Houston, Texas, is a city that has been known for years for its link to space exploration. That is why trips to Space Center Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the NASA Johnson Space Center are such popular destinations for car rentals in Houston. Interstate 10 is the main east-west interstate through the city and Interstate 45 is the main north-south interstate through the city. There is a Beltway that consists of Highways 8 and 288 that can take you around the outskirts of the entire city limit. There is generally a fair amount of parking available in the Downtown Houston area, and on evenings and all day, Sunday parking is free. With well over 30 rental car locations in the Houston area, it’s easy to find a cheap car rental in Houston in any part of the city and surrounding areas.
While visiting, is it worthwhile to rent a car while visiting Houston?
One of the great things about car rentals in Houston is that it lets you take advantage of the city's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The gulf coast city of Galveston is only about one hour away by car. In a large city like Houston, there can be several times during the day when driving is difficult with the evening rush hour often starting in the afternoon and going later into the evening. In the mornings, slow traffic occurs when most people head to work. When driving your rental car in Houston, one area to avoid during rush hour is the Galleria Mall, which is the largest mall in Texas. Because Houston is relatively spread out, it is not very walkable and as such it is a good idea to have a car to get around this expansive city.
What different driving laws should I keep in mind while driving in Houston?
While driving laws of Texas are fairly standard, there are some unique laws you may want to know about before driving your car rental in Houston. For example, you can’t leave your vehicle without setting the parking brake, and you can’t leave your car unattended with the keys in the ignition. You also cannot open the door of your car while on a public street in a traffic lane nor operate your car without windshield wipers. Drivers in Houston drive on the right side of the road and all occupants of the vehicle must be wearing a seatbelt. For specifics regarding the city’s driving laws, check with the motor vehicle department to keep up-to-date with all the current driving laws.
Can I drive into Mexico with a rental car from Houston, TX?
With the city in such a close proximity to the border, it’s common for visitors to use car rentals in Houston for quick trips to nearby cities in Mexico. Car rental companies typically allow their customers to do this, but it is always best to check with your selected company ahead of time to ensure that you will not be breaching your rental contract. If you drive to Mexico, you must have Mexican automobile liability insurance prior to crossing the border. You can generally obtain this through your car rental company and simply pay an additional fee at the end of your rental period. Make sure that you have a government-issued driver’s license that does not have an expiration date that falls during your rental. Since you will be traveling internationally, you will also need either a valid passport or passport card.
Can you rent a rental car in Houston without a credit card?
Many companies prefer their customers to pay for car rentals in Houston with credit cards, even cheap car rentals in Houston, but there are some alternative payment methods available. For example, if you decide to pay with a debit card, there could be certain age restrictions, and you may be asked to pay a deposit or provide several additional documents, like proof of address or proof of insurance. Although rare, it is possible to find companies that allow their customers to pay with cash, checks, or traveler’s checks. As with debit cards, there may be additional steps if you choose to pay with these methods. We always advise contacting your rental company to ensure that your preferred payment method is accepted, as well as to verify what the payment process will be.
What documents does an international traveler need to rent a car in Houston?
Even if you do not have a driver’s license from the United States, you may still be able to reserve Houston car rentals if you have the proper paperwork, including an electric car rental, a passenger van rental, or an economy car rental. A majority of rental car companies will accept international driver’s licenses. Otherwise, you may be able to use your foreign driver’s license, particularly if the key information is in an alphabet that is Latin-based. If this is not the case, your rental company may allow for you to have the document officially translated. Most companies will need to see your physical passport, and they will often make a photocopy of it in order to keep it in your file. In Texas, you need to be at least 21 years old to rent a vehicle. For younger drivers, it’s important to keep in mind that those under the age of 25 will likely need to pay an additional fee.