If you're planning a freewheeling road trip to Los Angeles, California for your summer vacation, then renting a car in Los Angeles is almost a must. Los Angeles is a huge city with a lot of attractions scattered throughout, and thePublic TransportationRenting a car for your trip will greatly enhance your travel efficiency and freedom. However, renting a car for the first time in the United States, especially picking it up at a large international airport like Los Angeles, can be a bit uncertain and worrisome.
This article will answer all the questions you may have about renting a car in Los Angeles, from comparing US car rental websites, what to choose, airport pickup procedures, what to expect when driving in Los Angeles, to parking advice and must-have app recommendations, so you can stay safe and sound even if it's your first time renting a car in the US!
Highlight the finishing touches:
A. The most cost-effective and reliable platform to choose for car rental in Los Angeles?
There are three main types of websites you can start with when renting a car in Los Angeles: comparison websites, car sharing services, and official websites of car rental companies.
Many bloggers recommend booking a car from price comparison websites such as rentalcars.com, Expedia, Kayak, etc. It seems perfect at first glance to have a Chinese language interface, and to be able to rent a car especially cheaply, as well as to be able to see the prices of different car rental companies at one time. However, these prices usually only present the rental fee, and don't include insurance, surcharges, taxes, etc., and often the actual The actual price may not be as good as theIt's so "eye-catching" that it's presented on a price comparison site.The
Some travelers planning longer trips will consider using car sharing services Turo The service, which rents unused cars from people's homes, is a bit like a car version of Airbnb, where travelers choose and book the car they want to rent on an app, and then make an appointment with the owner of the car to take the car away at a certain time and place. This service sounds ideal if you don't make any mistakes, but since it's a non-professional car rental company, users will inevitably encounter problems such as poor car conditions, mileage limitations, owners who are difficult to communicate with or have a lot of demands, and poor locations for rental and return. The most troublesome thing is that if there is an accident on the road and you can't change the car immediately, then your precious trip may be ruined.
Finally, the most common and reliable way to rent a car is to book a rental car from a rental car company's website. Consumers can clearly understand the car model, the same class of car, the date of rental, the cost of the rental car, and the booking directly with the rental car company is relatively more secure. Most U.S. car rental companies have a wide range of car models to choose from, pick-up locations at airports and in urban areas, and a certain standard of car condition. However, each company is rated differently, prices vary, most websites do not show the total price of insurance or other additional costs, and very few companies have websites in traditional Chinese, so overseas travelers need to spend a lot of time searching and reading, and sometimes are not sure which company to choose after reading.
Sky Horse, founded by Taiwanese in the U.S., is different from U.S. car rental chains in that it provides clear total prices on its website, including insurance plans, additional equipment, taxes, and no hidden fees, and the total price shown at the time of booking is the final price, with the goal of bringing travelers peace of mind when traveling in the U.S. by providing transparent pricing and attentive service. In addition, the website provides a Chinese language interface that clearly and explicitly presents all the information you need to know about renting a car, as well as a complete "U.S. Driving Companion Manual" for travelers before they embark on their journey.
During peak travel seasons such as summer vacation and spring break, it is recommended to make reservations two to three months in advance to avoid soaring prices and unavailability.
How do I pick up my car from LAX?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) does not have any rental car counters inside the building. Most of the major rental car companies are located outside the airport at the LAX Rental Car Center. After picking up your luggage, you will need to go to the pick-up area outside the terminal. At the center divider, you will see a purple sign that reads "Rental Car Shuttles" in English. Each car rental company has its own shuttle buses, which are labeled with different brands such as Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, so make sure you know which one you have booked and don't get the wrong one!
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the car rental centers from different terminals. Upon arrival at the car rental center, go to the booking agent's counter and present your international driver's license, local driver's license, passport, credit card, and booking confirmation letter. The rental insurance package will be confirmed on-site, as well as whether or not you want to add an additional driver. After confirming that all details are correct, you will sign the rental contract and authorize the pre-payment by swiping your credit card.
