Inspiration
Scenic routes, road trip ideas and places worth pulling over for.
Car hire: USA & Canada
Hit the road and explore the USA and Canada your way. With car hire, you’ve got the freedom to take in big-name cities, wide-open landscapes and all the brilliant detours in between.
You can book car hire on its own, choose a flydrive (flight + car) for maximum flexibility and great value, or make it part of a holiday package that includes your vehicle.
Plan your drive
Whether you’re here for road trip inspiration or the practical bits before you book, we’ll help you find your way.
Car insurance details
What’s included, what to check, and how it works in the USA and Canada.
Things to know
Useful tips for driving, tolls and planning your journey.
However you roll, we've got you covered
Drive somewhere brilliant
Big landscapes, little detours, cities with serious main-character energy - the USA and Canada were made for exploring by car.
Whether you’re planning a classic road trip, adding a few scenic stops to your holiday, or just want the freedom to go where the day takes you, we’ve got plenty of ideas to get you moving.
See the USA & Canada your way
Handpicked itineraries
From Route 66 to the Pacific Highway, the USA offers you an open-road experience like no other. Every town is different, every view is worth a picture, and every gas station stop will make you feel like a true 21st century pioneer, discovering the marvels of this amazing continent for the first time.
Route 66
Let's get the obvious one out of the way first. Route 66 takes you from Chicago to California, slap-bang through the middle of America. If you've only ever clung to the East or West Coast regions, then it's time to discover the 'real' America. Cruise through Kansas, wander through Wyoming, and make tracks through Missouri.
The Rockies
Magnificent, insanely big, and one of the true natural wonders of America, driving through the Rockies in a hire car is the experience of a lifetime. A word of advice - it gets cold up there so don't go for a convertible; pick a saloon with a good heater.
Explore the Sunshine State
Florida is a diverse state offering thrills and spills in Orlando, bright lights in Miami, and the calming sound of the waves against the sand on the Gulf Coast. So why should you limit yourself to just one destination. Fly into Tampa, Orlando or Miami and pick up a car, and explore it all!
Niagara Falls
You can't hire a car in Canada and not visit the Niagara Falls. In fact if your car hire in the USA starts in Boston or New York, it'll be easy to simply hop over the border and combine the two countries into one epic road trip. This is one spot you have to tick off your bucket list.
City Breaks
North America’s cities all have their own brilliant personality. Cruise between LA’s starry sights and San Francisco’s laid-back neighbourhoods, take in Boston’s historic charm, Washington DC’s landmark moments or Toronto’s skyline, waterfront and buzzing food scene. Many cities are laid out in easy-to-navigate blocks too, making them ideal for exploring with a car.
Calgary, uncovered
Not all of Canada is mountainous - the region around Calgary changes from rolling hills to open plains studded with little towns along the way. If you love antiques then this is a great place to go exploring, as you'll often find 'mom and pop' at the side of the road. It's snowy in the winter, but warm in the summer, so a great spot for a summer road trip with a difference.
We’ve put together a few favourite road trip ideas to make planning brilliantly easy. Each one comes with suggested hotels, sensible driving routes and plenty of places worth pausing for, from coast-hugging roads and national parks to cities made for a little extra exploring.
Use them as they are, or ask our travel experts to tweak the route, hotels or stopovers to suit you. Fly in, pick up the keys and enjoy a holiday that feels made for the way you like to travel.
Classic Pacific Coast Highway • 14 days
Discover California’s iconic coastline with scenic drives, charming towns, ocean views and unforgettable West Coast adventures.
Northern California Nature & Wine • 7 to 10 days
Experience towering redwoods, world-class vineyards, mountain lakes and national parks on this indulgent Northern California escape.
Southern California Dreaming • 8 days
Enjoy beaches, desert escapes, vibrant cities and sunshine-filled days on this iconic Southern California road trip.
National Parks Adventure • 7 to 12 days
Explore dramatic valleys, giant forests, vast deserts and starry skies on an unforgettable American national parks journey.
Flydrive deals
Create your own adventure.
If you’d rather set the pace, our Flydrive packages give you the flexibility to travel your way. Simply combine your Virgin Atlantic flight with car hire and hit the road.
Everything booked together, ATOL protected, and secured with just a deposit for added peace of mind.
Choose the cover that suits your trip
Every road trip looks a little different. A quick city stop, a coast-to-coast adventure, a family flydrive with a boot full of snacks, and they all come with different needs. That’s why we offer a choice of car hire insurance packages, so you can pick the level of cover that feels right for your plans.
Compare the options below, check what’s included, and get ready to enjoy the road ahead with confidence.
USA package options
Canada package options
Hertz Go
This package includes:
- Loss Damage Waiver - covers damage to your own car. Zero excess in the event of an accident.
- Liability third party insurance up to $300,000
- PERS - additional cover for a callout in teh event of lost keys, flat battery or a fuel shortage
- 4 additional drivers
- Taxes and fees
Hertz Go Plus
This package includes all of the cover provided in Hertz Go, as well as:
- 1 GPS unit rental
- 1 Tank of fuel (return car empty)
Hertz Go Premier
This package includes all of the cover provided in Hertz Go Plus, as well as:
- Unlimited child/infant seats seats
- 1 young driver fee (aged between 20-24)
Hertz Go
This package includes:
- Loss Damage Waiver - covers damage to your own car. CAD$500 excess in the event of an accident
- Liability third party insurance up to CAD$1,000,000
- PERS - additional cover for a callout in teh event of lost keys, flat battery or a fuel shortage
- 4 additional drivers
- Taxes and fees
Hertz Go Plus
This package includes all of the cover provided in Hertz Go, as well as:
- 1 GPS unit rental
- 1 Tank of fuel (return car empty)
Hertz Go Premier
This package includes all of the cover provided in Hertz Go Plus, as well as:
- Unlimited child/infant seats seats
- 1 young driver fee (aged between 20-24)
Good to know before you go
New roads, new rules, new reasons to pull over for the view. Before you set off, we’ve gathered a few useful driving tips for the USA and Canada, covering the practical bits like tolls, age requirements, local road rules and what to watch for along the way.
So you can spend less time wondering, and more time enjoying the drive.
Driving in the States
Canada road-notes
Mileage charts
With so many destinations in America and Canada and so little time, we have put together dedicated mileage charts. These will allow you to see many exciting places in one visit!
Rest of USA and Canada mileage chart
Please note that all miles given are approximate.
More details
To view the latest Canada T&C's please click here.
To view the latest USA T&C's please click here.
If you're looking to rent a car for just a one-way journey, an additional cahrge will apply, which is paid locally when picking up the vehicle.
Please click here to see the details one-way fees in the USA.
Please click here to see the details one-way fees in Canada.