Driving in the USA
Mar 17, 2023 | 12:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 5
Driving in the USA
I have 2 questions please. I want to hire a car in Vancouver and drive down the west coast of USA (San Fransisco etc) - is it easy to cross the border in to the US with a Canadian hire car, and do you think the hire car company will allow me to cross the border? Also in the USA am I ok moving across states?
Thank you
Thank you
Mar 17, 2023 | 1:20 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Posts: 34,990
I have 2 questions please. I want to hire a car in Vancouver and drive down the west coast of USA (San Fransisco etc) - is it easy to cross the border in to the US with a Canadian hire car, and do you think the hire car company will allow me to cross the border? Also in the USA am I ok moving across states?
Thank you
Thank you
Would this be a one-way rental, or would to ultimately return the car to the pick-up location?
Assuming that you are otherwise eligible for admission into the U.S., driving a Canadian-plated vehicle from British Columbia into Washington State should not be a problem at all. And once you are in the U.S., you may freely drive across state lines.
Apr 12, 2023 | 5:28 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Posts: 8
We have hired a car a few times now in both USA and Canada. Just need to check the car companies restrictions as to where you can take the car.
When driving in USA we have never been restricted to other states but I'm sure I've seen some companies that do restrict you.
We have just booked car hire for later in the year via Enterprise and they allow you to travel to Canada as well as other states.
Also just so you are aware as an extra tip don't pay for additional driver if any other driver is a spouse or Partner as this is included and they may not tell you and take the money from you. We have also found through experience all cars come with Sat Nav built in regardless if you pay for it or not.
When driving in USA we have never been restricted to other states but I'm sure I've seen some companies that do restrict you.
We have just booked car hire for later in the year via Enterprise and they allow you to travel to Canada as well as other states.
Also just so you are aware as an extra tip don't pay for additional driver if any other driver is a spouse or Partner as this is included and they may not tell you and take the money from you. We have also found through experience all cars come with Sat Nav built in regardless if you pay for it or not.
Apr 12, 2023 | 12:11 pm
#4
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
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That varies from state to state, in some states the spouse is an authorized driver by law, in other states the spouse must be specifically listed in the rental contract as an authorized driver and there may be a fee for that.
Apr 12, 2023 | 7:17 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Posts: 8
Thanks for letting me know as I didn't know that, we must have just been lucky with the States we have visited as always been ok so far
Jan 20, 2025 | 6:12 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Malaga, Spain
Posts: 1,091
Renting an EV from Newark vs Gasoline?
I plan to rent a car for 14-days in March from EWR for a return journey to Atlanta, totalling approx 2000 miles. I have a changeable reservation for a gasoline car from Thrifty (IDAR).
I decided against the equivalent electric vehicle since I am unsure about easy availability of EV Charge Points. I'll be using I-95 and I-85.
I assume there could be an advantage with EV in fuel costs? Any other considerations?
I decided against the equivalent electric vehicle since I am unsure about easy availability of EV Charge Points. I'll be using I-95 and I-85.
I assume there could be an advantage with EV in fuel costs? Any other considerations?
Jan 20, 2025 | 8:58 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LGB/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+ companion pass RIP: USAir priority gold/chairman's select
Posts: 1,964
I plan to rent a car for 14-days in March from EWR for a return journey to Atlanta, totalling approx 2000 miles. I have a changeable reservation for a gasoline car from Thrifty (IDAR).
I decided against the equivalent electric vehicle since I am unsure about easy availability of EV Charge Points. I'll be using I-95 and I-85.
I assume there could be an advantage with EV in fuel costs? Any other considerations?
I decided against the equivalent electric vehicle since I am unsure about easy availability of EV Charge Points. I'll be using I-95 and I-85.
I assume there could be an advantage with EV in fuel costs? Any other considerations?
Jan 20, 2025 | 11:10 am
#8
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,766
110v charger is insufficient for charging an EV. My car would take over three days to get from 20% to 80% when plugged in to a 110v outlet. At a DC Fast charger, it takes 30 to 40 minutes.
Jan 22, 2025 | 6:55 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Posts: 3,344
Choice of route
We will be driving from Tampa to Toronto at the end of April. We will take three days to do it. Google Maps makes it 20h15m of driving time on the most direct route, i.e., crossing the border at Buffalo. But going via Detroit only adds 44 min. of driving to the trip (20h59m). Mostly we will just want to cover some ground and don't expect to stop and see much along the way. In those circumstances, is there any big reason to prefer one route over the other? TIA.
Jan 22, 2025 | 8:55 am
#10
Moderator: Avianca, Travel Photography, Travel Technology & USA
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Far western edge of the La-La Land City limits
Programs: Emeritus VIP Fromins Deli Encino grandfathered successor program - UA MM & HH Diamond
Posts: 3,812
We will be driving from Tampa to Toronto at the end of April. We will take three days to do it. Google Maps makes it 20h15m of driving time on the most direct route, i.e., crossing the border at Buffalo. But going via Detroit only adds 44 min. of driving to the trip (20h59m). Mostly we will just want to cover some ground and don't expect to stop and see much along the way. In those circumstances, is there any big reason to prefer one route over the other? TIA.
While you indicate stopping along the way to Toronto is not high on your to do list, seeing the Falls can be completed in 20 minutes (assuming parking is not at a premium when you arrive). I've even stopped at the Falls at 10pm, for a quick glance.
Jan 22, 2025 | 11:51 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 24
We will be driving from Tampa to Toronto at the end of April. We will take three days to do it. Google Maps makes it 20h15m of driving time on the most direct route, i.e., crossing the border at Buffalo. But going via Detroit only adds 44 min. of driving to the trip (20h59m). Mostly we will just want to cover some ground and don't expect to stop and see much along the way. In those circumstances, is there any big reason to prefer one route over the other? TIA.
Jan 22, 2025 | 12:01 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Posts: 34,990
Jan 23, 2025 | 8:08 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,454
........
Also just so you are aware as an extra tip don't pay for additional driver if any other driver is a spouse or Partner as this is included and they may not tell you and take the money from you. We have also found through experience all cars come with Sat Nav built in regardless if you pay for it or not.
Also just so you are aware as an extra tip don't pay for additional driver if any other driver is a spouse or Partner as this is included and they may not tell you and take the money from you. We have also found through experience all cars come with Sat Nav built in regardless if you pay for it or not.