After completing the formalities, go to the designated parking area to pick up the car, check the condition of the car, take photos for record, and then depart when you are ready. Allow one to two hours for the pick-up process, especially if there are many travelers and the waiting time for the shuttle bus is long.
Warm reminder: If you choose Sky Horse to rent a car, you don't need to go to the car rental center, you can just pick up your luggage and hand it over to the car rental agent outside the terminal building, which saves you a lot of time and energy, and you don't need to carry your luggage for the whole group, and you don't need to bear the surcharge at the airport.If using Turo, be aware that pickup from LAX is available for a limited number of owners, but usually requires an additional airport fee.
- For more information, please refer toU.S. Car Rental Tips
Things to note when renting a car and driving in Los Angeles
Traffic rules and driving habits
Most of the locals in Los Angeles use cars as their main means of transportation, so there is a lot of traffic, many routes and complexity. For first-time travelers to Los Angeles, it takes a little bit of getting used to, but as long as you understand the following rules, which are different from those in Taiwan, you usually won't encounter too many problems.
- Stop Sign: Regardless of whether there is oncoming traffic or not, drivers must brake and stop, and then follow the principle of "first come, first served".
- Right turn on red: At most intersections, you can make a right turn on red as long as there is no special sign prohibiting it. However, you must come to a "complete stop" and make sure it is safe to make the turn.
When driving on highways, except for overtaking, you should avoid occupying the inside express lane as much as possible, and return to the outside lane as soon as possible after overtaking. This is the consensus of local drivers, and helps to maintain the overall traffic flow. This is the consensus of local drivers and helps to maintain the overall smooth flow of traffic. If you are driving at a slower speed, occupying the inside lane for a long period of time will increase the chances of being forced to drive or honked at. In addition, the U.S. has "Carpool Lane" or HOVs written on the ground. These lanes usually only allow two (or more) people in the vehicle and are marked with specific hours of use, so those unfamiliar with these lanes are advised to avoid them.
Traffic jams are common in Los Angeles during commute hours. When planning your trip, remember to factor in traffic jams or try to avoid peak hours (7am-10am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays). A 10-15 minute ride can take up to 45 minutes or more during commuting hours. This will not only minimize the delay caused by traffic congestion, but also make the whole journey more relaxing and enjoyable.
Parking Regulations
One of the headaches for many overseas travelers when driving in Los Angeles is parking.
In the U.S., parking regulations are mostly based on roadside signs and curb colors, rather than on clearly defined parking compartments. Many urban streets are not even marked, and it is up to the driver to read the roadside signs or parking meters to make a judgment. Be careful when you first visit the area to avoid being ticketed or even towed for inadvertent parking or overtime.
In California, you can see the color-coded lines on the map below for on-street parking:
In addition to the color of the curb markings, there is another type of "vertical sign" that informs drivers of the parking regulations of the roadway, which can be seen in the following diagram for details:
If you need to park on-street, be sure to check for nearby signs and payment devices, and see if the street needs to be swept at certain times of the day, which is clearly indicated on signs. Most cities now support app-based parking payments, such as ParkMobile, which makes it easy to add money to your phone when you're running out of time without having to go back to your parking spot!
It is also recommended to park in a well-lit, well-trafficked area or in a parking lot that is staffed and monitored to reduce the risk of vandalism or window breakage and theft.
- For more information on parking in the United States, please refer to the following article:Parking Tips in the U.S.
personal safety
Law and order in Los AngelesDepending on the area and there is a big difference, such as in the tourist attractions Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and other places of law and order is very good, not too worried, but at the same time there are like broken windows, theft or violence frequently spread Skid Row, Watts (Watts), is very unsuitable for self-driving more stops, if you have to go through, but also try to choose the daytime and to avoid solo action.
If you are traveling to a national park, in the countryside, or at a highway rest stop, you don't usually have to worry too much. However, when parking in urban areas, pay particular attention to your surroundings. If you see broken glass on the ground, or if your surroundings are too secluded or dark, or if few people are passing by, you should change your parking place. Do not leave anything in the car, even a water bottle or an empty paper bag may attract criminals. In addition, do not cover the windows with black cloth or cardboard boxes, as this will attract attention and give thieves the impression that there are valuables inside.
