SanFrancisco - NewYork

[Southwest Dave]

Thanks for the update carshamus, and the tip !

It looks like you was fortunate that you went through a booking agent and not direct.

Good luck in your new search.

[Si737]

Hi,
Me and a friend (from Uk) are planning a road trip from California to New York via Florida, and we're unsure whether we need car insurance or whether thats covered within the car hire.

I've found that overall we need:
Car Hire
Fuel
IDP (International Driving Permit)

Any other legal requirements to drive?

Thanks very much,
Simon

[Midwest Michael]

Yes you need car insurance of some sort, and its not included in the base charge for the rental.

However, if you already have car insurance on your personal cars, it may extend to your rental car and you may not need extra coverage. You need to check the specifics of your policy though.

If you do need insurance here are the basic kinds of coverage you'll typically see from rental car companies. You could also look at getting insurance from a 3rd party.

One other note, an International Driving Permit simply provides a translation of your existing drivers license, it doesn't actually give you any rights as a driver. Since your UK license presumably is in English, it really isn't needed in this case.

[Si737]

Oh ok i see. thank you.

But which of the types you showed me are mandatory?
I don't think my current insurance policy covers car hire.

Other than the insurance, is there anything else i'll need?

Thanks,
Simon

(also, apologies for posting separate threads for the same trip)

[Si737]

Hi,

I've posted this before last year, but i'm still unsure..

Next summer, a friend and i are going to be travelling from california to florida to new york, and back over the top to california.

I've looked ended times at car hire companies, but i'm still unsure if i need to get insurance on top of the car hire, or is it included?
Or does it come under my insurance in the UK?

I'd be really grateful if anyone could help me out,
Thanks,
Simon

[Si737]

Hi,

A friend and I are travelling around the whole of the US, and so far we've roughly mapped out our journey across the southern states.
But we know little about the northern states.

Pretty much from New York to California. Main places to go?
We could go as far down as missouri and as far up and washington really. Very relaxed.

Any ideas?

Thanks very much,
Simon

[Lifemagician]

Have you checked with your travel insurance company to see if it covers car hire as well, and get the specifics (in writing) of exactly what it covers. I always make sure that I choose a travel insurance company where rental cars are covered. The rental company then makes a photocopy of my policy and all is hunky dory!!

You do have travel insurance, don't you? You'd be mad to travel without.

Lifey

[Midwest Michael]

As far as insurance goes, you've asked the question before, and its already been answered.

For what to see in the Northern US, you just need to do a little research on your own on that one. There are simply too many possibilities to even start narrowing down specific things over an area that covers about 3000 square miles. Pull out a map, and do some reading, and once you've got a better idea of what interests you, we'll be in a better position to help.

[Si737]

Sorry about that, couldn't find the old thread.

Right, i've been looking at car hire companies, and found out that the three types of insurance are not mandatory, but i think one is advised.
But whats really amazing, is that to hire a standard car for three months, it costs $5900 if collected from San Francisco airport, or $2900 if collected for Oakland. Such a huge difference!

[Lifemagician]

Sorry about that, couldn't find the old thread.

Right, i've been looking at car hire companies, and found out that the three types of insurance are not mandatory, but i think one is advised.
But whats really amazing, is that to hire a standard car for three months, it costs $5900 if collected from San Francisco airport, or $2900 if collected for Oakland. Such a huge difference!

My experience as well. In SF I found renting from the airport for the car I wanted was 30% more than from other SF suburbs. Was worth the taxi fare to get there.