Driving in the USA

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 9 min read

The United States is built around the car, and driving is often the only practical way to see it properly. The road network is vast and generally excellent, petrol is cheap by European standards, and the freedom of a road trip across America — Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway — is a travel experience like no other. But the USA is also a country of 50 different states each with their own traffic laws, and there are enough differences from European driving to be worth knowing before you pull out of the rental lot.

Licences and documentation

Most visitors can drive in the USA on their home country's driving licence for the duration of a tourist visit, typically up to one year. An International Driving Permit is not legally required in most US states but is strongly recommended as a supplement — it provides an official translation of your licence into multiple languages and is useful if you are stopped by police or need to verify your identity at a car hire desk.

At the hire desk you will need:

• Your national driving licence (full, valid, and carried at all times while driving)
• Your passport (required at the rental desk and useful as additional ID)
• A credit card in your name
• Your rental agreement — carry it in the car at all times

The minimum age for hiring a car in the USA is typically 21, though most major companies will rent to drivers aged 18–20 for a significant extra daily "young driver surcharge." Drivers aged 25 and over avoid this charge entirely.

Which side of the road and basic rules

The USA drives on the right, with the steering wheel on the left. Seat belts are compulsory for all occupants in all 50 states. Child seat laws vary by state but all require appropriate restraints for young children — the hire company can provide a child seat for a daily fee.

Key differences from European driving that catch visitors out:

• Right turn on red: In most states and most situations, you may turn right at a red traffic light after coming to a complete stop and checking the way is clear — unless a "No Turn on Red" sign prohibits it. New York City is a notable exception, where right on red is generally prohibited unless signed. This rule genuinely surprises visitors from countries where red means stop absolutely.
• 4-way stops: At unmarked intersections where all four directions face a stop sign, vehicles take turns in the order they arrived. First to arrive, first to go; if two vehicles arrive simultaneously, the one on the right has priority. This system is common in residential areas and smaller towns and requires patience.
• School buses: When a school bus is stopped with its red flashing lights on and its stop arm extended, all traffic must stop in both directions on an undivided road. This is a serious law enforced in every state — do not pass.
• Emergency vehicles: When a police car, ambulance or fire engine approaches with lights and siren, pull over to the right and stop. On a multi-lane road, if an emergency vehicle is stationary on the shoulder, the "move over law" requires you to change to a lane away from it — this applies in all 50 states.
• Overtaking: On multi-lane freeways, passing on the right is technically permitted, unlike in most of Europe. Slower drivers should keep right where possible, but do not assume they will.

Speed limits

Speed limits vary significantly by state and road type:

• Interstate freeways: 65–80 mph (105–130 km/h) depending on state; some rural Western states allow 80 or 85 mph on certain stretches
• State highways: 55–70 mph outside towns
• Urban streets: 25–35 mph (40–55 km/h)
• School zones (when active): 15–25 mph — strictly enforced with zero tolerance

Speed limits are actively enforced. State highway patrols use radar, laser guns and aircraft on some stretches. Radar detectors are legal in most states but illegal in Virginia and Washington DC. If you are pulled over by a police officer, pull over promptly to the right, stay in your vehicle with both hands visible on the steering wheel, turn the engine off, and wait for the officer to approach before reaching for your documents.

Highways and road types

The US road network uses several overlapping systems:

• Interstate Highways (I-): The main federal freeway network — high-speed, controlled access, with separate on and off ramps. Odd numbers (I-5, I-95) run north-south; even numbers (I-10, I-90) run east-west. Three-digit numbers (I-405, I-495) are urban loops or spurs.
• US Routes (US-): Older federal roads that pass through towns, with traffic lights, junctions and a slower pace. Many are scenic — Route 66 is a US Route, still driveable in sections through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
• State Routes (SR, SH, or marked with a state symbol): State-maintained roads of highly variable quality, from excellent divided highways to narrow mountain tracks.

Navigation apps work extremely well across the USA. Google Maps and Apple Maps have comprehensive US coverage including real-time traffic, construction alerts and toll estimates by route. Download offline maps for National Park areas and remote Western stretches where data signal drops out.

Tolls and toll roads

The USA has a patchwork of toll roads, bridges and tunnels that varies enormously by state. The northeastern corridor (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts), Florida, Illinois and Texas have extensive toll networks. Much of the Western USA has almost no tolls at all.

