While the maximum speed limit in Delaware is 65 mph, you’ll want to pay attention to posted limits as some areas (such as urban interstate highways) have lower limits. While driving in Delaware, you may use your mobile phone as long as the device is in hands-free mode. Delaware forbids texting at any time while driving a vehicle. Delaware requires that all children be secured in an appropriate car seat until they reach eight years of age or weigh 65 pounds. Children aged under twelve or who are less than 65 inches tall must ride in the back seat.
Delaware has a wide array of well-designed and well-maintained roads, from interstate highways to back-country gravel lanes. When you rent a vehicle in Delaware, you will simply need to consider the time of year in which you’ll be driving and the destinations on your itinerary. For example, if you will be driving in an urban setting during the summer, then a standard two-wheel drive vehicle should be fine. In the winter, however, you may want to consider a four-wheel-drive vehicle, especially in rural areas, as Delaware can certainly experience heavy snow and ice events.
It’s always a good idea to plan ahead and be prepared when driving in a new state. In Delaware, it is recommended that you consider your itinerary and destination regarding toll roads. For example, the Delaware Turnpike is a fast and convenient way to travel in the state, but there is a cost to using the road. For this reason, it’s a good idea to make sure you have either a credit card or sufficient cash on-hand while driving in Delaware in the event you need to pay for a toll road. It may be to your advantage to ask if toll road passes are available with your rental.
FAQs about renting a car in Delaware
Whether you come for a short business trip or a long-term family visit, it’s always a great idea to rent a car in Delaware. Imagine the freedom of renting an SUV and visiting Killens Pond State Park for a camping trip. Or perhaps loading the family into a rental van for a weekend trip to Bethany Beach? Of course, sometimes we all have to get down to business, and there’s nothing more convenient than renting your own sedan for meetings in downtown Dover or perhaps heading over to New Castle to meet a new client.
Driving in Delaware is easy, with major interstate highways like I-95, I-295, or I-495, as well as toll roads like the Delaware Turnpike keeping the state well-connected. The maximum speed limit in Delaware is 65 mph, with residential areas limited to 35 mph. It’s always important to watch for posted speed limits while driving in this state, as some areas may have local restrictions (such as work zones). Although Delaware can experience famous “Nor’easter” snowstorms in winter, the state does an excellent job of quickly clearing the roads.
Delaware’s laws regarding the age at which you can rent a car are generally in line with most other states in America. You can begin legally driving in Delaware from the age of sixteen, however, to rent a car you will need to be at least twenty one years old and possess a valid driver’s license. Although twenty one years is the legal minimum to rent a vehicle in Delaware, you should note that some rental agencies may add an “underage” surcharge to your rental if you are under the age of twenty five. This surcharge may be daily or simply for the rental agreement as a whole. Regardless of age, be prepared to present ID and other documents when renting your vehicle.
Economy (Ford Fiesta or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Delaware.
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Delaware are Enterprise (8.3, 111 reviews), and Hertz (6.5, 89 reviews).
Based on car searches on KAYAK. The most popular cities to rent a car in Delaware are Newark (50% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Delaware). Dover (33%) and Wilmington (17%).