If you are forced to drive, follow a car or are harassed while traveling, try to remain calm, do not engage in any head-on confrontation, change your route or pull over, and call 911 to report the incident as appropriate. Keep your car doors locked at all times, and if strangers or hobos approach you while waiting for a red light, don't open the window to interact with them or drive them away, just focus on the traffic in front of you and wait for the light to turn green.
- For more information about policing in Los Angeles and a guide to driving safety at Los Angeles Police Conditions and Driving Safety Guide In one article.
Eight useful apps for renting a car and driving in Los Angeles
We recommend eight apps that you can download to your phone in advance to help you face the self-driving process of navigating routes, solving parking problems, finding cheap gas stations, and keeping up with wildfires, which can improve the efficiency and safety of your trip.
navigation
- Google MapsGoogle Maps is the most practical mapping tool in the world, with accurate positioning, a familiar interface, and the ability to find information on attractions and traffic hour forecasts in addition to navigational functions. Especially in the U.S., Google Maps is updated very quickly, sometimes even car accidents and road repairs will be displayed on the map immediately.
- WazeIt is also a free mapping app that allows users to upload road conditions in real time, alerting them to unexpected situations such as car accidents, construction, speed checks or police patrols, making it especially suitable for use when driving in the city or on highways.
parking
- SpotHeroSearch for parking spaces near your destination, view real-time prices and available spaces, and book and pay in advance online for long term parking, popular attractions or events, sometimes at a better price than on-site.
- BestParkingThe main function of price comparison is to quickly find the surrounding private parking lots, displaying the difference in charges and time limits of different time slots and locations, which is suitable for finding cheap and close parking spaces in the urban area.
- ParkMobileThe App is a payment app for on-street and public parking lots. Enter the area code displayed on the roadside to pay, or add time remotely on the App to save the hassle of having to go back to the parking lot to make the payment.
refueling
Unlike the gas prices in Taiwan, which are consistent across all regions, gas prices in the U.S. vary greatly from station to station, city to city, and even company to company. For travelers renting a car and driving on their own, choosing a gas station with cheaper gas prices will save your wallet on the overall trip.
- GasBuddyThe price of gas can be displayed in real time, so you can pick a gas station near you, sometimes with a slight detour, but still with a better price. (Google Maps also shows gas prices, but not always in real time.)
- FuelioThis app records the amount, price and mileage of gasoline during the trip, which is very convenient if you want to control the budget, or if you want to share the gas money with your friends.
In addition, taking into accountCalifornia wildfires are frequent(Especially from June to October), if you plan to drive to the countryside, national parks or mountains, we recommend you to download this app to have a better understanding of the risks:
- Watch Duty: Instant Disaster Reporting App designed for California to stay on top of forest fires, mountain fire spread, evacuation warnings and emergency updates for drivers traveling to remote areas or mountain roads.
Be prepared and feel at ease with your car rental self-drive tour in Los Angeles!
Whether you're traveling for sightseeing or business, renting a car and driving in Los Angeles can greatly increase the flexibility and comfort of your trip, and allow you to explore more of the city.Public Transportation SystemHard to reach routes and attractions. Although you may be a little anxious about driving in a foreign country, you can find out more about it with ourSelf-Driving Tips ArticlesIf you know the rental process, traffic rules, parking habits, and various notes beforehand, and use a practical APP to assist in route planning and parking payment, you can reduce the risk and anxiety.
Furthermore, choosing a reputable Sky Horse car rental company with transparent pricing and caring service is the key to driving with peace of mind! If you have any questions, just contact us through LINESky Horse offers a wide range of services, from pre-rental inquiries, to problems encountered during the trip, to billing after the return of the car, all of which can be handled directly by our specialists. With Sky Horse as your companion, you are sure to enjoy a wonderful road trip through sunny beaches and mountainous forests in California!
