Seattle car hires from $49

By law, you can use a valid driver’s license from any country to rent a car in Seattle, though if it is in a foreign language, you may need a translation or International Driver’s Permit as well. Individual rental companies may have more restrictive policies, though, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

The law also requires renters to be at least 21 years of age, though some agencies require renters to be 25 or charge an extra fee for those under 25.

Most rental car companies will not accept cash payment, and require either a credit or debit card, on which they may put a security hold – if you are tight on funds, make sure you know how much they might freeze. You do not need to have personal auto insurance to rent a car, but if you don’t have it, make sure to purchase adequate insurance from the rental agency to protect you in case of an accident.

With Seattle’s bad traffic and difficult parking, a small car is best for in-city driving. However, if you plan to head into the mountains, you will want something bigger and heavier to get to hiking trailheads, campsites, or ski areas. In winter, you will need to either carry chains (and know how to install them) or have a four-wheel-drive vehicle to drive over any of the mountain passes east of the city. Most rental car agencies carry many smaller cars and only a few larger ones, so make sure to reserve and confirm if you need anything bigger than standard size.

If you plan to head into the mountains or across the border to Canada, make sure to double-check with your rental car company. Most permit cars to cross the border, but some may require extra paperwork. Few rental cars allow for off-road driving, so if you plan to get out into the wilds of Mt. Rainier National Park or onto the beaches of the Olympic Peninsula, make sure you know where you can or can’t go.

Seattle drivers mostly take heat from outsiders for their passive (and sometimes passive-aggressive) driving: They rarely use their horns, will almost always let someone in, and sometimes forget to take their turn at a four-way stop.

That makes it pretty easy for a newcomer to make their way around the city, especially since they will likely need to rely on that kindness when the one-way streets and random left-hand exits from the freeway trip them up. A friendly wave always helps, though.

Washington has very strict safety laws, including that every passenger wear a seatbelt, and that driving a car with a minor not belted has particularly severe consequences for the driver. Children under 4’9” are required to use a booster-style car seat and children under age two must be in a rear-facing car seat.

The speed limit on city streets, unless otherwise posted, is 25 mph. Watch out for school zones, which bring it down to 20 mph and are often monitored by a camera that automatically sends hefty tickets – and yes, the rental car company will pass that cost on to you. All local toll booths are also operated by camera, so expect to receive a bill for those from the rental car company.

In outer neighborhoods, parking tends to be easy to find and mostly free. However, in Downtown, Capitol Hill, Fremont, Ballard, the Chinatown-International District, and other popular destination neighborhoods, parking is very limited. If you can find street parking, it may be limited to an hour or two and cost $1 to $5 per hour. You can either pay at the kiosks on each street or by using the PayByPhone app and entering the location number. Private lots in most busy areas charge slightly more than street parking but are generally easier to park in and don’t have time limits. Hotels generally charge $20-50 for parking, depending on location, season, and if they are valet or self-park.

Gas stations dot nearly every neighborhood, though they are scarcer in dense neighborhoods, like Downtown. All gas stations are self-serve, and you can either pay with a credit card right at the pump or go inside to pay cash. Outside the city, freeway exits with gas stations are usually well-marked. Make sure to fill the tank before returning the car to avoid paying a huge markup to the rental agency.

It rarely snows in the city, but if it does, do not try to drive. The freeze-thaw cycle of snow in a marine climate combined with the steep roads turns Seattle into a downhill ice-skating rink – only cars don’t have razor-sharp blades. The city pretty much shuts down with significant snowfall, so you won’t have anywhere to go anyway. Even if you consider yourself an expert snow driver from your winter on Canada’s Ice Road, you do not want to be on Seattle streets in the snow because nobody else out there will be.