I’m planning to hire a car when I visit the US next week. Is anything I should be aware of?
Posted by Shivipivi@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 31 comments
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Skyativx@reddit
Roundabouts, the person entering the roundabout to your immediate right, has the right of way, that Includes you, if you are that person on the right, best look at yourtube about UK roundabouts
LockedDownInSF@reddit
Some motorways and bridges will require the payment of tolls, and paying them in cash is no longer an option most places. Instead you need an electronic transponder called EZPass. Talk to your car rental company about this. They will likely have an option where you can rent an EZPass from them or activate one that's already in the car, and you will need to do that.
Ok-Assumption2139@reddit
The steering wheel is on the passenger side. I presume they also moved the pedals, but I'd take someone with you just in case.
mordhoshogh@reddit
Get on Google street view and review the route you're taking.
onionsareawful@reddit
driving in the NYC area is pretty difficult -- it's really busy, the junctions can be complex, and no one obeys the speed limits. you're in for a pretty difficult stint once you get out of Newark airport tbh. one other thing to be aware of is that US highways around there run on dual-dual or local-express style systems, you wanna make sure you're in the right one.
once you're out of the NYC area it will be chill, though. US drivers are worse than those in the UK but the wider roads, more forgiving junctions etc mean that it is less of an issue, but you should still try and be aware.
GooseyDuckDuck@reddit
It really isn't difficult at all, I picked up a car just off 8th Ave in Midtown to drive to Niagara, it was a piece of piss.
Certainly a lot easier when we got out of the city, but driving in NYC was easy, just like driving in any city - I'd say even easier than many European ones.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
Agreed I've also driven from Manhattan to Niagara, as well as from New Jersey to upstate NY by cutting across the centre of Manhattan. It's very easy as the roads are huge, straight, and the traffic doesn't move very quickly.
TinhatToyboy@reddit
Every time you start the engine say out loud Drive on the right.
Burnerburnburnburns@reddit
Unlike in Europe, where traffic signals are placed immediately at the stop line (the near side of the intersection) in the US traffic lights are on the far end of an intersection. This means that your stop bar and traffic light are not in the same place. Always stop at the stop line. Maybe take a look at few street views of intersections in the area you'll be driving in just to get a better visual.
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
No one looks behind them, so don’t assume anyone is aware of you behind them.
You can turn right on red in most places
Obvious-Water569@reddit
Came to say about turning right on red.
Tourist spots are full of people in hired cars getting honked into oblivion for sitting there indicating right at a red light.
Practical_Scar4374@reddit
Aren't there signs saying right turn on red?
sihasihasi@reddit
IIRC, right turn on red is the default. The signs tell you when you're not allowed.
Practical_Scar4374@reddit
Nice thanks.
DeapVally@reddit
You can't pump your own fuel in New Jersey. At a petrol station, don't even try. You will be shouted at! It's weird, but it's the law, you just have to wait for someone to do it for you.
hideyourarms@reddit
I also find it weird that you can't just fill up then pay like we do. I had a few occasions where I wanted to pay with cash and they asked me how much, how was I meant to know how much it would be? I'd usually just say $40 and hope for the best.
Thankfully most pumps now allow you to pay with a card so it's similar to being at home but I also found that some of my cards didn't work (they asked for a zip code, for example).
Albert_Herring@reddit
American signage is shit so you need to pay extra attention there, particularly to spotting speed limits. Don't expect merging in turn to be cooperative like it usually is here. Don't pass a stopped school bus. If the police stop you, don't get out of the car.
As far as general driving on the right goes, it's pretty easy/quick to get acclimatised to because you'll be very aware of it, but remember to also be a bit careful the first few times you drive back home on familiar turf as you may find you have reprogrammed your autopilot.
Amddiffynnydd@reddit
What do I do in junctions with orange flashing lights?
quoole@reddit
First things first - do you have an 1949 IDP/ have you checked if the states you are visiting require one? Per the UK gov website: You should check if the individual state authority says you need an IDP. If you’re hiring a car, you should check if the car hire company says you need an IDP. You may need both your driving licence and an IDP to hire a car in the US. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident.
If not, it's relatively cheap and you can get it in a lot of paypoint services (although you do need a printed drivers photo.) Even if you're not sure you're need it, I'd get it done and then you have it if you need it.
