Whereas most people aren’t convinced about renting a car for cross country trip, you can actually manage one if you want to save up money for the long run. People mostly think that renting a car is only possible for your daily commute or transportation.
In reality, you can actually rent a vehicle when you want to have a long distance trip or you want to have a cross country travel. Of course, there are important things to consider, so be sure to understand them all before you plan out the trip and even make the reservation.
About Cross Country Travel with a Rented Car
If you think that rented cars are only allowed for local areas, then you may not be familiar with the way car rental services operate. First of all, rented cars are allowed for long distance trip. So, let’s say that you have a road trip plan from East Coast to the West Coast, you can definitely rent a car for this purpose.
When we are talking about cross country trip, most of us would be thinking about going through the border. Is it possible for renting a car for cross country trip crossing the border? It all depends on the car rental companies. Some companies may allow such a thing, while some may put a restriction on it.
You should know that most rented cars in American are allowed when you want to drive them throughout Canada and the US. Some companies even allow you to cross the Mexican border. However, it also depends on the vehicle types. Some classes, such as cargo vans, big passenger vehicles, or exotic models (along with other types of specialty vehicles) may not be allowed to cross the border. At all. They are only allowed to travel within the US although from one coast to another.
If you want to be sure about what kind of vehicle allowed for cross country purpose, you should reach out to the company and ask them in details. However, if you are only going to use the car for a trip in America, regardless the areas and how far you are going to travel, you are free to choose whatever car types and models that you like.
The Details of Cross Country Travel
When you start your travel from the US and you are thinking about traveling to Canada, it’s likely that you can do it. However, before renting a car for cross country trip to Canada, you need to talk to the car company and ask for detailed service.
Is it okay to do so? Do you have extra requirements before you can travel to Canada? Again, one car rental company may have different policies and regulations about the cross country trip, so be sure to ask them. After all, you don’t want to violate their rules.
In most cases, you may not be allowed to use the rented car to travel to Mexico. Even if the company does allow it, you may have to buy extra insurance that can cover the car during your stay in Mexico. You need to contact the company’s specific branch directly to learn about their availability and limitations.
What if you start your travel from Canada? If you are traveling to Canada and rent a car there, the cars are allowed to travel throughout Canada. What if you want to go to the US? You are allowed using and renting a car for cross country trip from Canada to America.
However, if you rent a car from Canada and you want to travel to Mexico, it’s highly likely that you won’t be allowed to do so. Even if you are willing to buy the extra insurance for the coverage, you may not be allowed to do so.
Reasons for Renting a Car
Upgrades and costs are two major reasons for renting a car for cross country trip. For a starter, when you have to cover a long distance travel, you want to be as comfortable as possible. Considering that you will be spending the majority of your time on the road, you want to be sure that everything is convenient.
When you rent a vehicle, you can choose the model that you like – without actually having to buy it. You can go with exclusive family SUV or the spacious full size crossover with all the included features. imagine enjoying spacious cabin while enjoying your favorite movies.
Or you can soak in the natural view while accompanied by the crystal clear sound system. You won’t have to worry so much about your safety either; not with sophisticated driving safety features like emergency brake, lane departure assist, and so much more.
Another reason for renting a vehicle is the cost. You need to factor in the car rental cost for cross country trip. For some people, a rental cost in the range of $1,000 would be enough for a week trip. However, it depends on the vehicle model too. For some people, it may reach up to $1,500.
But then again, a road trip with the rented car can save you a significant amount of money than having to fly in, for instance. A one-way plane ticket may cost you around $300 per person. You are a family of 4 or even 5. For one way travel, you may have to spend $1,200 to $1,500 for the ticket. For a round trip, it’s twice the worth.
Then why renting the car? Why not using your own car? Again, it’s a matter of comfort. If you only drive a compact urban vehicle, it’s only logical when you want to use a bigger vehicle model for your travel. Moreover, with the rented car, you won’t have to worry about maintenance or care. When you use your own car, imagine the oil change and the service cost after all those travels. It will cost you more.
Final Words
In the end, it’s totally up to you about how you want to travel and manage your trip. But there are some strict regulations and requirements about renting a car for cross country trip that you must follow and address.
