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Car hire in Boston – Heart of New England
With its striking architecture, centuries-old seafaring tradition and unique history, Boston is the city that offers its visitors the most complete American experience. Capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, it continues to combine all the charm and old-world atmosphere of a colonial village with the modern sophistication of a 21st-century metropolis.
Powered by art, fashion, technology and fine cuisine, Boston today celebrates its past innovatively and imaginatively with an exhaustive range of top-notch tourist attractions. A magnet for history buffs from all over the world, its 3-mile-long Freedom Trail comprises many of the city's most important monuments, such as the famous Old State House (where the Boston Massacre occurred) and Faneuil Hall, affectionately regarded as America's 'Cradle of liberty'.
Boston is the oldest city in the USA, so it's difficult to pass through its narrow, cobbled streets without running into a historical site or an elegant old building with a fascinating story to tell. The city is a treasure trove of landmarks and pioneering ventures, from the first lighthouse in the country on Little Brewster Island to the earliest subway system in the whole of the United State of America.
But much of Boston's appeal lies beyond the city's perimeter in the enchanting New England region of north-east America, a vast area of rolling hills, imposing mountains and a long, sandy Atlantic coastline. Many visitors choose to book a car hire in Boston and embark on an exhilarating road-trip to Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, the White Mountains, the Blackstone River Valley and Lake Sunapee, to name just a few idyllic locations. Likewise, New York (aka The Big Apple) is only a four-hour drive south-west of Boston on the main state highway.
Auto Europe offers the best rates for car hire in Boston and elsewhere in the New England region, and always with the highest standards of customer care. Not only do we have strong partnerships with all the world's most prestigious car hire companies, we can also provide you with the right vehicle for your trip at the right price, whether it's a few days' city sightseeing or a long drive down the Atlantic coast you're looking for.
Our experienced rental specialists are on hand should you need any help whatsoever with your reservation. If you'd like to see what other Auto Europe customers thought about their car rental experience in the city, please check out their ratings and read the comments they posted on our Boston car hire reviews page for added peace of mind.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Boston, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Boston
For those who choose to rent a car in Boston, Auto Europe has a wide variety of convenient locations in and around the inner city, enabling you to pick up your vehicle quickly and be on your way in just a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating at Boston Airport, there are several well-located vehicle collection points in other parts of the city, such as Downtown and the city's popular waterfront district.
To help you select the right vehicle for your trip, our high-tech booking engine will do an extensive search of all the suppliers that operate in Boston once you have keyed in your preferred dates, after which an interactive map will come up with all the available car hire locations in and around the city.
Boston Airport
Located just 5km (3 miles) from the city centre, Boston Airport is the main international gateway to New England and the glorious state of Massachusetts. It ranks as one of America's busiest airports and has a broad selection of on-site passenger facilities, including children's play areas, spas, art exhibitions and many excellent restaurants. Boston Airport (often known as Logan) has four terminals - A, B, C and E - with most international flights arriving through the latter. It's easy collecting a car rental in Boston, especially if you choose to pick it up at the airport. You just need to head for Logan's well-organised Car Rental Center which is located near all the terminal buildings and accessible by regular shuttle bus services.
Boston Airport (BOS)
Website: massport.com
Address: 1 Harborside Drive, Massport, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128, USA
Telephone: +1 617 561 1800
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Boston
Auto Europe is a major international car hire company currently offering a good selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in over 190 popular destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience collaborating with all the global and local car rental companies, we are able to offer you the highest standard of service and the cheapest prices on the market, with a large number of top suppliers operating in and around the city when you rent a car in Boston.
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Should you require additional information about the many prestigious car hire companies we work with or their operational policies such as their out-of-office pick-up/drop-off procedures or any questions regarding age restrictions etc, then our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and are always very happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Boston
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Boston. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please get in touch with our reservations team and they will be happy to help you with your booking and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Boston?
Yes. To hire a car in Boston and other parts of the USA, you will always be required to present a valid credit card along with your passport, driving licence and other important documents when you arrive to collect your vehicle. The reason for this is that the local supplier will need to place a hold on the value of the deductible, which is promptly returned after the vehicle has been returned undamaged. Please consult our blog post for more information on why credit cards are so important for car hire before arriving to pick up your vehicle. Please bear in mind that for cars in the premium- or luxury-categories, the supplier might request an additional credit card such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners, American Express, etc. which must also be in the name of the main driver.
It’s quick and easy to check which cards (and card types) can be used to book a car hire in Boston; you just need to make a search in Auto Europe's state-of-the-art booking engine and then click on the blue and white info icon (i) where all the necessary credit and debit card information can be found. It's also worth taking a look at our special blog post on the subject for more information on credit card and deposit requirements when picking up a cheap car rental in Boston and elsewhere in the USA.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Boston?