Payment methods vary:

• Electronic transponders: E-ZPass covers the northeast; SunPass covers Florida; TxTag covers Texas. These systems are increasingly interoperable within their regions, and some work across multiple states.
• All-electronic tolling (cashless): Many toll roads now have no cash booths at all — overhead cameras read your number plate and bill the registered owner. This means your hire car company receives the charge and passes it to you, plus a per-transaction administration fee that can be significant.
• Cash booths: Still exist on some older roads but are being steadily phased out. Dollar bills are accepted; having small bills or loose change helps at exact-change lanes.

When collecting your hire car, ask about the company's toll management service. Most offer a daily flat fee for an electronic tag or toll pass — this is usually better value than the per-transaction fees applied when the company processes your toll bills on your behalf. Our guide to motorway tolls explains how different toll systems work internationally.

Fuel

Petrol is called "gas" in American English and is priced per US gallon (one US gallon ≈ 3.8 litres). Prices are considerably lower than in Europe. The standard grades are Regular (ordinary unleaded), Mid-Grade and Premium. Most hire cars take Regular unless the grade sticker says otherwise.

Filling stations are almost entirely self-service. The usual method is to insert your credit or debit card at the pump, but international cards often fail the required US ZIP code security check. The simple workaround is to go inside and pay the cashier, who can process an international card without the ZIP code step.

On rural Interstate highways in the American West and South, services can be spaced 50–100 miles apart or more. Fill up whenever you drop below half a tank on a long rural stretch — do not wait until you are running out in a remote area.

Parking in the USA

Parking rules are complex and hyperlocal. On-street parking is governed by colour-coded kerbs in California and some other western states: red means no stopping; yellow is commercial loading; green is short-stay; white is passenger drop-off; blue is reserved for disabled badge holders. Elsewhere, signs govern everything — read them carefully. "No Parking 7am–9am Mon–Fri" is enforced by parking wardens and vehicles are towed promptly in busy commuter zones.

Fire hydrant zones must always be kept clear — the standard clearance is 15 feet either side. Towing for hydrant blocking is fast and the impound fees are painful.

In cities, multi-storey parking garages are the most practical option. Many use automated payment systems or apps. Valet parking is common at hotels and city restaurants — tip the valet a few dollars on collection.

Hiring a car in the USA

Car hire is straightforward at all major airports. A credit card is essential at collection — debit cards are not accepted by most US hire companies even if you pre-paid online. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) in the USA interacts with your personal car insurance and travel insurance in ways that differ from European hire; some credit cards include CDW as a benefit, worth checking before paying for the hire company's own excess waiver. See our guide to renting a car abroad for what to examine in the hire agreement.

One-way hire is very popular in the USA — driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco, or Miami to New York — and most major companies facilitate this. The drop-off fee varies by company and distance; some routes (California north-south, Florida within-state) carry low one-way fees, while cross-country drops can cost more.

Local road trip ideas

For visitors planning a first American road trip, the most popular self-contained routes include:

• Pacific Coast Highway (California): San Francisco to Los Angeles along Highway 1, past Big Sur cliffs and the Hearst Castle
• Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica — or in popular sections through New Mexico, Arizona (the Grand Canyon is a short detour) and California
• National Parks loop (Utah/Arizona): Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches — all within a few hours' drive of each other
• Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia/North Carolina): A 755-km scenic mountain drive with no trucks and a 45 mph speed limit throughout

For a broader view of driving routes across Europe and beyond, see our best road trip routes guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive in the USA on my UK or European driving licence?

Yes, for tourist visits. Your home country's full driving licence is accepted across all 50 states. Carrying an International Driving Permit alongside it is not legally required but is recommended as a useful supplement, particularly at the hire desk and if you are stopped by police.

Can I turn right on a red light in the USA?

In most states and most situations, yes — after coming to a complete stop and verifying the way is clear. Look for a "No Turn on Red" sign, which prohibits it at specific junctions. New York City generally prohibits right turns on red unless a sign explicitly permits it.

How do toll roads work for hire cars in the USA?

If you drive through an all-electronic toll without a transponder, the camera records the number plate and bills the hire company, which passes the charge to you plus a handling fee — sometimes significantly more than the toll itself. The hire company's optional daily toll pass is usually worth taking if you plan to use toll roads at all.

What is the drink-driving limit in the USA?

In all 50 states, the legal blood-alcohol content limit is 0.08% for drivers aged 21 and over. For drivers under 21, zero-tolerance laws apply in most states — any measurable alcohol is illegal. Penalties are severe and enforcement is consistent.