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Car rental on an American Road Trip

FAQs

Most of the answers to your questions can be found here. Still need help? Use the quick enquiry form and we will get back to you!

Questions about Driving in North America

Is mileage always unlimited, if not, when isn't it?

In almost all cases, your rental will include unlimited mileage. However, with some speciality/prestige vehicles and rentals in remote Canada, there will be a limit to the miles above and beyond, for which a charge will be levied. The mileage policy will be clearly shown when booking and on your rental documentation. Should you have any further questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team.

What should I do if the car breaks down?

In the event of any mechanical difficulties it is important you advise the local car rental company as soon as possible, (within 24 hours). The car rental company must give authority to replace or repair a vehicle. If there are any unresolved difficulties, please feel free to contact a member of our team. Please note it is not advisable to leave your vehicle in the event of a break down, as contents are often not covered. Lastly, please remember that breakdowns are very rare indeed; the cars we rent are usually less than one year old and are serviced regularly.

What are the facility charges at the airports?

A facility charge has been introduced at Miami and Las Vegas International Airports to contribute towards building new facilities. If not included in your rental, this charge is payable to the supplier locally when collecting the vehicle.

Is it possible to reduce the vehicle excess?

It is sometimes possible to reduce the excess on the vehicle by purchasing additional products from the supplier locally. These products are sometimes called ‘Master Cover’ or ‘Super CDW’ and can sometimes reduce the excess to anything as low as zero. Alternatively, you can also request that a ‘Damage Excess Refund Product’ be added to your quote.

I can't find the specific vehicle I want to rent?

When requesting a road trip quote from us, you’ll be asked your preference from a list of car sizes or classes. Exact models can’t be guaranteed, however, our team will be happy to talk you through the options and the best ways to help you secure a car you’re pleased with.

What do I do if I have points on my license?

It may still be possible to rent a car, depending on what the points are for and when they were received. Please contact a member of our team on 01244 342 099 or info@theamericanroadtripcompany.co.uk, who will be able to check with our car rental partners whether they will accept a booking with your endorsements.

How do I know where to find the supplier?

Your car rental voucher within your Road Trip Pack will clearly state the address of your vehicle supplier.

What should I do if I am involved in an accident?

In the event of any mechanical difficulties or accidents involving your car, it is important you advise the local car rental company as soon as possible (within 24 hours). In the case of an accident, the local police should be advised and a police report completed, and the full details of the 3rd party should also be taken. When returning the vehicle to the supplier, you must complete a full accident report form. The car rental company must give authority to replace or repair a vehicle. It is important you retain a copy of all documentation for your records.

What do I need to take to collect the vehicle?

When collecting the vehicle, the lead driver must bring the rental voucher from within their Road Trip Pack, their full driving license and a credit card in their name. It is often useful to carry a further means of identification – e.g. a passport.

What car insurance will I have?

As experienced road trippers, we know how annoying it can be to be unsure of what is and isn’t covered in your car insurance. It can be annoying when faced with expensive insurance top-ups when collecting the car. When you book with The American Road Trip Company, you can be confident you will have satisfactory cover for you and your family or friends, often with little or no excess to pay in the event of an accident. All of this information will be detailed within your Road Trip Pack.

Can I do a one-way rental?

Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is fine. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.

Are there any fees when collecting or dropping off the rental car?

Your quoted price usually includes unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, theft protection, premium location fees & local taxes. Sometimes, though, you’ll need to pay for certain things locally. These may include one-way fees (where applicable), additional extras requested when booking or purchased locally (for example, GPS or child seats), deliveries & collections and supplementary insurance to cover injuries to drivers &/or passengers.

Is it difficult or scary to drive over In America or Canada?

All of our cars come with an automatic gearbox and the option of a GPS, and as such, getting around is easy. The roads are usually well maintained, wide and less busy than the roads in the UK, so they’re easy to drive on. Your Road Trip Pack comes packed with top tips on driving stateside.

How old do I need to be?

The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.

Questions about your Accommodation

Will there be any other charges to pay locally?

We try to ensure that any and all costs are included in your quoted price. Although sometimes fees may be payable locally, these can include resort fees or occasionally car parking fees.

How do I know the accommodation will be of a good standard?

