're picking up a car hire in the US, be sure you know the laws of the states you'll be driving in. One of the laws to be aware of is that it's legal to turn right at a red light unless a sign says otherwise but oncoming traffic has the right of way. Some of the more unique laws are state-specific, such as you may not brake or accelerate too loudly in Maine. If you're driving in one of the rental cars in the USA around Iowa, you will be fined for parking close to the entrance of a theatre, hotel, or railroad crossing. You also cannot park on a sidewalk near a stop sign or within short range of a fire station.

What are the legal and documentation requirements for renting a car in the United States?

Car rental in the United States is pretty straightforward. In all states except New York you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car and there's no predetermined amount of time you need to have had your licence for. You will need to present a valid driving licence for all potential drivers, if your licence isn't printed in the Roman alphabet, it will need to be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Foreign nationals renting a car in the United States must present a government-issued form of ID, like a passport, while locals only need to provide a driving licence and a utility bill. All cars in the US must have insurance to be considered legal on the roads.

Which areas of the United States have the most traffic?

If your plan is to pick up a car hire in the United States and road trip, you may want to be up to date on the states with the most congestion. The five most congested states in the country are California, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Delaware. California is consistently the state that ranks highest for the most congested highways in the country largely due to its densely populated cities. Los Angeles highway congestion ranks as one of the highest in the world and second highest in all of North America, with San Francisco trailing not too far behind. Maryland recently rose to the second most congested state in the country with its congestion being affected mostly by 30 narrowing locations in Baltimore alone.

What are the best scenic roads in the United States?

The US is home to some of the world’s most scenic road trips that include everything from mountainous terrain to driving through the desert to cruising through historical coastal towns and cities. There's something for everyone. When most people think of California, they might imagine beaches lined with palm trees, buff beach bods, and bleached hair. The Pacific Coast Highway drive is nothing like that though. It features an array of redwood trees, historic bridges, rocky coastal shores. Hop onto the Pebble Beach road and take on the iconic 17-Mile Drive. If you love the ocean and want to get up close and personal with it, head out to Florida and road trip along the 106-mile (170 km) Overseas Highway on the route from Key Largo to Key West. This journey is a must-see. And of course, you cannot visit the US for a road trip and not venture along one of the most famous routes in the world, Route 66 through the Ozarks in Missouri.

Cheap Car Hire in the United States from just £4

Looking for cheap car hire deals in the United States? Search right here on momondo!

Driver's age: 26-65

Discover deals from car hire companies in 70,000+ locations with momondo.

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Best deals found for United States car hire

Find great deals below on a variety of popular hire cars in United States

Vauxhall Astra

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

£4/day

16 May - 26 May

See offer

Citroen C4 Picasso

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

£6/day

8 May - 18 May

See offer

Kia Optima

or similar Standard

Up to 5 passengers

£7/day

5 May - 25 May

See offer

Toyota Yaris

or similar Economy

Up to 2 passengers

£7/day

14 May - 21 May

See offer

MG ZS

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£7/day

6 Jun - 13 Jun

See offer

Vauxhall Astra

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

£8/day

4 May - 11 May

See offer

Skoda Kamiq

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£8/day

12 May - 17 May

See offer

BMW 3 Series

or similar Full-size

Up to 5 passengers

£9/day

6 Jun - 13 Jun

See offer

Audi A1

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£9/day

5 May - 12 May

See offer

Car hire insight and trends in United States

Useful insights to help you book the perfect car hire in United States

Companies

Other Information

What is the cheapest car hire agency in United States?

Ok Mobility tends to have the cheapest cars for hire in United States. Users can often find prices for as low as £4/day when booking through Ok Mobility. You are more likely to find car hire deals through Ok Mobility for less than the average national price of £40/day. These prices may be different depending on the type of car you hire and the city you hire it in.

What is the most popular car hire agency in United States?

If you plan to hire a car in United States, we recommend booking with Budget, one of the most popular agencies in the country. In the past month, 34% of our users selected Budget for their car hire needs. The agency also has a customer satisfaction rating of 6.0 out of 10 from 4,583 reviewers.

