Canada United States
Canada 
United StatesLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
The busiest land crossing is the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario.
Driving rules in United States
- Traffic laws vary by state.
- Right turn on red generally permitted after stopping.
- School-bus stop laws strictly enforced.
- Alcohol limit 0.08% (lower for commercial/under-21).
What to see when you arrive in United States
- the Grand Canyon
- the Statue of Liberty in New York
- Yellowstone National Park
- the Las Vegas Strip
- Walt Disney World in Florida
Once you're driving in United States
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
Tourists may generally drive on a valid foreign licence for the length of their visit (commonly up to about 90 days/visa term), with rules set by each state; a few states (e.g. Georgia) want an IDP or certified translation. Most rental companies ask for an IDP if the licence is not in English.
Tolls & road charges
Tolling is regional and increasingly cashless/license-plate based; common transponders are E-ZPass (Northeast/Midwest), SunPass (Florida) and FasTrak (California). Rental firms offer toll-pass add-ons (e.g. Enterprise/Hertz) or bill plate-read tolls back with daily admin fees.
Parking in the cities
Cities use metered/app-based parking (ParkMobile, PayByPhone) with strictly enforced street-cleaning, permit-only and colored-curb rules; a painted red curb means no stopping. Violations bring tickets, booting or towing, and rental firms pass on unpaid citations.
Fines & camera enforcement
Fines for speeding, handheld phone use and no seatbelt vary by state and city and are issued by police, usually paid later by mail/online (not roadside cash). Speed/red-light camera tickets and unpaid tolls are forwarded to renters with an administrative surcharge.
If you have an accident
Call 911 for any injury or serious crash. Move vehicles out of traffic only if safe, exchange insurance and licence details, photograph the scene, and file a police report (required in most states above a damage threshold); notify the rental company promptly.
Driving in the capital
In Manhattan, a congestion-pricing toll (launched January 2025) charges most cars entering below 60th Street, billed by plate to the rental firm; right turns on red are also illegal throughout New York City unless a sign permits.
Sources: carandrentals.com · enterprise.com · esim.holafly.com · booking.com