We’ve decided to gather in one place answers to the questions about travelling by car through the United States.

1. Which car should I choose?

To make your journey as comfortable as possible, take the most spacious car. An S.U.V. with which you can drive on any road is a good fit. In a big car it is easier to endure even a long journey, because there you can sleep a little. Otherwise, focus on your needs, the number of people and things.

2. Which insurance should I choose?

Car insurance for foreigners in USA can be standard or advanced (with a lot of different options). If you are a confident, experienced driver, take out a standard insurance policy that covers all the risks with a rental car if you are innocent. That is, if you crash somewhere by yourself, you will have to deal with the affected party at your own expense.

3. What documents do you need to rent a car in the USA?

You will need a regular driver’s license and a credit card to make a car reservation. It is better to have more than one credit card from different banks in case some card fails to work for some reason. You do NOT need to get an international driver’s license for the U.S.

4. What kind of navigation device should I use in the USA?

Well, there are options:

  1. Download offline maps in advance. The drawbacks are: no traffic jams, not always precise geo-positioning.
  2. Buy a SIM card with prepaid internet traffic and use Google maps, and if you have iOS, the built-in maps in the USA work just fine.

5. How do I refuel my car in the U.S.?

Types of fuel in the U.S:

  • 87 regular;
  • 89 plus;
  • 91 premium.

Unless otherwise stated on the fuel tank lid, take a regular one. You can pay by card or in cash.

6. What are the penalties in the USA for failure to comply with the traffic rules?

So that there are no questions, Americans indicate on the signs along with the road information about how much a violation will cost you. The numbers are indicative and vary by state. Speed mode is also closely monitored; cars with police officers appear from nowhere and stop violators.

7. Where do I park my car?

In most cases, parking in U.S. cities is paid. You can search for parking on Google Maps or just by road signs. Sometimes it is more convenient to park your car in a large parking lot near a mall than to look outside.

The good thing about covered parking lots is that they’re safer. Leaving your car on the street is highly advisable to put all your valuables in the trunk and take them with you or leave them in the hotel safe.

8. What to do if there’s an emergency?

First, try not to panic. Second, call 911. The rest is very dependent on the situation, but desperate situations are very rare. When a desperate situation arises, car Collision insurance can come in handy to help you with the damages that might have occurred.

If you don’t speak good English, you get an interpreter on 911. For minor cases, the police do not come, but simply send a protocol to fill in online.

So get your car collision insurance and drive safe!