What car hire company in United States has the most locations?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the car hire company in United States that currently has the most locations. With 4,787 car hire centres across the country, you should have no issue finding one of their locations at your destination. Enterprise Rent-A-Car tends to have locations in the top must-see cities across United States. Orlando, for example, has 19 Enterprise Rent-A-Car locations.

United States car hire deals found on momondo

Find the car hire in United States that's right for you

	Small cars	£25 - £38
	All Car Types	£36 - £50

The average price of a small car hire in United States is £29. The cheapest time to hire a small car in United States is in September. The price is 17% lower than the rest of the year at just £25 per day. A small car rental is typically 27% less expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States small car hire found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a medium car hire in United States is £34. The cheapest time to hire a medium car in United States is in May. The price is 15% lower than the rest of the year at just £29 per day. A medium car rental is typically 18% less expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States medium car hire found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a large car hire in United States is £51. The cheapest time to hire a large car in United States is in January. The price is 10% lower than the rest of the year at just £46 per day. A large car rental is typically 20% more expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States large car hire found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a SUV hire in United States is £38. The cheapest time to hire a SUV in United States is in June. The price is 16% lower than the rest of the year at just £32 per day. A SUV rental is typically 8% less expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States SUV hire found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a van hire in United States is £65. The cheapest time to hire a van in United States is in May. The price is 16% lower than the rest of the year at just £55 per day. A van rental is typically 37% more expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States van hire found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a pickup truck hire in United States is £54. The cheapest time to hire a pickup truck in United States is in September. The price is 28% lower than the rest of the year at just £40 per day. A pickup truck rental is typically 26% more expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.

The average price of a luxury car hire in United States is £56. The cheapest time to hire a luxury car in United States is in November. The price is 23% lower than the rest of the year at just £44 per day. A luxury car rental is typically 29% more expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States luxury car hire found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a convertible hire in United States is £61. The cheapest time to hire a convertible in United States is in November. The price is 17% lower than the rest of the year at just £52 per day. A convertible rental is typically 34% more expensive than the average rental car in United States. The average price of a car hire in United States can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire. Below are the best prices for United States convertible hire found on momondo in the past week.

Kia Rio

or similar Economy

Up to 2 passengers

4-door vehicles

£7/day

14 May - 21 May

See offer

Hyundai Ioniq

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£7/day

6 Jun - 13 Jun

See offer

Vauxhall Astra

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£8/day

12 May - 17 May

See offer

United States car hire directory

All major car hire suppliers in United States

Alamo

8.4

Very Good

4530 reviews•275 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

Told me I’d get a VW Jetta, got a Kia soul instead. Also found previous renters trash in center console.

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

I was not able to change the reservation. My travel plans changed but my companions plans did not. Alamo would not allow my companion to complete her travel with the car and she was stuck at the airport. How hard would it be to change the reservation ?

10.0

Wonderful|Dec 2024

Pick up and drop off were very quick and everyone was very pleasant despite the late hour of 1:00 AM

8.0

Very Good|Oct 2024

Helpful, efficient staff

2.0

Poor|Sept 2024

The staff at pick up and drop off were nice but when we had to make a claim roadside assistance was awful. Not helpful at all.

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2024

The vehicle was the perfect fit fornour weekend needs. The vehicle was mostly clean. The interior of the windows were foggy and smeared. Easy enough for me to wipe down when I had the chance. Could have had a better vacuuming. Lots of loose grass and small rocks on floor. When all said and do e, good value. Shuttle was simple and easy.

1 out of 1510

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.6

Good

9918 reviews•4787 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

6.0

Okay|Apr 2025

Could not get the type of car I booked. Delayed for almost 2 hours before I could get on the road.

10.0

Wonderful|Mar 2025

Honestly it was a pretty seamless experience, good price, extremely quick check-in and check-out with the vehicle, deposit was refunded quickly too.

10.0

Wonderful|Mar 2025

Very easy to get car with in minute no waiting or hidden charges.

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

They only take "certain" cards,no cash,...total mess. Gee tks. I really enjoyed walking all the way home in subzero temps, snow,ice. It was quite invigorating. Yeah.

