Renting a car in the US as a European tourist

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 06/27/2016 at 15:48 • Filed to: None

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Any advice? Which rental agency? Anything I should look out for? Things I should or certainly should not opt for? Pickup at Boston, about 2 weeks, starting mid July. I’ve never been across the ocean before.

At 33 years old I don’t have a troublesome age. Given the difference in price between a Focus (which I drive at home. Ugh) I want a “Mustang or similar”. I’m planning to book today. Or should I just show up at the desk?

I will be driving it all over New England.

I have been looking at Turo.com as well.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 15:52

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They’ll usually let you pick your car. They tried giving my a Chrysler 200 ::cough::rebadgedSebring::cough:: and I was like, “nope!” So they let me pick something else. Ended up with the Sonata which was surprisingly nice.

BorkBorkBjork > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 15:54

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Get a Pickup truck.

Play some Alabama

Enjoy.

AbsintheMinded: NeonHeatDreams > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 15:55

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Enterprise has been fine during my business trips the past few years. You could always do the Hertz Adrenaline Collection and they have the Camaro SS, Challenger, etc. I was lucky enough to fly to Miami and they overbooked cars and I got bumped to a Camaro SS. Wasn’t a bad trip.

As far as what to look out for, I would’t use Sixt (tried them once, was stuck without any car at all for 5 hours). I almost always book early if it is a BUSY airport/terminal. If not, just walk up to the desk. Here is Atlanta you can normally just walk right up to the desk. You can get cheaper rates sometimes booking early.

For Sweden > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 15:59

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There are several levels of American Rental Agency

The You’ll Be Fine Level
Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, National, Alamo

These are the big players; the Lufthansa to the other’s RyanAir. They mostly cater to business travel except for Alamo, which is marketed at tourists but is in the same parent company as Enterprise and National. You’ll be fine.

The You’ll Probably Be Fine But Maybe Not Level
Thrifty, Dollar, Fox, Sixt, Budget

These companies will give you a car that works, but the rest of the experience will be bad. Counters are short-staffed, the cars might be dirty, and customer service is minimal. Book these only if considerably cheaper than the above.

The Adventure Level
Everyone Else

Demons live here

For Sweden > BorkBorkBjork 06/27/2016 at 16:00

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Dropkick Murphys seems like a more appropriate choice for New England

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:00

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Do the top gear challenge and buy a car for cheaper than the cost to rent one for the duration of your stay.

Oh wait it’s MA.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > For Sweden 06/27/2016 at 16:01

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And a Volvo.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:02

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Don’t do this.

For Sweden > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/27/2016 at 16:03

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Volvo or Subaru

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > For Sweden 06/27/2016 at 16:03

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Subaru’s very New England, but is it very Boston? Thought they were more of a rural NH, Maine, and Vermont thing.

For Sweden > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/27/2016 at 16:04

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The only transportation that is Boston is walking drunk or Duckboat

CompactLuxuryFan > For Sweden 06/27/2016 at 16:05

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Avis and Budget are merged so much now they might as well be the same thing. I’d put them both in the ‘you’ll be fine’ category, but Enterprise is definitely better.

duurtlang > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! 06/27/2016 at 16:05

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Should be survivable in New England, should it not?

For Sweden > CompactLuxuryFan 06/27/2016 at 16:06

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I had a Budget rental a few months ago. I survived the bathroom at the rental office, so it wasn’t completely terrible.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > For Sweden 06/27/2016 at 16:07

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The train doesn’t count as transportation because no one knows that inbound and outbound mean when you’re in the middle.

Ash78, voting early and often > BorkBorkBjork 06/27/2016 at 16:07

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Almost...come to Alabama, play some Boston.

Ash78, voting early and often > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:09

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If you have them over there (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise), you’re fine. If you’ve never heard of them, steer clear. That’s my advice for people going both directions. Boston is like “halfway to America;” in many ways, it’s closer to Europe (street layout, short distances, etc). If you’ll be in the city, a small vehicle might be exactly what you need.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:12

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Are you just staying in Boston? Like, not venturing outside of the city?

If yes, skip the car. Boston is a clusterfuck.

If you're gonna rent, any of the major car companies are okay. I like Budget because it lets you reserve a specific model (sometimes).

CaptainSlower > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:19

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Get the insurance.

Seriously, get the insurance.

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:23

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As long as you don't insult their sports teams. They think their teams are better than the teams in New York, but obviously that’s not the case.

