Comments | brits_americans: Newly qualified driver in US

jessiac in brits_americans

Newly qualified driver in US

Aug 10, 2007 18:17

I am a learner driver in the UK, and I expect to pass my test in around three weeks. I would like to visit the USA in around June next year, and because of all the horror stories surrounding public transport I would like to rent a car. So I have three questions ( Read more... )

driving (us)

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fatenoir August 10 2007, 17:26:37 UTC

1) how old are you? rental companies here in the states vary on what age they will rent to. no clue in the international license aspects.

2) depends on the city - some cities are FANTASTIC and you couldnt pay me own a car in many of them. where are you going?

3)in my personal experience driving an automatic is a thousand times easier than driving a manual, esp in a 'foreing to you' car. im uncertain you would even be able to rent a manual here in the state tbh.

jessiac August 10 2007, 17:29:41 UTC

I would be 19 when I took the trip. I'm kind of apprehensive about automatics because I would never have used one before and I would probably be pressing imaginary clutches and trying to move non-existant gear levers. No manual renting? bah. I suppose I would have to look it up.

fatenoir August 10 2007, 17:35:15 UTC

i think its very easy to adjust to an automatic, as the name implie. it is automatic.

i think you are over stressing a bit.

when you first start driving im sure you would hit the break accidenatally while accelorating, as the break in automatics are where you would be used to the clutch. but its just stop. go. just use your right foot. done and done. as far as trying to change gears there maybe a the gear shift where a manual is, but most automatics require you to push a button to change anything so no harm no foul. others have the gearshift at the steering wheel so you wouldnt have to worry. all depends on make of car.

19 - you will pay around 25$ more per day as age penalty. not all rental agencies rent to the under 21 - so you would have to check around.

dirkcjelli August 10 2007, 17:35:58 UTC

It'll be very hard to rent a car, then... and it is probably not a bright idea.

If you're going a relatively short distance, you can always take a cab... if not, then a bus is probably your best option.

jessiac August 10 2007, 17:40:28 UTC

Thanks. I probably will take the bus after reading these comments...I don't think renting is worth the expense and the high blood pressure of trying to get used to automatic driving and US road markings.

dellaran August 10 2007, 17:49:03 UTC

You'll have a lot of trouble renting a car because of your age. There are exceptions, but most major car rental companies won't rent to anyone under 25 ( ... )

jessiac August 10 2007, 17:54:57 UTC

Thanks for the information. Under 25? Whoa, that's annoying. But understandable I suppose, although considering that most US drivers seem to learn when they're 15/16 isn't that a little odd? Having reviewed most of the answers I think the best option would be for me to take the Greyhound, unless someone I meet at Camp America wants to go on a road trip with me! Thanks for the link. It sounds so..easy to drive automatic! I mean the whole havapalava of stopping when you drive manual...break, clutch down, first gear, handbreak, clutch up, accelerator, handbreak down, move off is just cut out.

I've always wanted to see the more rural parts of the US, and I would like to get some walking done as well. It would have been great to rent a car, just for the personal mobility side of things, but it seems that it's probably a non-starter.

Not your primary question, but... perpetua_redux August 10 2007, 18:10:01 UTC

that most US drivers seem to learn when they're 15/16 isn't that a little odd

They 'learn', but they are by far the most accident-prone age group. Insurance costs for that age group are horrific (even for families with teen and under-26 drivers). I'm sure insurance issues dictate the decisions of the rental companies.

(The comment has been removed)

Re: Not your primary question, but... perpetua_redux August 10 2007, 18:22:52 UTC

Yes, I started to say that as well. Many teenagers have minimal real driving skills, because the test (in my state anyway) is simply about knowing rudimentary traffic laws and manuevering the vehicle.

Re: Not your primary question, but... jessiac August 10 2007, 18:24:15 UTC

I have heard stories about being told to drive around a car park and then being passed, but I did think they were a bit of an exaggeration. When I go to America I didn't notic the driving being that bad, and it's certainly no worse than London. In fact, learning to drive in London is great. It's almost gauranteed that anywhere else you go will be at least the same level/easier. Do American learners have to do manoeuvers/50-question long theory and hazard tests?

Re: Not your primary question, but... dancingxstar August 10 2007, 18:35:54 UTC

A bit of an exaggeration, but not necessarily far off the truth. My mum did her US driving test in New Jersey, and it wasn't on the road -- it was on a course which they knew before they took the test, and they knew exactly what they needed to do. She said basically if you could parallel park, you'd pass the test; that was the only part you'd be at all likely to fail.

Re: Not your primary question, but... heyiya August 10 2007, 18:36:28 UTC

Having taken both the UK and US (California) test, I can say that the US one is MUCH easier. No manoeuvres except pulling up and reversing in a straight line, no roundabouts! And the written test is half the length of the British one and way easier. No stopping distances!

That said, when I first drove in the US I was very inexperienced, having newly passed my test back home. And it was really scary to be on the other side of the road. I wouldn't do it unless you can have an experienced American driver in the passenger seat.

I have travelled plenty in the US with public transit. If you choose your destinations based on where the buses and trains go rather than picking a place and then trying to get there on public transport, you'll be fine even outside major cities. The Rough Guide or something can probably help.

Re: Not your primary question, but... anditron August 10 2007, 21:47:30 UTC

Why do you have the excessive use of the handbrake? I've yet to understand that one. When I lived there everyone used the handbrake and I was baffled as to why. Can't really remember anyone explaining it to me very well.

Along with that, and I'm not trying to sound mean or whatever here, but every English person I've known or read about learning to drive, always seems so incredibly nervous about it. It seems to be such an incredible ordeal for them. Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it, maybe it's because it is treated so casually in the states, maybe it's just my personality reading it that way, I'm not sure. It just seems that people are super anxious in the first year maybe even two of driving. I remember being nervous maybe through my lessons and the first couple of times I was with my parents, but after that, it was no big deal.

Is it because so much more is involved in the UK tests? Maybe stricter guidelines? Or is it just our lazy US ways that have made me chill about it?

Re: Not your primary question, but... zerbey August 10 2007, 21:58:43 UTC

Because it's much easier to teach clutch control if the handbrake is on, you don't roll backwards.

Re: Not your primary question, but... chocolate_jen August 10 2007, 22:06:51 UTC

Firstly, not using the handbrake when you stopped for more than a few seconds (at lights or whatever) is an incredibly stupid idea. If someone drives into the back of your car while you have your handbrake on, you jolt, oh dear, then it's over. If someone hits your car WITHOUT your handbrake on you will shoot away because there is no traction. You could smack into the car in front of you or into oncoming traffic. Not fun ( ... )

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