What you need to hire a car in the USA

Published: 14/12/06

 
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There are certain requirements that you must fulfil to legally rent a car in the USA. Most companies require that you are over 25 at the time of travel, and have had a clean license for over 4 years. This is not a legal need, but is an insurance consideration, and if you are under 25, it is still possible to rent a car in most US cities, although you will probably have to pay a higher fee than older drivers.

Before travel, you will need to arrange an international driving permit called and IDP1949. This is available from the AA, and is a supplement to your license that is needed by law in the USA.

When you collect your USA car hire in New York or other cities, you will require a credit card to act as a deposit. No money will actually be charged to the card unless you fail to return the car, or it is damaged during your stay. Instead, the rental company simply keep the details on file and use them if necessary.