Driving in the USA
Most trips to America are road trips. What changes from one state to the next — whether your licence is enough, the speed limits, how tolls are paid — explained state by state, with the official source for every rule.
- Driving in California2 sourced rulesDriving in California with a European licence: when your home licence is enough, the 70 mph motorway ceiling, San Francisco and Los Angeles parking, Highway 1 timing and rental-car basics, with official sources.Read →
- Driving in Nevada & Utah2 sourced rulesDriving Nevada and Utah as a visitor: 80 mph interstates, why Nevada issues no licence to visitors, fuel and water in the desert, Las Vegas to Zion driving times and winter closures, with official sources.Read →
- Driving in Florida4 sourced rulesDriving in Florida with a foreign licence: what the state requires of visitors, 30 days to swap your licence if you move, toll roads and SunPass, Miami traffic, the Overseas Highway to Key West and hurricane season.Read →
- Driving in Texas2 sourced rulesDriving Texas as a visitor: the 85 mph toll road, why Texas distances are measured in hours, Houston and Dallas freeway rules, toll tags, heat and what changes when you move there, with official sources.Read →
- Driving in New England3 sourced rulesDriving New England in a rental car: E-ZPass across the toll states, speed limits in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts, fall foliage timing, moose at dusk, covered bridges and the drives worth planning around.Read →
Four things that surprise European drivers everywhere
Right on red
In most states you may turn right at a red light after a full stop, unless a sign says otherwise.
School buses
When a school bus stops with red lights flashing, traffic in both directions usually has to stop.
Four-way stops
At an all-way stop, the first car to stop goes first.
Pay at the pump
Many pumps ask for a US ZIP code; foreign cards often need prepaying inside.
Exact rules vary by state: each state page gives the official source.