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

Tried to rent a truck. As soon as my selection was confirmed they called me back and offered me a mini van. I had no use for a mini van, so she said if I were patient I could get a truck next week. She never cancelled my booking and I had to call enterprise to cancel. Enterprise said they would search their database and find me a truck and call me back within the hour. I never received a call.

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

it wasn’t a rental car available but online said it was. bad business

1 out of 3306

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Locations in United States

Sixt

7.2

Good

3870 reviews•148 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

why do you take an hour to process 3 cars before me in line?

2.0

Poor|Mar 2025

I had a quote for $320 and ended up getting charged $720. I will never rent from them again and I was ripped off

10.0

Wonderful|Feb 2025

Exemplary customer care from initial rental with Sabrina and drop off with Ayanna.

2.0

Poor|Nov 2024

I was charged with an extra surprise insurance fee that I was not made aware of from the beginning. Counter said it was not possible to decline such insurance.

8.0

Very Good|Nov 2024

Very friendly and accommodating for our travel needs

2.0

Poor|Nov 2024

Front desk employee viciously and consistently trying to have me pay for so many unnecessary extras for the rental. Also still no return of deposit it’s been almost 1 month.

1 out of 1290

Avis

6.7

Okay

7474 reviews•1554 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Apr 2025

Great car as a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was newer and clean.

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

The rental smell like weed. And to drive to the airport location to get another rental.

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

Waiting in line for a rental pick up in this day and age is ridiculous. Doing so in an uncomfortable parking garage with no seating even more so. Add that to the not-very-pleasant people working there (barking at waitining customers, no eye contact mumbling at counter) and you get the picture. Plus, the car itself had terrible highway noise. Going with the recognized "brand" turned out not to be much better than the super-economical rental agency I decided against.

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

Upon my return from an international flight, I had four pieces of luggage on the trolly. I had initially reserved a mid-size SUV through Kayak, but Avis provided a sedan instead. Furthermore, I was required to retrieve my vehicle three times due to discrepancies in its assigned location. The third vehicle had a noticeable odor of WEED, which was acknowledged by an Avis employee at the ground , prompting a fourth vehicle assignment. This process consumed approximately an hour, which was quite frustrating.

2.0

Poor|Jan 2025

Rude shuttle driver, ride check in agent, no car available for an hour, when car arrived it was filthy with white paste smeared on the seats and trash from previous renter inside. Car had 80k miles, was 4 years old and had three different tires. Horrible

2.0

Poor|Dec 2024

Horrible! It took over two hours to get the car at a small airport. They tried to give me a car that was not even comparable to what I rented. So the second car they gave me the check engine light was on. So I ended up getting a third car. A few days into the rental. The check engine light came on.

1 out of 2492

Avis Locations in United States

Budget

6.5

Okay

13139 reviews•1497 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

Nothing

10.0

Wonderful|Apr 2025

I liked the helpful staff

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

Worst experience ever. Called in the am to tell me they did not have a car but would have one later that day. I called two hours to verify they would have a car before close. They told me they were waiting on the truck to arrive with the SUV’s and were given permission to stay after close until all customers received their rental. Needless to say it’s been a week after my reservation and never received my rental. The company did not make any type of follow up call about my rental. I was forced to find another vehicle during my kids spring break. This reservation was made a month in advance AND they called me a couple days prior of the reservation to confirm. I will never rent from Budget again.

2.0

Poor|Mar 2025

Contract start 100, returning the car charge 450. For 1 day is doesn’t make sense

8.0

Very Good|Mar 2025

Instruction how to start the Tesla

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

Kayak was great. The process was easy and I was happy with the price. When my plans changed and I was going to get into town late I called budget to let them know I would be arriving after my selected location had closed and asked if there was another budget location in my area. The woman quickly told me no. I asked again in a way that made it clear I was asking not just about the town I had originally selected but any surrounding town and the answer was the same. I got online and secured a rental car from the airport just a few miles away. The rental was through budget. Kayak was great but the service I received from budget when I called was pathetic.

