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Exploring Charlotte by Hire Car

The city of Charlotte in the United States is located in North Carolina in Mecklenburg County.

In 1768, Charlotte was founded by emigrants at the exact meeting point of the Native American north-south route and the Native American east-west trade route.

First and foremost, Charlotte is known as the second largest financial center in the United States. However, the place also offers travelers interesting museums, very good restaurants and clubs with live music.

The surrounding area attracts with beautiful destinations, which can be easily explored with a hire car. For rental and travel we have compiled a few tips.

Taking over the hire car

At the Charlotte airport, you will find numerous rental agencies near the baggage claim area. However, make sure that your rental company is also there before you book the hire car. After all, if your hire car company is only located near the airport, you may have to wait a long time for a shuttle or even take a taxi to get to your hire car.

Booking the right hire car

The most fun you can have cruising the endless American highways is in a large sedan.

Hire car prices

Booking a hire car in Charlotte can often be quite a costly affair. You can usually get a good deal if you book well in advance of your trip and use our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison charlotte

Insuring the car properly

If you are involved in an accident with your hire car in Charlotte, you are well covered with comprehensive insurance with no deductible. When it comes to liability, the amount of coverage is crucial. It should be at least one million euros.

With this, you then enjoy at least some protection if people are injured in an accident or several vehicles are involved. If you find that your rental company’s coverage is too low, you can get additional coverage with a traveler’s policy. Talk to your insurance company and make sure your traveler policy is valid in the US.

age limit

Practically no hire car company in Charlotte will rent cars to drivers younger than 21. And drivers under 25 are often charged an additional fee. Find out your rental company’s terms before you hire car.

Tank control

Some hire car companies in Charlotte require their customers to purchase the first tank of gas for a service fee. The car can then be returned with an empty tank. These companies usually rightly speculate that the renter will not succeed in driving the car completely empty.

The remaining gasoline is the additional profit of the rental company, in addition to the service fee. It is better to book with a hire car company that hands over the car with a full tank and takes it back with a full tank. This will save you the service fee and the hassle of having gas left in the tank when you return the car.

Free kilometers

To explore Charlotte’s charming surroundings extensively, you should reach for a hire car with all the miles free.

Bail

Rental companies that actually charge the deposit for the hire car to your credit card like to take longer to return the money. In order to have the deposit amount back immediately after returning the car, you should book with a rental company that only blocks the amount.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are satisfied with their hire car service in Charlotte. However, some complain that they tried to sell more insurance on the spot. Make sure the car is adequately insured when you book your car and then consistently refuse to sign any additional insurance policies with your Charlotte rental agent.

Complaints about the exterior condition of some vehicles also come up from time to time. Examine your car closely when you pick it up and have any defects, such as scratches or dents, confirmed in writing in a defect report. This is the only way to ensure that you will not be held liable for damage that you did not cause when you return the car.

Safety hire car

Although you can usually assume you’ll get a roadworthy car in Charlotte, you should still test the vehicle’s complete lighting before your first drive. And do a quick brake test while still in the rental company’s parking lot.

Sights in Charlotte

Levine Museum of the South: Diverse History Lesson
Perhaps start your stroll at the Levine Museum of the South. The exhibit here is dedicated to the evolution of the southern United States from a poor producer of cotton to an international financial hub. Admission is eight dollars. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Sunday, you can visit the exhibit starting at 12:00 pm.

Mint Museum of Arts: Impressive Works of Art
You can admire an art collection with a wide range when you go to the Mint Museum of Arts afterwards. The show includes American art, pre-Columbian excavations, fashion, contemporary art, and Native American artwork. The museum is open on Wednesday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. From Thursday to Saturday, the gates open at 11:00 am. At 06:00, the museum will close. And on Sunday, you can visit the exhibition from 13:00 to 17:00. The entrance ticket costs ten dollars.

American Cultural Center: African American Creation
Impressive art exhibits by African American artists await you at the Afro-American Cultural Center. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Sunday, you can visit it starting at 1:00 pm. A ticket costs eight dollars.

Discovery Place: Visit the Rainforest
If you’ve ever wanted to walk through a rainforest, now is the time to visit Discovery Place. Science is vividly presented in this natural history museum. For instance, you can taste an ice cream that is made with liquid nitrogen. There is also an Imax movie theater. From Monday to Friday, the museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Saturday, you can visit the museum from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. And on Sunday, the gates open at 12:00 pm. It will close at 17:00. The combo ticket for the movie theater and the museum is available for $17. If you just want to visit the museum, you pay $12.

ImaginOn: Paradise for Kids
Versatile exciting and interactive exhibits that especially delight children can be seen at the end of your stroll when you visit ImaginOn. There is also a theatre for children here. The museum is open from Tuesday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. On Friday and Saturday, you can experience a lot there from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is free.

Find a good restaurant

Visit the Southend Brewery and Smokehouse. Here you can get excellent meat dishes, many of them smoked. And the fish dishes are also exceedingly tasty. Try the Cast Iron Blackened Salmon, a salmon speciality you won’t soon forget.

Find a good hotel

Charlotte is a banking metropolis. As such, there is no shortage of good hotels that cater to business travelers. You might reserve your room at the Westin. This modern high-rise with 700 comfortably furnished rooms has a cool elegance that is captivating. From the rooms on the upper floors you have a sensational view over the city.

A worthwhile destination in the area

Durham: Home of Tobacco
Direct the hire car to Durham. It will take you two and a half hours to drive the 230 kilometres. The city owes its prosperity to the American Tobacco Company, which settled here in the 19th century. Business was so good that the son of the founder, Buck Duke, endowed the city with a university.

Duke University, with its Gregorian and neo-Gothic buildings, is well worth the visit. At the same time, the many students make for a lively city life. Especially in the Ninth Street District you can settle down in one of the numerous student pubs, order a cool drink and think about where you want to go next with the hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Asheville: Charming artist town
A trip by hire car could take you to Asheville first. It will take you about two hours to get there. Numerous artists live in this charming town with a mountain backdrop. In the city centre, Art Deco buildings line the streets and numerous original shops tempt you to go hunting for souvenirs. Perhaps start your stroll at the Biltmore Estate.

George Washington Vanderbilt II had this huge estate built in 1895. As heir to a shipping and railroad company, he could afford to have his Biltmore Estate modeled after European castles. But a bowling alley was not left out either. After visiting the Biltmore Estate, you will have the opportunity to pay a visit to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. The famous writer is a son of the city, the Memorial commemorates his life.

Cherokee: On the trail of the Indians
Continue your journey to Cherokee which you will reach in a good hour by hire car. Charokee itself has little to offer. In the village you will find the Museum of the Cherokee Indians, where you can learn a lot about the life of the Indians. Afterwards, you will still have the opportunity to test your luck at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort.

Brevard: Charming Mountain Village
Before you head back to Charlotte in your hire car, you’ll have the opportunity to stop in Brevard. You should allow just under two hours for the drive. The pretty town is located in the middle of the mountains and is a good starting point for hikes into the enchanting nature of the surrounding area.

And should you shy away from driving home after an extended walk, you will find a comfortable hotel room at the Hampton Inn just outside the city. The next morning, your hire car will take you back to Charlotte in just over two hours, where you can plan your next few road trips.

Conclusion

Charlotte is a perfect location for a trip by hire car. Around the city, which is easily accessible by plane, there are many delightful destinations, all of which are best reached by car. And our convenient price comparison will help you find a nice car at great rates.

Hire car Charlotte