Cheap Car Rental in Philadelphia

Car Rental in Philadelphia: the birthplace of American democracy

Philadelphia—or “Philly”—is typically considered the birthplace of American democracy, and it certainly was an excellent home to American forefathers such as Benjamin Franklin. Even for visitors who aren’t interested in American history, the city is well worth a visit, as a center of culture, arts, fine dining, and excellent beer. Make the most of your visit to Philadelphia by also taking some drives outside of the city itself! Book your rental car today.

Philadelphia witnesses four distinct seasons each year, with hot humid summers and cold snowy winters. Both spring and fall, however, are comfortable and beautiful seasons to visit the city, when the weather is typically quite comfortable and the flora particularly colorful.

The de facto national language of the United States is English, which is also the native language of the vast majority of Philadelphians. However, 15% of Philadelphia’s inhabitants’ mother tongue is Spanish. The original language spoken in the Philadelphia area is Lenape Delaware, an Algonquin family language.

The currency throughout the United States is the dollar. Currency exchange is available at airports and popular tourist destinations, and credit cards are accepted at the vast majority of businesses.

Philadelphia is in the Eastern Time Zone, UTC-5.

Automobile hire is available in over 30 locations throughout Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), North Broad Street, and downtown.

Located about one hour west of Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens is well worth a visit for flower-lovers and is an excellent excuse to see some of Pennsylvania beyond its capital. Ocean- and casino-lovers alike will want to head to Atlantic City, New Jersey, an hour southwest of the city.

Visa Regulations

38 nationalities can enter the United States as tourists without applying for a visa, though if you are among these nationalities, you are still required to fill out the ESTA in advance. Visit esta.us for more information. Visitors to the United States will be fingerprinted and biometrically photographed upon entry. If your nationality is not included in the visa-waiver program, you will be required to apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa in advance of your arrival.

Driving in Philadelphia

Driving in central Philadelphia, while easier than in Manhattan, can be a challenge, with packed roadways and scarce parking. Still, booking a car is well worth the cost if you plan to explore Philadelphia’s outer neighborhoods or surrounding landscapes. If you’re staying outside of the city, park your car at the end of subway lines and commute in to make the most of your budget while exploring the highly walkable city center!

Right-Hand Driving

• Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road throughout the USA.

Speed Limits

• In the city: typically 25 mph and up to 40 mph (40 to 64 km/h)
• On urban roads outside of Philadelphia: 65 mph (105 km/h)
• On the Pennsylvania Turnpike: 70 mph (113 km/h)
• Avoid the roads during morning and evening rush hours, and you’ll typically find that even if roads are congested, you’ll keep moving.

Other Regulations

1. Street parking in Philadelphia, while certainly available, is limited to one to two hours, particularly downtown and in more populated neighborhoods. If you’re planning on parking for more than two hours, take advantage of frequent parking garages, where you can expect to pay around $20 a day.
2. An international driver’s permit is recommended as accompaniment to your valid domestic driver’s license for your self-drive visit to Pennsylvania.
3. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, or Interstate-76, is the primary toll road of the state. It stretches from the eastern to the western borders of Pennsylvania, running just north of both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Tolls are payable by cash, card, and E-Z Pass, the electronic tolling transponder used throughout the northeast United States.
4. The minimum driving age in Pennsylvania is 18 years, though most rental companies will require that you are at least 21 years old to rent a car, and you are likely to face young-driver surcharges until the age of 25.

Cheap Car Rental in Philadelphia

Automobile hire in Philadelphia typically starts at around $24 a day. Here are some of the best deals in Philadelphia:

• Hyundai Accent or similar (economy class) – $24/day
• Nissan Versa or similar (compact class) – $25/day
• Jeep Cherokee or similar (intermediate class) – $34/day
• Volkswagen Jetta or similar (standard class) – $41/day
• Kia Optima or similar (fullsize class) – $42/day

Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.

Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in Philadelphia

While larger car rental agencies may raise their prices in the summer months in Philadelphia, this seasonal variation in price doesn’t affect the cheapest agencies in the city.

By far the cheapest location to book your rental car is the airport, where car rental agencies such as Dollar and Thrifty offer unbeatably low prices year round.

You can also typically save up to $20 a day by extending your rental period to over a week!