LongbowMkII > For Sweden 06/27/2016 at 16:23

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This checks out.

duurtlang > Ash78, voting early and often 06/27/2016 at 16:26

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Well, I was planning to rent for a long road trip all over New England. It might be a very European question of mine, but do I even need to rent a car for the few days I’ll be in Boston?

duurtlang > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 06/27/2016 at 16:27

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Are you just staying in Boston? Like, not venturing outside of the city?

Hell no. I’ll fly in the 12th and leave the 28th. I plan on being outside the city and driving all over New England between the 15-27th or so.

duurtlang > CaptainSlower 06/27/2016 at 16:28

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What insurance? There’s a long list of insurances, and they all sound like scams. (Looking at the Budget website)

Tripper > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:32

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Usually the most expensive insurance policy is the only policy where you are 0% accountable for anything.

Ash78, voting early and often > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:37

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I’m a typical “drive everywhere” American, but I always love visiting anywhere I can be car-free for a couple days. Boston is very much one of those cities. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been there, so I’ll rely on the locals’ advice, but I would lean heavily toward NO car. Further, renting from a non-airport location is usually 30%+ cheaper than renting from the airport. Enterprise even brings the car to you, which is a nice service (plus they’re almost always cheaper).

RTChoke > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:38

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Driving a “cah” in Boston (the whole metro area) is a contact sport. Use of a turn signal is a sign of weakness. First cah at a light when it turns green will left turn in front of you, no signal. Just expect it. More crashes in Boston are caused by two drivers trying to hit the same pedestrian than any other reason. “If you don’t like how I drive stay off the sidewalk” They have “rotaries” which are total anarchy. Stop signs are purely advisory. Cabs obey no rules. Work trucks obey no rules. Most everyone obeys no rules, except the unwritten rules that everyone obeys except the tourists who don’t know them. Be prepared to witness fights in the streets over driving behavior (or on an interstate ramp too) when two people try to occupy the same space for what each believes to be a valid (yet wrong) reason. Street signs are 1) nonexistent, 2) often wrong, 3) not where they should be, 4) might not be the actual name of the street you are on, as it could have changed the block before and you missed it, or it used to be named that and everyone knows it by that name even though that might not be the current name — if you don’t know where you are you shouldn’t be there. Town boundaries change often and that makes everything else change, like street names, addresses, pahking (of which there is generally little, and really expensive) regs, etc. If you go in the winter and see an old dinette chair in an actual pahking space, and you move the chair and take the space, prepare to face penalties up to and including death.

Other than that, have fun.

Aaron James > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 16:46

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Any of the name brand rental agencies are fine. Just remember we drive on the correct side of the road here :). Hope you enjoy your stay we have lots of great things to see and do. You don’t have to really worry about getting screwed over or left stranded if you stick with the major chains.

BorkBorkBjork > Ash78, voting early and often 06/27/2016 at 17:02

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I say we compromise and go to West Virginia and play some Kansas.

duurtlang > Aaron James 06/27/2016 at 17:03

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As a Dutchman I’m used to driving on the correct side of the road, thankyouverymuch :)

Ash78, voting early and often > BorkBorkBjork 06/27/2016 at 17:06

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Let's go to all of them and play some Journey.

smobgirl > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 17:08

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Definitely book ASAP. Prices are totally variable and many neighborhood locations can’t always honor reservations made at short notice. If you cancel the reservation the honorable companies won’t charge you or anything.

I’m personally an Enterprise fan but any company you’ve heard of is probably good. I’ve just been hit a few times in their vehicles and they’re very easy to deal with. As far as insurance, many credit cards actually fully cover rental vehicles so look into that before you pay double.

Scott > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 17:14

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I’m kind of assuming from your name your Dutch or Belgian? I don’t recall how the lights are there (by the time I drove in either country I was well accustom to driving in Europe), but the advice I always give my German friends/colleagues. don’t stop at the light stop at the line. I’m sure you know in Germany the lights are on the same side of an intersection as you are on. In the US it is a mixture, but mostly on the opposite side of the intersection. So if you stop at the light, you will be stopped in the middle of the intersection. Other than that I think most Europeans find it pretty easy to rent/ and drive in the US. The only other advise I have given when pressed was that there is no real Federal traffic laws. Each state makes their own traffic laws. So when you cross into another State the laws change. For the most part you won't see much difference, especially if just in New England, the primary difference is maximum speed limit, but in NE it's mostly the same.

I do know a German woman that had a bit of difficulty due to all automatic cars from US rental agencies. She had never driven an automatic and asked the guy how to drive one. His explanation was to put it in D to go forward, R to back up, the car does the rest. She got stopped by the CHP doing 5mph in a 45 zone just outside the airport. She explained to them that she put it in D and that’s as fast as it would go. The police kindly pointed out the brake and gas pedals.

