Age & Licenses
- Minimum age: Most companies 21+; some 25+
- Under-25 fee: $20-35/day "young driver surcharge"
- Under 21: Rare but available at specific locations (NY, MI)
- License: Your home country license is valid. English preferred. IDP not required by US law.
- ID: Passport for foreign licenses
Best Companies
- Enterprise — best customer service, middle-priced
- Alamo — cheapest of the big names, good for tourists
- Hertz — biggest network, Gold status worth having
- Budget — cheap but spotty service
- Avis — mid-range, loyalty program valuable
- National — best for business travelers
- Turo — peer-to-peer car sharing, often cheaper, more variety
- SIXT — European brand, expanding in US
💡 Always compare on Kayak or AutoSlash. Prices for the same car vary 30-80% between companies on the same day.
Insurance Decoded
At the counter, agents will pressure you to buy 4 types of insurance. This is where most rip-offs happen:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW) — $15-35/day. Covers damage to the rental car.
- Liability Insurance (SLI) — $10-15/day. Covers damage you do to others.
- Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) — $3-5/day. Medical for you.
- Personal Effects Coverage — $2-3/day. Items stolen from the car.
You can often decline all of these if you have:
- A credit card with primary rental insurance — Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, some Visa Signature cards. Read the fine print.
- Third-party rental insurance — Allianz or insuremyrentalcar.com offer CDW for $5-10/day
- Your own travel insurance — some policies include rental coverage
- Your home auto insurance (US residents only)
⚠️ Liability is different. Credit card insurance usually does NOT cover liability. If you have no existing policy, buying the Supplemental Liability at the counter is worth the $10/day.
Hidden Fees
- Airport surcharge — 10-15% extra for picking up at the airport
- Second driver fee — $10-15/day (free for spouses in some states)
- Tolls — $10-25/day if you use the auto-toll pass
- Refueling fee — $8-10/gallon if you return the car empty
- Late return fee — $25/hour or full extra day
- Cleaning fee — $100-250 for excessive dirt/pet hair/smoke
- One-way drop-off — $100-400+
One-Way Rentals
One-way rentals (pick up in LA, drop off in Vegas) always cost more. Fees range from $0 (rare, for same-state) to $500+. Shop around — Hertz and Enterprise sometimes waive fees for certain routes during low-demand periods.
Gas
US gas prices (2026): $3.50-5.50 per gallon depending on state. California is always highest, Texas and Midwest lowest. 1 gallon ≈ 3.78 liters. Cars average 25-35 mpg, SUVs 18-25 mpg, trucks 15-20 mpg.
- Always return with a full tank — refueling fees are punitive
- GasBuddy app shows the cheapest stations near you
- Costco and Sam's Club have gas 20-40c cheaper (membership required)
Tolls
Most toll roads now use electronic transponders. Rental cars usually have a transponder you can opt into (with a daily fee) or you pay tolls directly. Cash toll booths are rare. If you do not have a transponder and accidentally drive through a cashless toll:
- The rental company is billed by the toll authority
- They charge your credit card the toll + a $15-30 admin fee per incident
- These can snowball on a trip with multiple tolls
Tips
- Inspect the car thoroughly and photograph it before driving off
- Take photos when returning, especially at unattended drop-offs
- Keep the rental agreement with you
- Never leave valuables in the car, especially in SF, LA, Seattle, Portland
- Be aware of HOV lanes — some require 2+ passengers during rush hour
- Do not cross into Mexico or Canada without explicit permission from the rental company
Age & Licenses
- Minimum age: Most companies 21+; some 25+
- Under-25 fee: $20-35/day "young driver surcharge"
- Under 21: Rare but available at specific locations (NY, MI)
- License: Your home country license is valid. English preferred. IDP not required by US law.
- ID: Passport for foreign licenses
Best Companies
- Enterprise — best customer service, middle-priced
- Alamo — cheapest of the big names, good for tourists
- Hertz — biggest network, Gold status worth having
- Budget — cheap but spotty service
- Avis — mid-range, loyalty program valuable
- National — best for business travelers
- Turo — peer-to-peer car sharing, often cheaper, more variety
- SIXT — European brand, expanding in US
💡 Always compare on Kayak or AutoSlash. Prices for the same car vary 30-80% between companies on the same day.
Insurance Decoded
At the counter, agents will pressure you to buy 4 types of insurance. This is where most rip-offs happen:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW) — $15-35/day. Covers damage to the rental car.
- Liability Insurance (SLI) — $10-15/day. Covers damage you do to others.
- Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) — $3-5/day. Medical for you.
- Personal Effects Coverage — $2-3/day. Items stolen from the car.
You can often decline all of these if you have:
- A credit card with primary rental insurance — Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, some Visa Signature cards. Read the fine print.
- Third-party rental insurance — Allianz or insuremyrentalcar.com offer CDW for $5-10/day
- Your own travel insurance — some policies include rental coverage
- Your home auto insurance (US residents only)
⚠️ Liability is different. Credit card insurance usually does NOT cover liability. If you have no existing policy, buying the Supplemental Liability at the counter is worth the $10/day.
Hidden Fees
- Airport surcharge — 10-15% extra for picking up at the airport
- Second driver fee — $10-15/day (free for spouses in some states)
- Tolls — $10-25/day if you use the auto-toll pass
- Refueling fee — $8-10/gallon if you return the car empty
- Late return fee — $25/hour or full extra day
- Cleaning fee — $100-250 for excessive dirt/pet hair/smoke
- One-way drop-off — $100-400+
One-Way Rentals
One-way rentals (pick up in LA, drop off in Vegas) always cost more. Fees range from $0 (rare, for same-state) to $500+. Shop around — Hertz and Enterprise sometimes waive fees for certain routes during low-demand periods.
Gas
US gas prices (2026): $3.50-5.50 per gallon depending on state. California is always highest, Texas and Midwest lowest. 1 gallon ≈ 3.78 liters. Cars average 25-35 mpg, SUVs 18-25 mpg, trucks 15-20 mpg.
- Always return with a full tank — refueling fees are punitive
- GasBuddy app shows the cheapest stations near you
- Costco and Sam's Club have gas 20-40c cheaper (membership required)
Tolls
Most toll roads now use electronic transponders. Rental cars usually have a transponder you can opt into (with a daily fee) or you pay tolls directly. Cash toll booths are rare. If you do not have a transponder and accidentally drive through a cashless toll:
- The rental company is billed by the toll authority
- They charge your credit card the toll + a $15-30 admin fee per incident
- These can snowball on a trip with multiple tolls
Tips
- Inspect the car thoroughly and photograph it before driving off
- Take photos when returning, especially at unattended drop-offs
- Keep the rental agreement with you
- Never leave valuables in the car, especially in SF, LA, Seattle, Portland
- Be aware of HOV lanes — some require 2+ passengers during rush hour
- Do not cross into Mexico or Canada without explicit permission from the rental company