First time car hire

[flassh]

Hey guys, sorry if this has been asked I am just a little confused with the whole renting thing! This will be my first holiday to the US with friends and not with my family. Also, this is the first time I have rented a car...

At the time of going i'll be 21 and I am aware of the young driver package and have a quote of £422 from uscarhire.co.uk I am just wondering about the payment...

Do Alamo take a security deposit upon collection of the car from my credit card? If so does anybody know how much that would be?

One last question, how easy did you find it driving on the wrong side of the road?

I'm not going till february 2012 so I have quite some time to find the answers. But, any help now would be fantastic so I can book everything

Thanks in advance for your help.

Lauren.

[lynnroy]

Don;t think they take a deposit but you do have to produce your credit card and think they prob take an imprint.
Very easy to drive on the other side of the road- you get used to it very quickly- good idea though to read up on the US driving rules though as there are a few differences to UK. All the cars are automatics too so a bit wierd if you've not driven one before but again easy to get used to and I hated going back to my manual gearbox.

[flassh]

Hey lynnroy thanks for a quick reply. Oh right, so if they take an imprint that fine. So i don't have to worry about putting money aside for that.

I have a manual here in the uk. I will have a read now, I heard that you can turn right on a red light?!

thanks again,
Lauren.

[Clare R]

You can turn Right On Red unless it states that you can't

STOP signs mean EXACTLY that, no matter if it is dark and not another vehicle to be seen

On Interstates there is no requirement to drive on the inside lane; best to pick a lane and stay there. Vehicles will pass on either side but people generally just stay in their lane.

When turnling left at lights don't inch forward to the middle of the junction to try and nip in between the traffic, stay where you are at the lights and wait until it is really clear.

When turning left some of the junctions are very 'big' just be careful and watch exactly where you are going.

If you come across a roundabout/traffic circle (there are not too many) the British have more idea than the Americans how to use these so be patient with other traffic who may not react as you would.

[flassh]

Wow thanks clare r [msnsmile]Thats really helped me! I think i am definately going to rent a car. Thanks alot Lauren x

[Albert the Frog]

As well as reading up on the major "rule" differences if I was giving advice I'd say drive sensibly, take your time, and be considerate of others-and don't panic-the biggest problem for me is after a few days when I've relaxed and revert to the British way-I tell my co drivers to shout at me instantly if this happens-telling them it's ok to tell you does seem to buy the few seconds you need to snap back into it.
Having said that I find it a pleasure driving in Florida