All vehicle occupants should be in a seatbelt when driving in North Carolina, while children under the age of eight or less than 80 pounds should be in a safety seat. Younger kids below five should be either in a forward-facing or rear-facing car seat, while those above five should transition to a booster seat before graduating to the adult seatbelt. If you don’t have your car seat with you, you can rent one from the rental counter.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best attractions in North Carolina. If you’re driving up to the mountains, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, have enough gas. Most people don’t realize that driving up steep grades requires more fuel, and up in the mountains, gas stations and cellphone service are something of a rarity, and you don’t want to run out of gas there. Stay alert and use your headlights when required. Ensure you have your headlights on when driving at dusk or dawn, night, and when there is bad weather.
There are a few beaches in North Carolina, and a trip to these beaches is more than encouraged. Driving is allowed on most of the beaches in North Carolina. However, only all-terrain rentals and 4WD rentals will manage traveling on the beach with the beach’s soft sand. So, get yourself an AWD SUV or truck with enough space for your beach gear for a fun weekend on the shores of North Carolina.
25% of our users found rental cars in North Carolina for C$ 63 or less
Book your rental car in North Carolina at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Off-airport rental car locations in North Carolina are around 14% cheaper than airport locations on average
Full-size rental cars in North Carolina are around -16% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in North Carolina
You will need a North Carolina car rental for many reasons. First, renting a car saves you time. Unlike the bus, which operates on a fixed schedule, with a rental car, you’re free to plan your trip as you see fit. Rental cars also allow you to discover more. The bus operates on a fixed route, but you can drive off the pavement to North Carolina’s hidden gems with your own set of wheels. You also get comfort and convenience from a rental car. You don’t have to drag your luggage around, and you’ll have features like enough storage space, GPS, air conditioning, a great sound system, and comfortable seating.
Before getting behind the wheel of a North Carolina car rental, here are a few things you should know. You’re supposed to have your headlights on from dusk to dawn when visibility drops to less than 400 feet and when your windshield wipers are on due to inclement weather. It is illegal to use your cellphone when driving unless you’re using a hands-free kit. Stick to the speed limit at all times, and the limits in North Carolina are 20 to 35 mph within city limits, 55 to 60 mph on rural roads, and 50 to 70 mph on freeways. If you encounter a school bus with its lights flashing, all traffic on a two-lane road must stop until the bus is done. Finally, if you encounter an emergency vehicle on the shoulder, move one lane over if possible or slow down and let the emergency team work.
You need to be at least twenty one to get a car rental in North Carolina. Most rental locations have this as their minimum age, with a few having it as twenty. You’ll also be required to provide a valid driver’s license and credit or debit card in your name before you’re allowed to rent a car. There is a daily surcharge for renters between twenty one and twenty four, and they won’t have access to all vehicle classes, including luxury and exotic rentals, full-size and premium SUVs, signature models, and large cargo and passenger van rentals. Also, the debit card form of payment can only be used by renters twenty five and over.
On average a rental car in North Carolina costs C$ 52 per day.
Full-size (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in North Carolina.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at NU Car (C$ 37/day), Hertz (C$ 47/day) and Enterprise (C$ 58/day).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in North Carolina are Alamo (8.4, 1220 reviews), National (8.3, 50 reviews), and Enterprise (8.2, 1368 reviews).
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in North Carolina are Charlotte (57% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in North Carolina), Raleigh (36%) and Asheville (2%).
On average a rental car in North Carolina costs C$ 525 per week (C$ 75 per day).
On average a rental car in North Carolina costs C$ 2,249 per month (C$ 75 per day).