1 out of 4380

Budget Locations in United States

Hertz

6.1

Okay

17018 reviews•2639 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

4.0

Mediocre|Apr 2025

Picking up the vehicle we have to wait for more than 1hour missed our show

10.0

Wonderful|Apr 2025

Excellent & friendly service. Price was great

10.0

Wonderful|Apr 2025

Very convenient with my late pickup request - could have been better lighted area for reviewing car status - attendant of the counter was extremely helpful - good price for the dollar

2.0

Poor|Mar 2025

Didn't disclose $100 cancelation fee. Especially for a simple mistake. Don't worry it will never happen again. Will NEVER USE YOUR SERVICES AGAIN!!!

6.0

Okay|Mar 2025

One individual trying to take care of a whole long line of customers took too long.

10.0

Wonderful|Jan 2025

Great experience. Very friendly staff in Miami and NY

1 out of 5673

Dollar

5.9

Fair

6846 reviews•941 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Apr 2025

Got an upgrade, very satysfied with both the car and service at Dollar

4.0

Mediocre|Apr 2025

Pickup took45 minutes in spite of pre paying and registering my license in advance.

2.0

Poor|Apr 2025

The first lady that was trying to help me gave me to small SUV when I ordered a full size one. Please use correct car photos instead of misleading people to when they are actually getting. I then bought a 3rd party insurance and the lady at dollar told me that was good and FORCED me to buy $100 insurance through them!!!!?? Forced me to get it!! It didn't even seem like she wanted to be at work and keep sending people to other places to pick up their reservations. I will never use dollar rental ever again and will hell everyone of my experience.

4.0

Mediocre|Mar 2025

They told me it would be an extra $387 to extend my rental one day. It was a compact. Total bs

6.0

Okay|Mar 2025

I reserved a van for pickup and was not available ending up paying more for an SUV.

10.0

Wonderful|Feb 2025

No issues at all

1 out of 2282

Payless

5.8

Fair

2558 reviews•144 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Mar 2025

I never got a car. I got a "courtesy" call to say my rental I had reserved for over two weeks in advance was not available the day before I left. And that they weren't responsible for my refund

2.0

Poor|Mar 2025

I paid for my reservation through kayak but they charged me the same amount again

2.0

Poor|Mar 2025

I never even received my car, it was a complete disaster and I will never use kayak or Payless again.

4.0

Mediocre|Mar 2025

Extremely rude staff. Attempted to rent me a wrecked vehicle and when I denied it said it would be a few hours until another of the same class was available. Check in process no one was there. An AVIS employee said to just leave the keys in the car. No inspection, etc. I travel for a living and this is about my 3rd poor experience with Payless. I will pay more money for better service, shorter lines, and kinder staff. Will not be using this company again

2.0

Poor|Feb 2025

They didn't have a car available so I never actually got a rental with them. I expect a refund.

6.0

Okay|Nov 2024

Still waiting for removal of deposit charged although full payment made when booked on line

1 out of 853

Payless Locations in United States

Car hire in United States

Learn everything there is to know about hiring a car in United States so you can be properly prepared for your next trip

What side of the road do people in United States drive on?

Drivers in United States, including drivers visiting from foreign countries, are required to travel on the right. Keep in mind that driving on the opposite side can lead to both a traffic violation and serious accidents.

How good are the roads in United States?

The road network in United States has been scored 5.7 for its quality (1 lowest, 7 highest). This puts it at 14 in the world out of 137 other countries. Roads will vary significantly within the country’s different regions, so use scores as a rough guide or reference for comparison.

What is the drink driving limit in United States?

The highest Blood Alcohol Concentration you can have in United States while still legally able to operate a vehicle is 3.81 mg/l. However, some regions or cities within United States might have different BAC limits, so it’s important to do your research before you travel. United States has strict laws against individuals who drink-drive when they are younger than the legal drinking age of 21.

How much does petrol cost in United States?

On average, the price of petrol last week in United States was £0.68 per litre. If you aren’t set on hiring a car in United States, then consider Kuwait. Petrol prices there are some of the cheapest in the world at £0.26 per litre as of last week. Hong Kong is another great place to visit and rent a car, but keep in mind that petrol prices can be expensive at around £2.48 per litre.

