The US is not the place to drive around under insured and you will find that the cost of paying the insurance extra is much greater if you wait until you get out there.

The package includes Loss Damage Waiver, Supplementary Liability Insurance,
one additional driver, unlimited mileage, state taxes, local taxes,
airport surcharges and no excess.

Minimum driver age is 25.

2 nominated drivers are included but further names can be added
for $7 per day per driver and this is payable on pick up.

sat nav
You can order a hand held Sat Nav device for around $8 a day.
The device can be pre-ordered but you pay locally on collection.

hire cars
All hire cars have air conditioning and automatic transmission.

The size of car supplied depends on the number sharing . This is normally
Sub Compact 2 door car for 2 sharing and 7 seater minivan or
5 seater SUV (4 wheel drive) for 3 to 4 sharing.

For larger parties we will inform you at the time of confirmation
what vehicle combination we have recommended.

Complete the relevant section on the booking form if you wish to specify the
number of vehicles required and we will notify you of any additional cost.

hire procedures
On pick up you are not always asked to inspect the vehicle. If you are not asked
to do this we recommend that you still have a good look for any damage and
insist that this is recorded before you drive away.

When you pick up your vehicle you will be asked for a credit card which they will swipe.
Don't be alarmed. Provided you have paid us for full insurance cover you have nothing further to pay. They need the imprint in the event that further charges arise, see below.

The drop off time will be stipulated and there is usually a grace period of only 59 minutes. We believe this is not in the agreement so may not be given. We recommend therfore that you do not rely on it. What this means is that if you are more than 59 minutes late returning the vehicle you will be charged for an extra days hire. So it is better to arrive well before the stipulated drop off time and spend more time at the airport.

If the deal is to return the vehicle with a full tank make sure that you do that. Otherwise the hire company will charge far more per gallon than you would pay at the pump.

You will not necessarily be told anything at the time of drop off and any extra charges
will appear on your credit card in due course.

If, unfortunately, the vehicle has been damaged during your hire period we recommend pointing out the damage when you return it. This way you will be able to find out exactly what they intend to do about it. It is much easier to argue the toss then than from the UK months later when you find out about it.

driving directions
When we send you your information pack you will receive driving directions from the airport to your resort location together with a map of the Myrtle Beach area.

driving in the US
Apart from having to drive on the wrong side of the road driving in the US is pretty easy as they drive slower than we do! However we find we need to be rather more alert in the US. And rather frustratingly they do tend to hog the faster lane so undertaking is the norm.
But please do be careful doing this. We find that some roads and turning are not as well illuminated as we are used to. So please be extra vigilant driving in the dark.

Here are a few tips to help you.

• You can turn right at a red light if the coast is clear unless the signs tell you otherwise.
• Speed limits are posted on most roads but the national speed limit is 55mph. They are particularly sensitive to people speeding in built up areas, especially in small towns. And the fines are huge.
• Seat belts are mandatory.
• If you are using your windscreen wipers you must have your headlights on by law.
• It is unlawful to pass a stationary school bus in either direction. If you see a school bus pull over and put his stop sign out this means you!
• Petrol, sorry, gas is a lot cheaper than in the UK so you don't have to worry too much about mileage. Most petrol pumps have a credit card swipe system so you don't have to go in and pay unless you wish to buy something. Their pumps are a little different to ours but instructions are provided. Most gas stations have well stocked shops usually with take away coffee and hot snacks.
• Most American vehicles have numerous safety features in the form of warning beeps if you don't operate them correctly. For instance starting the engine before you put your seat belt on will instigate a beep - very annoying!.
• Parking is no problem. All shops and malls have huge car parks and the only meters are along Ocean Boulevard in the summer months.

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