Driving in the U.S. is a dream vacation for many people, but for those who don't speak English well or don't have friends or family in the country, renting a car can be a challenge. Whether it's the unfamiliar process of renting a car, picking up and returning a car that requires English language communication, problems with overseas credit cards, or confirming a contract, understanding insurance and local traffic rules, it can be nerve-wracking. This article introduces the general process of renting a car in the United States, as well as Sky Horse's additional Chinese language service, which helps you to rent a car in the United States without having to speak English and without having friends or family.
Car Rental Process in the United States
Regardless of which car rental company you choose, the process of renting and returning a car is similar and consists of the following four steps:
Step 1 Online Booking
When renting a car in the United States, it is recommended that you make your reservation through the official website beforehand to avoid disrupting your trip. Most car rental companies only have English websites, but a few large companies such as Hertz and Avis have Chinese websites that can help you understand the content. After confirming your reservation, you will usually receive a reservation confirmation letter providing information about the pickup and estimated amount (not the final cost, many fees such as insurance, taxes, airport surcharges, extra driving fees, young driver fees, prepaid gas, etc. may be calculated at the counter).
Sky Horse offers a full Chinese website to help you choose your rental model, rental date, and rental location in easy-to-understand language, and shows you the final cost including insurance when you make a deposit. In addition, after confirming your rental, Sky Horse will provide you with a driving guide in Chinese, which will help you learn about American driving habits, fueling methods, traffic rules and other details, as well as the more difficult to find information on snow driving, snow chain installation and other notes and instructions.
Step 2 Arrive at the car rental point to pick up the car
After arriving in the U.S., pick up your rental car according to your reservation. Most rental car companies have locations at airports or in city centers. If you are picking up your rental car at the airport, look for the "Rental Car" sign and follow the instructions to the different terminals, or take a shuttle bus to the pickup point near the airport. Same day rentals are subject to availability and it is not possible to know in advance which car will be rented.
Sky Horse through LINE After confirming that customers have collected their luggage, Chinese-speaking staff will drive the booked car directly outside the terminal building to pick up and complete the car collection procedures, avoiding any language barriers that may cause distress and saving a lot of transportation time.
Step 3 Payment of Fees and Security Deposit
When you pick up the car, the rental company will ask for a pre-authorized credit card for payment of the rental fee, deposit, subsequent tickets or tolls, etc. The full amount will be charged on the day of pickup, and then refunded or recharged according to the actual cost after the car is returned. Be on the spot to see if there are any unnecessary insurances or fees attached to your credit card at the counter. If you receive a credit card statement and find that the amount is different, you will need to email or call the car rental company in English for a refund or to coordinate, which is a very tedious process for the average overseas traveler, and many will consider themselves unlucky and give up trying to recover the money.
Sky Horse will show you the final cost of your rental at the time of booking. You only need to pay a deposit when booking, and any additional traffic tickets, unpaid parking fees, or highway tolls will be clearly stated when you return the car, so there are no hidden fees. Travelers with questions can contact us at LINE The process is fast and efficient with direct inquiries and no time lag.
Step 4 Vehicle Inspection
After signing the contract and paying the pre-authorization amount, the rental agent will provide you with the documents and guide you to the parking lot to pick up the car (the keys are usually left in the car). After picking up the car, it is recommended to check the exterior and interior of the car for any damage, record the fuel level and mileage on the dashboard, and take photos and videos of the whole process to avoid any subsequent disputes.
Step 5 Return the car at the end of the trip
At the end of the trip, return the car at the place and time you have reserved. Each U.S. car rental company has a slightly different method of returning the car at different times and locations. There are two general categories, which you need to check with the person at the counter when you rent a car.
- Self-Return: Drive your car directly to the reserved parking lot, park it, put the key into the key box, and fill in the return time by yourself.
- Manual Return: Drive your vehicle to the designated return location and return the keys to the parking lot or office staff.
After returning the vehicle, the staff will check whether the fuel tank is the same as when the vehicle was picked up (usually full), the condition of the vehicle, and the mileage limit of the vehicle, if any, will also be calculated.
Sky Horse provides a service where travelers can choose where they want to return the car. Whether it's the airport or an urban hotel, there will be Chinese-speaking staff on site to hand over the car to you, take photos to confirm the condition, and then drive the car away, making the process much easier and smoother, so you don't have to worry about not being able to read the English signs, not being able to understand the English explanations or not being able to find anyone to ask when you're wandering around in the parking lot of the car rental company. When you rent a car with Sky Horse, if you have any questions about any of the charges, you can ask them directly online!
Renting a car and driving in the United States is no longer an unattainable dream!
You've always wanted to rent a car and drive in the U.S., but you've always been hesitant to do so because you don't speak English well enough and you don't have friends or family who can help you. With Sky Horse's Chinese-language service, your dream is no longer out of reach. From booking, to picking up the car, to returning the car, there are Chinese contents and native Chinese speaking staff to support you, even if you encounter problems or unexpected situations during the driving tour, you can still use the service through the LINE Get instant information and help. Because Sky Horse is your most reliable driving partner in the United States!
Book your vehicle now through our easy-to-understand Chinese website and head out on an open road trip across the U.S. West!
🎉 2025 Spring and Winter Vacation Car Rental Rebate [ sh2025 ] Offer Countdown is on!🎉
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
