USA Car Insurance for UK drivers

If you are planning a trip to the US, either for some typical tourist activities like going seeing all of the sights, or maybe you are thinking of taking a roadtrip, you might want to find out more information about car insurance for UK drivers driving and the other aspects of hiring a car in the USA.

Tips for hiring a car in the US

Research what each different car rental company provides

If you want to hire a car whilst you are in the USA, you should find out what the requirements are from the car rental company that you are going to use. The rules and requirements vary from one company to the next, so it is better to do your research before you get to the USA, to make sure you do not take any risks.

You should also check whether you require an International Drivers Permit. Legally you can drive with a UK license in the US whilst you are visiting on a short trip of less than 90 days (i.e. the length of time your ESTA USA applies for). However, some companies require you to have an IDP as well as your UK drivers license. You can easily apply for an IDP from the post office in the UK before your trip but make sure that you allow enough time for it to be processed.

Find out what level of insurance is included

Most companies will include Collision Damage Waiver and a liability cover level that is standard across the world. What you should be wary of is whether or not you are covered for third party damage, known as Supplementary Liability Insurance which in the US is the cover for any damage your car causes to another car. You should also consider whether you require Loss Damage Waiver for the event of theft or loss of use of the vehicle.

|If you are unsure about what is covered under the insurance that the car hire company provides then you should find out and make sure that there is a written document that explains the insurance and not just the verbal advice provided by the car hire staff.

Book as early as possible

It is better to arrange your car hire in advance to get the better deals and if you just decide to hire at the airport, you might be rushed and not have the time to go through the details of the insurance and other important pieces of information.

Also, the further in advance you book, the cheaper you should be able to get the hire deal. It should also give you lots of time to do your research in terms of the insurance that is available and to read through all of the small-print. You might find that there are high excess payments for younger drivers or drivers over 75, so you can check this through before making your decision.

Read the small-print

Whilst it can be tempting to choose a hire company based on the initial hire cost, there may be other hidden charges that you are not aware of. For example, the fuel policy will vary for different car hire companies.