When did momondo last update prices for cars in United States?

Prices for cars in United States are updated daily.

How many operators does momondo search for cars in United States?

There are 17,352 operators available for cars in United States as of April 2025.

How old do you have to be to hire a car in United States?

Among different countries, including United States, the minimum age for drivers varies. In numerous EU countries, drivers must be 18 years old. To hire a car overseas, you'll generally need to be at least 21, and if you're under 25, a young driver surcharge may be imposed. It's recommended that you review the policy of the rental company you're considering before booking.

What documentation or ID do you need to rent a car in United States?

All drivers must have a valid full driving license when renting a car in United States. If the license is written in a different language from the country of rental, an International Driving Permit may be required to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you're renting a car overseas, you may also need to provide proof of return travel and accommodation information during your stay. It is always advisable to check with the individual rental company you're booking with.

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to book a car hire in United States?

You should use momondo to book a car hire in United States because it could save you time and money. momondo fetches and allows you to compare car hire prices and policies from thousands of car hire websites.

How does momondo help me find the best car hire deal in United States?

momondo makes it easier for you to find great car hire in United States, by allowing you to refine your search with numerous filtering options. You can narrow your selection by looking at price, car type, location and more.

Does momondo show car hire deals in United States with free cancellation?

Free cancellation is a policy that can be filtered on momondo car hire searches for United States and all other locations. Availability may vary by location.

Can I hire a car with a fair fuel policy in United States on momondo?

Yes, simply select the fair fuel policy filter after performing a search for hire cars in United States on momondo.

Can I find a car hire in United States which offers enhanced cleaning on momondo?

Yes, momondo shows deals with enhanced cleaning services for hire cars in United States.

Can I search for car hire in United States with unlimited mileage on momondo?

Unlimited mileage is indeed an option momondo offers on car hire in United States.

An easier way to manage your United States trip

We make it super easy to schedule, organise and travel with friends or family. Trips is free – and available to use no matter where you book.

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Car hire in the United States

Looking for cheap car hire deals in the United States? Search right here on momondo!

Best deals found for United States car hire

Find great deals below on a variety of popular hire cars in United States

Car hire insight and trends in United States

Useful insights to help you book the perfect car hire in United States

What is the cheapest car hire agency in United States?

What is the most popular car hire agency in United States?

If you plan to hire a car in United States, we recommend booking with Budget, one of the most popular agencies in the country. In the past month, 34% of our users selected Budget for their car hire needs. The agency also has a customer satisfaction rating of 6.0 out of 10 from 4,583 reviewers.

What car hire company in United States has the most locations?

What is the most popular type of car to hire in United States?

When it comes to hiring a car in United States, travellers prefer to rent a Premium. In fact, 45% of our momondo users rented this type of car in the past 30 days and paid an average of £60 per day.

United States car hire deals found on momondo

Find the car hire in United States that's right for you

United States car hire directory

All major car hire suppliers in United States

Overview

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Car hire in United States

Learn everything there is to know about hiring a car in United States so you can be properly prepared for your next trip

What side of the road do people in United States drive on?

How good are the roads in United States?

What is the drink driving limit in United States?

How much does petrol cost in United States?

When did momondo last update prices for cars in United States?

How many operators does momondo search for cars in United States?

How old do you have to be to hire a car in United States?

What documentation or ID do you need to rent a car in United States?

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to book a car hire in United States?

How does momondo help me find the best car hire deal in United States?

Does momondo show car hire deals in United States with free cancellation?

Can I hire a car with a fair fuel policy in United States on momondo?

Can I find a car hire in United States which offers enhanced cleaning on momondo?

Can I search for car hire in United States with unlimited mileage on momondo?

An easier way to manage your United States trip

We make it super easy to schedule, organise and travel with friends or family. Trips is free – and available to use no matter where you book.

Get notified when prices go down

Daily price changes in your inbox - only with Price Alerts.

Find better results for your stay in United States

Find car hire in these popular cities in the United States

Best deals on cars

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