UK, other European Economic Association (EEA) country as well as Australian and New Zealand, etc driving licenses are sufficient for renting a motorhome. However, you are recommended to take an international driving license if your license does not contain the required information in English and this should be presented alongside your national license. There is normally a minimum age limit for vehicle hires. We have dedicated a special section entitled 'Important rental info' on our website for each of our rental company partners where you can obtain more specific information on this subject.
You are required by law to wear a seatbelt in the USA and the traffic drives on the right hand side. The roads are generally well developed and the slow flowing traffic makes driving very enjoyable. It is normally not permitted to drive your motorhome in New York City and motorhomes are only permitted for use on fully sealed public roads. For more details please refer to the 'Important rental info' for each rental company.
Even though the motorhomes consume between 25 and 35 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres the total cost for fuel will remain low. This is because petrol and diesel prices per litre - depending on which region you visit - are as much as 70% cheaper than those in UK/Europe. Please note that vehicle generators take petrol and this naturally increases total consumption.
For insurance reasons, it is not possible for you to collect your motorhome on the day of your arrival. You can therefore spend the first night in a hotel (or other form of accommodation) and get some rest before the adventure begins. We suggest that you do not plan too much on the first day of your hire. By the time you pick-up the vehicle, make yourself at home in it and buy your groceries the afternoon will normally be well under way. For detailed information about pick-up and drop-off times please refer to the 'Important rental info' for the rental company in question.
Sales tax - ranging from 4.8% to 16.1% (depending on which state you are in), is levied on the purchase of goods and services. In contrast to the norm in the UK and Continental Europe these taxes are not normally included in the displayed price. This rule also applies to all prices payable locally at the rental depot which are quoted on our web pages in US$. However, any payments you make to motorhomebookers already include sales tax.
The USA has a vast number of camping grounds available and of varied design. Most of the state-owned camping grounds are generously proportioned, the campsites are well spread out and each one normally has its own picnic table. The bathrooms and toilets are basic but usually well attended to. The costs per motorhome range from US$ 7 to US$ 13 per night.
Private camping grounds are often more luxurious, and - aside from the normal sanitary rooms, they also often provide recreation rooms, shops, a swimming pool and washing machines. You also have the use of 'Full hook-up' spots with fresh water-, electricity, and waste water connections. Here you can expect to pay between US$ 15 and US$ 45 per night. Most of our rental company partners provide KOA Kampground cards at pick-up time which give you a 10% discount off accommodation. Alternatively, you can visit www.koa.com and contact them directly.
With respect to the national parks we strongly recommend that you make a reservation for a motorhome site there during the busy Summer months. You can also view availability and make a reservation online with the US National Park Service.
The USA is a huge country with a range of climatic zones. The desert areas in the southwest are often extremely hot in the Summer months. This is why it is not always permitted to travel to these areas. On the way to the Rocky Mountains it is necessary to drive across some high passes where snow can be found until early Spring and in Autumn. Please keep an eye on the local weather services to ensure you are well prepared regardless of where you plan to drive. You can obtain USA weather information 24 hours a day via www.weather.com.