Renting a Ford Mustang convertible in the USA is an experience of a lifetime. There’s nothing like driving down an endless highway through the desert, with the wind in your hair and surrounded by rocks in Monument Valley. But where is the cheapest place to rent a car with a retractable roof, and what should you look out for? I rented a Mustang myself, and in this article, I describe my experience.
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Table of Contents
How to Rent a Convertible in the USA
🔎 Where to Rent a Convertible in the USA
All the major car rental companies, including Alamo, Enterprise, Thrifty, and Sixt, offer convertibles. There tends to be a larger selection of models in states with year-round warm weather, where convertibles are more in demand.
The highest availability of convertibles is usually found at airports, where demand is highest, attracting more rental companies to operate there.
💸 How to Save Money on Convertible Car Rental
I recommend renting a car through RentalCars.com, which compares deals from most of the available rental companies in a given location. This offers you a wider choice of cars at lower prices. Standard features include unlimited mileage, included collision insurance, and a lowest-price guarantee.
🚗 Which Car to Choose
In the USA, “convertible” typically refers to cars with a retractable roof. The Ford Mustang Convertible is the most common model offered by car rental companies and can be rented at almost every major airport. At larger airports, the selection of convertibles is broader, and you can also find models like the BMW Z4 Convertible or a BMW 4 Series.
You usually cannot choose the color of the car. However, you can try your luck and request a specific color either in the booking note to the rental company or upon pick-up.
🪪 What You Need to Rent a Convertible
A passport, driver’s license, and credit card are required when picking up the rental car. The passport is used to verify the driver’s identity and is usually photocopied by the rental company. In most cases, an ordinary European driver’s license will suffice; an international driver’s license is typically not required.
A credit card is used to pay for a refundable deposit. Some rental companies will accept a debit card. However, I still recommend securing a credit card and an international driver’s license before you leave, even though you most likely won’t need them.
☂️ Rental Car Insurance
When renting premium cars like the Ford Mustang Convertible, I recommend checking what insurance is included. There are several types of insurance in the USA. Supplemental Liability Protection (SLP) is required by law in almost all states and protects you for bodily injury and property damage caused by others.
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) covers damage to a rental car; I wouldn’t rent a convertible without it. Any exclusions from the collision insurance are covered by the SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver). In addition to these, you may see LDW (for total vehicle damage) and TP (vehicle theft insurance). For a detailed description of insurance, see car rental in the USA.
I have personal experience with RentalCars.com, where a rented convertible included full coverage insurance with zero deductible. However, this may not always be the case everywhere. That’s why I strongly advise that you always read the policy terms and conditions, including the deductible and exclusions.
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Cost of Renting a Convertible in the USA
💵 How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Ford Mustang Convertible
The price of renting a convertible is influenced by current supply and demand, the time of year, the rental location, the services included, and many other factors. For a rough estimate, I recommend checking the current price—it will only take a few seconds. You do not need to book anything. The price includes all fees, unlimited mileage, and breakdown insurance.
City Price from Boston Denver Honolulu Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami Salt Lake City San Francisco Washington D.C. ⏲️ Rental Fee Is Calculated for Every 24 Hours Started
When making a booking, arrange to pick up and return your car at the same time. The rental price is calculated for every 24-hour period by all rental companies. If you wish to rent from Monday 8:00 to Tuesday 9:00, you will have to pay for two days.
👦🏻 Surcharge for Drivers Under 25
In most states in the USA, the majority of rental companies require an additional $20.00–$25 fee for each driver between the ages of 21 and 24.99. This is due to the increased risk of accidents, especially with high-value sports cars. Typically, drivers under the age of 21 are unable to rent a convertible at all.
👍 Lowest Price Guarantee from Rental Cars
The broker Rental Cars is a part of the global group, Booking.com. It provides coverage at 60,000 locations worldwide and maintains contracts with multiple rental companies in most areas. This arrangement benefits customers by providing a broader selection of cars, improved availability, and lower prices.
RentalCars also offers a lowest price guarantee and free cancellation. If you find a rental for the same car at a cheaper rate elsewhere, they will match the price.
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What to Know Before Renting a Convertible in the USA
🚦 Driving a Convertible in America
Traffic regulations in the USA differ in certain respects. Road signs and speed limits are indicated in miles per hour. Fuel at gas stations is sold in gallons. There’s no need to use headlights during the day, traffic lights are located beyond the intersection, and you can turn right on red unless expressly prohibited.
At intersections where the right-of-way is not regulated by a traffic sign, the first to arrive has the right-of-way. For speed limits, road signs, and other important information, refer to driving in the USA.
⛽ Refueling Your Vehicle
Cars in the USA run on gasoline, only some trucks use diesel, which is available only at certain gas stations. Regular gasoline is referred to as Regular, higher quality gasoline is often sold as Midgrade (or Plus and Unleaded Plus), and premium gasoline for sports cars is known as Premium, Supreme, or V-Power. Each brand of gasoline has its unique designation. Rental cars are usually filled with the least expensive Regular gasoline.
In the USA, gasoline is paid for at a gas station before it is pumped. The pump is equipped with a payment terminal for this purpose. If you are asked to enter a ZIP code, input the zip code of your place of residence.
For instructions on fueling, including fuel prices and solutions to common problems, see U.S. gasoline.
⚙️ How to Drive a Car
Almost all cars in the USA have automatic transmissions; manual shifting is typically performed using buttons on the steering wheel. Driving an automatic car is comfortable and easy to get used to. Moreover, the Ford Mustang offers a special sport mode that maintains the engine at higher revs. To understand how to drive the car, what the letters on the transmission mean, and how to park, refer to how to drive an automatic.
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