My husband and I will be renting a car I Phoenix to travel to Sedona in one month. We were wondering if there are any rules in which you cannot take the car to Las Vegas for a night? We were going to loop around and see state parks, and spend one night in Las Vegas. We would have unlimited mileage of course Has anyone had any first hand experience with this type of route in which you left the state with a rental car? Thanks.

You **always** have to confirm with the rental car agency you are going to use that they will allow you to take that car into *EACH and EVERY* state you plan to visit. Not every rental car agency is licensed to do business in every state.

I rented a car from Enterprise in Galesburg IL for 7 days last month. I drove the car in 20 states including IL.
They did ask when I rented it if I was driving it out of the state. If there was a state they didn't want me to drive in, they would have told me.

That's fine, you can probably even take the car into Mexico if you want to....just read the terms and conditions which are on the rental company's website.

They did ask when I rented it if I was driving it out of the state. If there was a state they didn't want me to drive in, they would have told me."

tomfuller, why do you think that they would even ask you if you were taking that vehicle out of the state, if it didn't matter at all - if you were OK in every state? Did you read that contract before you signed it?

A few years ago, I was going to take a trip to South Carolina and Georgia. Open jaw into one and out the other. I found not just one but several rental car agencies which wouldn't allow their car to be driven in both states.

It's been a couple of years since I rented a car, but I do recall that I had to list - on the contract itself - each state where that vehicle was going to be used. This wasn't merely one time but several - with different companies, too.

And, with respect to Mexico - depends on which rental car agency, the contract and its terms (again, some rental agencies will not allow that and some that do, may have limitations) as well as exactly where in Mexico you are going to be taking that car. You would have to purchase a Mexican automobile liability insurance policy from a U.S. location, as your own automobile policy (probably) won't cover in Mexico.

"wouldn't allow to be driven in both states".

No, they wouldn't allow it to be DROPPED in another state. That's different.

I don't know who exiledp has been renting from but no car rental company has ever asked me to list what states I'll be driving in, that's just wacky.

No, clark, not the case. Because I originally started my research for the trip open jaw, but then tried to see if it could be done RT and ran into this issue. Sorry, I wasn't too clear there.

I wish I could remember which companies they were, but cannot say for certain at this late date. However, I was researching using only those out of the Charleston, SC area. And I only use well-known rental agencies - no little local firms, no Rent-a-Wreck, etc.

You might want to Google "Which car rental places let you drive out of state?" I believe that in the large majority of the time, the answer will be you have to check with that particular rental car company with your particular circumstances.

There was an interesting answer on Ask MetaFilter's thread about this subject which indicated that Travelocity may have (might still have) some type of permissive usage listing for the rental car companies. I didn't go into it any further. You know you have to take third-party sites with a grain of salt and go to the real source.

For another more specific example, look on the FAQs page for Budget, under the question: "Can I take the vehicle out of the state in which I'm renting?"

USA Today also has an article about "How to Rent a Car for Out of State Travel".

"I don't know who exiledp has been renting from...". When I lived in Chicago (without an owned car), it was Enterprise exclusively. I have used them on several trips as well - particularly when I was in AZ. But that was merely for travel within that state - in fact, only between Flagstaff and in the immediate Sedona area.

Please also keep in mind that many people need to purchase the automobile liability coverage through the rental car agency - for they have none of their own. I do not know if this is the case of the OP as well. So you have another issue besides just the vehicle itself involved.

We rent cars all the time and our credit card carries full liability. We have never taken out additional insurance. We will be going to Nevada, las Vegas. I am only there one week, Mexico will be out of the question so no need to elaborate on that issue. I will call tomorrow.

Fly into both NY area airports and Boston to drive in many east coast states several times a year.

Sorry diann but no credit card covers liability. Even the American Express premium add-on is only for damage to the rental car.
If you own a car then your liability coverage should include cars that you rent, but check with your agent. Otherwise you have to purchase from the rental car company or take out a temporary policy with an insurance agent.

In some states. the rental car company is required to cover some liability for the renter. But credit cards cover loss/damage to the rental car only.

clakgriswold,'If you own a car then your liability coverage should include cars that you rent, but check with your agent. Otherwise you have to purchase from the rental car company or take out a temporary policy with an insurance agent.'

We own 4 cars--(a boat and 2 Harleys) I will check with our insurance to see if we have that coverage I am sure we do for renting a car.

I am sure you do too, but just a note...your collision damage is not covered by your credit card, that is just secondary coverage for what your own car insurance doesn't take care of. So you probably want to take your insurance card or information along with you whenever you rent a car, just in case of accident. And if your homecar insurance requires a police report when you have an accident, you'll need the same in a rental car...don't just expect that your credit card company will handle everything.

I have been renting cars for a few years now while on vacation. I have rented in Phoenix and drove to the boarder of Utah so yes I entered Utah. I never told the car rental agency and they didn't ask. I also rented in Las Vegas and drove to Utah. Again, they didn't ask and I didn't mention it. I'm not sure what would have happened if I had an accident or broken down but I didn't even think to tell them when I picked up the car. I always rent using using my citibank drivers edge that I believe offers some coverage. I also take my car insurance card. Maybe I have been lucky but so far so good.

My last car in New Mexico had a Colorado license plate so maybe it was allowed to travel to Colorado. My friend when home in NJ rents a car and the last one had a Texas license plate so I would think it was allowed in PA which is only 15 mins from my house.

Avis:
"Taking a car across a state border is generally not a problem. However, it's always best to inquire about any restrictions or fees that may apply if dropping the car at a different location. Inquire either at the location or simply contact us."

Hertz website just states that driving between U.S. and Canada is generally permitted...so I'm sure Phoenix to Las Vegas is hunky dory.

Yes it is fine with most rentals. I have checked in fact it must be asked so much it is on the automated system. Those states are fine with enterprise, budget and fox rentals. I have chosen Fox rentals and secured a reservation.

If it's Fox at the airport...be prepared for a long wait and read what you're signing as they might throw in something that you didn't ask for. And check the oil and fluids before driving all the way to Vegas.....

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fox-rent-a-car-phoenix-2

I have changed my car rental agency to Dollar. I got this through a timeshare site in which we are owners. It was nearly $90.00 less.

We have returned from Sedona/ We did rent with Dollar car rental. Drove 1300 miles in the week we had the car. We had a dodge challenger. The total bill was $138.00 Cannot beat that deal. It was a great car, and we had a great time in Arizona. No long lines and great customer service.

AAA estimates that it costs 55c per mile to keep a car that size on the road. I think that includes gasoline...but still, you're right, cheaper than driving your own car!