Driving automatics is easy once you get used to it. Forget your left foot, I spent the first day in the US with a foot on the brake and a foot on the accelerator and let's say I mistook the brake for the clutch more than I (or the drivers behind me) would like! Put your left foot on the floor, or on the foot rest to the side and drive with your right foot, just like you would here. Automatic cars also do creep forward when the brake/hand brake isn't on, you'll get used to that pretty fast too. Beyond that, an auto drives pretty much like a manual, but without the need to manually change gears.
As for the US driving, obviously you're on the other side of the road but the seat being switched in the hire car makes it easier - I didn't have any issues with that (roundabouts are weird, but are few and far between.) Speed limits are generally lower (and still in MPH) but most people speed (I wouldn't.) Most cities are laid out in a grid with intersections, with a lot of traffic lights - I found there were way more traffic lights there than here. You can usually turn right on red lights unless a sign prohibits it (and apparently it's illegal in NYC, but not New York State as a hole.) I also believe I've read that it's illegal to fill your own car up in New Jersey and there will be attendants that do it.
Finally, US drivers are nuts, so be careful! There's much less stringent rules abot the condition of your car, so do expect to see blown out tyres and cars with bits falling off on the highway!
Alt_AC_2023@reddit
They have different rules there that you should understand.
For example in some places at crossroads they don't have roundabouts they have a 4-way stop. The rules about who should go first appear to differ to the rules in the UK (In UK oldest car or most desperate for the loo goes first).
They have different speed limits in different states and you are meant to exceed these speed limits by different amounts (do you want to annoy the armed guys in the pickup by going too slowly, or do you want to interact with the armed police instead for going too quickly?).
They certainly used to have different views on changing lanes and undertaking in the US. (Changing lanes bad - undertaking fine).
Due to American's religious extremism and dislike of alcohol, in the US it seems you're not allowed to have open alcohol in the car, while in the UK you're allowed to have a beer in you cupholder as long as you're under the limit....
I'm sure there are many other rules that you should know but rental companies don't bother telling you.
WordWizardx@reddit
Pay extra attention to driving on the right for the first few hours AND every time you get in the car for the first time that day. I’m American but managed almost ten minutes of driving on the wrong side of the road in NZ one morning because I was the only vehicle out there that early… until suddenly I wasn’t :-/
daddy-dj@reddit
Yeah empty roads are the worst... Actually, car parks are the worst.
WordWizardx@reddit
My uncle (an American expat living in Wellington) said the clear giveaway that you’re American isn’t the driving on the wrong side of the road, it’s that Americans smack the window when attempting to shift gears and turn on their windshield wipers when they mean to turn left. And yep, that was pretty accurate :-P I presume a Brit trying to downshift will do the same but on the left window?
SaltyName8341@reddit
Expat or immigrant?
-adult-swim-@reddit
A Brit who moved country, yes, for a week or so when I first started driving a LHD. I was back in the UK a couple of years ago and opted for an automatic...
Espresso-Newbie@reddit
Right on red unless a sign that tells you otherwise.
Merging onto the freeway/interstate don’t expect drivers in the slow lane to move for you. Expect drivers to sit in the lane you want to move across to when changing lanes.
Abide by all stop signs. Even if there’s no traffic at all.
When a 3 or 4 way stop, allow other drivers to go at the order they arrived at the junction. This might be you first if you arrived first
Don’t overtake a school bus when they are stopped and have the sign sticking out the side of the back of the bus.
ClassroomDowntown664@reddit
depending on what car you get some of the gare selector may be on a on the stareing wheel. and all the buutons have writing on the as the Americans don't recognize other languages
mrfatchance@reddit
It's easy to drive there, the roads are massive, you'll be fine. When parallel parking on the street, park in the direction of the traffic or you may get a ticket.
daddy-dj@reddit
If you've never driven an automatic car before, keep your left foot out of the way (maybe even bend your leg so your foot is underneath your seat until you're sure you'll not use it). Don't be tempted to just use your left foot for the brake and your right foot for accelerating.
Jimbob136925@reddit
Once you get used to it after first couple hours, you may find it easier, speaking from experience, I did. Although turning right on red still feels wrong every time you do it even after 100 times! Just make sure there is no sign that explicitly states “no turn on red” Usually the standard traffic lights have no signage and it is perfectly legal (and expected) to do so.
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