Renting a car can be a huge convenience in life. Whether you’re traveling away from home or are looking for a vehicle that you can take on a long trip without adding miles to your own ride, rentals tend to come in quite handy. Of course, there are a handful of precautions to take when first setting out to explore this service. There are some strict rules and regulations in place for renting a vehicle, so you want to make sure you’re familiar with the basics before beginning.
Give yourself a moment to explore some of this information about what you need to know when renting a vehicle. The more you learn in advance, the easier it will be to get behind the wheel with confidence.
Preliminary Steps
Before you can even consider renting a vehicle, you need to have a driver’s license. Without a license, a rental agency will not even consider providing you with a vehicle. Of course, simply having a license is not enough. Most agencies also require a renter to be at least 25 years old. If you’re under 25 and wish to rent a car, you may need to speak with a representative of the agency you’re considering in order to find out whether the company makes exceptions. A number of agencies will make exceptions for drivers who are over 21.
The agency will also ask whether or not you are an insured driver. A majority of drivers who own cars already have some form of insurance or another. If your current insurance plan covers you no matter what vehicle you get behind the wheel of, then you shouldn’t need to take out additional coverage. Uninsured motorists, however, are going to need to take out a plan through the rental car agency’s insurance option.
Peculiar Considerations
Having a license and insurance can be important, but there are also additional considerations to take. Each state in America has very unique laws when it comes to driving. Before you hit the road in a rental, it can do you a bit of good to familiarize yourself with some of the more bizarre traffic laws in your rental car. For example, in Utah, motorists are required by law to allow birds the right of way while on the road.
Each state has at least one bizarre law on the books. In New Jersey you can get a ticket for frowning at a police officer, while in Texas it is illegal to tow a person behind a car while he or she is wearing roller skates. Strangest of all seems to be Virginia, where an archaic law states a woman is prohibited from driving a car down Main Street unless her husband walks in front of the vehicle while waving a red flag. These are strange laws that are still on the books today.
The Open Road Awaits
Renting a car can be an excellent way to get where you need to go without putting extra mileage on your own vehicle. Before setting off on your adventure, be sure to take time to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road and feel confident behind the wheel.