I've seen few comments about driving in Boston, or public transit. I am one that can't stand to be without a car. NYC is about the only place in the US I will go without a car. Boston you don't need a car, so if you want to save the money while there you can get by without it. That said, it's not like NYC where having a car is a more trouble than it is worth, I have never had major issues with parking, and I enjoy the option of having a car.

CaptainSlower > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 17:16

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Anything that covers comp, collision, accidental damage, etc. If you have questions about what kind to get, make the ticket agent go over it with you when you pick up the car, and choose your coverage then. I didn’t last time, (under-estimated some costs, had to cut corners where I could) and, while I got lucky and nothing bad happened, it was seriously nerve-wracking.

I’m not saying it’ll save you if you go full Days of Thunder on your rental, but it should help considering you’re going to be in a strange, unfamiliar city surrounded by (shudder) American drivers.

touring the brook - now with ZHP! > RTChoke 06/27/2016 at 17:21

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This has made my day. So comedic yet so true...

BorkBorkBjork > Ash78, voting early and often 06/27/2016 at 17:23

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Nah, I only listen to Journey in Asia.

Scott > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 17:25

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Ohh one other note for sure make a reservation, especially if you want something like a Mustang. I don't think you can get it in Boston, but Hertz has the GT-H. Would also depend on if you can afford it, I'm sure it is not cheap.

Ash78, voting early and often > BorkBorkBjork 06/27/2016 at 17:27

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I only listen to Asia in Europe, especially when I'm in Turkey — just to make it interesting.

TheRealBicycleBuck > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 18:54

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Keep in mind that even trucks can be $60k over here. Have a wreck with one and you may find yourself on a very big hook if you don’t have enough coverage.

quite98 > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 18:59

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Don’t book direct with Hertz, Avis, etc, on their US sites. You’ll pay through the nose, once you include the (very necessary) insurance. Use their European site - for example, a week at DTW 7/11-7/18 is $447 when booked at hertz.co.uk, including all LDW and liability supplement insurances. Same location, same dates at hertz.com is $440 without the $30 a day LDW insurance. Also try auto-europe.co.uk which often has good (insurance inclusive) rates.

duurtlang > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/27/2016 at 19:36

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It’s weird to me such essentials don’t come standard. I don’t think I ever needed to buy extra insurance on this side of the ocean. Good advice though.

(My 2013 Ford Focus company car with 105 hp was >$30k)

TheRealBicycleBuck > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 20:02

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Over here, if your insurance policy covers it, there’s no need for extra. However, many policies don’t cover rentals. Most people don’t carry enough insurance on their own car to cover a wreck with anything but a ten-year-old Hyundai. That’s why many of us carry uninsured/underinsured coverage.

Aaron James > duurtlang 06/27/2016 at 20:17

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you’ll fit right in :)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 06/28/2016 at 09:52

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So, I’m told you’ll be taking tbe Traveling Torchbug next?

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/28/2016 at 10:13

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I am? Theoretically I could take it with me to Boston and hand it over to someone there. I’m not really interested in doing a massive photoshoot or tour with the Torchbug though, to be quite honest.

Are there any oppo members in Boston or in the New England region that would like to give the bug a new temporary home?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 06/28/2016 at 10:16

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Jobjoris said you were interested in taking it next. I’m like 50 miles outside Boston, so it would be real simple (and cheap) for you to just pop it in the mail to me once you’re done.

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/28/2016 at 10:20

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I could do that! I could even hand it over to you in person, if our schedules can be made to match. In which city do you live?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 06/28/2016 at 10:22

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Vineyard Haven.

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/28/2016 at 10:27

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Looks like an interesting place, although our plan was to travel north. I’ll see if I can fit Martha’s Vineyard in our schedule. If not, mail is an option. I’ll keep you updated.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 06/28/2016 at 10:30

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Postage shouldn’t be any more than like $2

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 06/28/2016 at 10:32

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I’m sure it is, but I prefer to hand it over personally. If we won’t manage the $4 certainly isn’t going to hold me back from mailing it.

duurtlang > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 07/03/2016 at 17:04

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Are you familiar with places to stay in the Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard area that are both nice and not overly expensive? I’ll be there 25-27 July.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > duurtlang 07/03/2016 at 19:02

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Nice? We’re dripping with that. Inexpensive?:

Avoid the resorts, they’re way overpriced. Look for a small bed & breakfast or even airB&B.