We have preferred hotels that we use regularly; these have been tried and tested by our team, and we work with the hoteliers to ensure standards remain high. If we are looking to book a room somewhere new, we’ll always put in the time and effort to ensure the accommodation has a reputation of the highest order.

Am I limited to certain hotels or chains?

No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.

Questions about your Flights

How early do I need to check in for my flight?

If you are checking baggage on a domestic flight, checking in at least 90 minutes before departure time is recommended. International travel requires check-in two to three hours before departure. Check with the airline you are travelling on. You may want to allow more time if you’re travelling out of a major airport during peak periods.

How much Luggage Allowance will I have?

You’ll usually get a single free checked bag and a bag for the cabin. However, this will vary depending on the class of travel and ticket type you book. Please check your quote or Road Trip Pack for your specific allowance. You can take extra bags with you for an additional charge and save money when you pay online before you fly. If a bag is heavier than the free weight allowance, this may incur an overweight baggage charge, payable at check-in.

Where do I clear Customs and Immigration?

Upon landing in the United States or Canada, you must clear Customs and Immigration before leaving the airport or catching a connecting flight to your final destination.

Questions about Travel Insurance

Must I have travel insurance?

We strongly advise purchasing travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.

Questions about Your Money

What is not included in the price?

Some local hotel fees such as “resort fees”, very occasional local taxes, one-way fees, activities and entrance fees and parking fees (if applicable). Fuel isn’t included in your trip cost.

What is included in the quoted price?

Your price will usually include the packaged elements of flights, accommodation, car hire and some activities, as well as a detailed road trip pack containing maps, route advice, a guide book and more.

Is my price guaranteed not to go up?

A deal is a deal, so it is extremely unlikely that your price would be subject to any change. The American Road Trip Company will happily absorb any cost increases whenever possible. However, surcharges are permitted to allow for increases in transportation costs, taxes or fees for certain services, and exchange rates. Please review our Booking Conditions for more information.

Non Flight inclusive packages - Is my money protected?

Should you prefer to buy your flights independently and are a resident of the UK or EU, Any funds given to us are protected by a Total Payment Protection Policy provided by Travel & General Insurance.

In compliance with The Package Travel Regulations 2018, an insurance policy has been arranged with Travel & General Insurance Services Limited (t&g) to protect customers’ prepayments in the unlikely event of our financial failure and paid in respect of:

  • Non-flight packages sold by the Policyholder as principal to the contract
  • Non-ATOL flight inclusive bookings sold by the Policyholder as principal to the contract for:
  • a refund of such prepayments if customers have not yet travelled, or
  • making arrangements to enable the holiday to continue if customers have already travelled
  • repatriation of customers as may be applicable, subject to the insurance policy’s terms.

Customers’ prepayments are protected by a topp policy.

In the unlikely event of financial failure please contact the claims helpline on 01702 811397. A copy of the policy is available on request.

This policy is provided by Travel & General Services Limited (t&g), registered number 02527363 and underwritten by Accelerant Insurance Europe SA(Accelerant). This insurance company is authorised and regulated by the National Bank of Belgium and related by the Financial Services and Markets Authority (Ref. 3193) acting in the UK under the Freedom of services.

To read the certificate of insurance, please click here.

Flight inclusive packages - Is my money protected?

Yes, The American Road Trip Company’s ATOL licence protects any trip containing a flight. This means that in the unlikely event that we stop trading prior to or during your trip, the CAA will ensure that your adventure isn’t affected and that you return home safely.
Flights bought directly from Airlines don’t enjoy this same backup, so it pays to go via an ATOL holding tour operator like us.

Questions about Us

What is the office address?

You can write to us at: The American Road Trip Company, The Steam Mill, Steam Mill Street, Chester, CH3 5AN

What are the office hours?

You can talk to any of our experts from Monday to Friday, 09:00 AM to 19:00 PM or Saturday from 09:00 AM to 16:00 PM; give us a call at 01244 342 099!

Out of hours? Send us an email, and we will get back to you promptly.

Our Trusted Partners And Providers

ARTCo customers can be confident that we only work with the very best service providers, such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Alamo. Any payments made to us are fully protected via the government’s ATOL scheme (Flight packages) or Financial Failure Insurance (Non-Flight Packages).

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you.

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