To rent a car in Boston with Auto Europe, there are a few key points about car hire coverage to take into consideration. First of all, you will find that our popular Zero Excess product comes as standard with all rentals and includes value added tax (VAT), liability insurance, fire insurance, collision damage waiver (CDW) zero excess and theft protection (TP) zero excess (please note that zero excess means the elimination of your excess).
If you want to fully protect yourself when driving your car hire in Boston, the good news is that there are options to cover yourself against certain aspects which may include the wheels, roof, undercarriage, etc. If you need to make a claim for any reason, please be aware that you must pay the car rental supplier first then claim the amount back from Auto Europe.
All the information relating to coverage for your cheap car rental in Boston is accessible through the Auto Europe booking engine. After making a quick search, you just need to click on the blue and white info icon (i) after selecting your preferred car category and supplier where all the details relating Zero Excess and other options can be found. Please note that staff working for the local car rental supplier might try selling you their own products and policies on top of what you have already purchased from us, but these are completely optional and anything they offer will often be found to be surplus to your requirements at the end of your trip.
For more information about Auto Europe coverage, please don’t hesitate to contact our reservations team for assistance. Our products are designed to give you total peace of mind during your trip, thus providing you with a smooth and stress-free car rental in Boston. Check out our related blog post for a general overview of the types of car hire coverage available.
How is the traffic in Boston?
Central Boston is small and compact, so the morning and evening rush-hours can get quite congested, especially in wet weather. The best way to get in and out of the city with a car hire in Boston is via the west using the Massachusetts Turnpike (known locally as the Mass Pike or Interstate 90) which goes right through Back Bay to the heart of the city centre, extending all the way to Logan Airport via the Ted Williams Tunnel. Driving is conducted on the right, like in European countries, although speeds are measured in mileage. As in any busy city, travelling during peak hours, especially when people are going to and from work, is not generally advised. Another thing to look out for is pedestrians whilst driving. Although jaywalking is illegal, some people will still tend to cross the roads at the wrong places and ignore oncoming traffic. Always wear a seat-belt and never use your mobile phone whilst driving. For more information, Auto Europe has also put together a guide to driving in the USA for your information.
Where can I park my car hire in Boston?
There are plenty of parking possibilities for people driving their car rental in Boston, which means that visiting many of the main attractions is just a case of finding the nearest car park and getting there with plenty of time to spare. Most hotels have their own parking areas, so it is wise to check where you are staying beforehand as parking in the main areas can be a bit stressfull at certain times of the day. Many car parks are located around the city centre if you feel like parking your car hire in Boston there for a fee, or you can also try your luck with on-street parking, although again is it not advisable during peak times. Another option is to park out further from the city centre and use public transport to travel into the tourist centres of downtown Boston. When choosing on-street parking, please be sure to check whether there are any parking regulations prior to your arrival visit because in some areas parking is restricted to residents only. Pay attention to street-cleaning notices and loading/no standing/no stopping zones in order to avoid getting a hefty fine. You can pay for on-street parking via the ParkBoston app (now available for both iPhone and Android mobile devices). When visiting Boston for tourism purposes, it's important to focus on seeing the main attractions, which usually means parking in the garages and car parks situated all over the city, including Downtown. Some of the most popular car parks are those located at 33 Arch Street Garage, 101 Arch Street Garage, 45 Province Street Garage, 99 Summer Street Garage, 125 Summer Street Garage and One Devonshire Place.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Boston?
Yes. The Massachusetts Turnpike is the state’s major east-west highway and is great for getting from Boston to a number of major cities such as Springfield and Worcester. As well as offering visitors a quick transfer to and from Boston Airport, it offers faster and smoother travel times then other alternatives. You can pay a toll once or pay portions of the total over the length of your trip, depending on the section of Turnpike you are travelling on. Thrifty and Dollar offer access to a toll pass subject to an additional fee on top of the cost of the tolls. This pass allows drivers to by-pass the cash lanes and eliminates the need to carry the correct change. Collection of tolls is linked to vehicle licence plates so no electronic device is required. Sixt, Enterprise, Alamo, Hertz and National also have automatic toll-pass options subject to an additional fee. Please note that the toll roads in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts only accept electronic payments and do not accept cash. A lot of rental cars have an EZ Pass in the car, which is placed on the windscreen in a protective case.
Do I need an international driving licence to hire a car in Boston?
An International Driver’s Licence (IDL) is recommended but not obligatory if the driver's licence is not written in the English language. However, an IDL is mandatory if the driver's licence is not in the Roman alphabet (such as Japanese, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, etc.), in which case it must be accompanied by the driver's home licence.
Boston Travel Guide
A city with a long and chequered past, Boston is an exciting city to visit and the perfect base from which to explore the New England region of North America. Its three-mile-long Freedom Trail is the main draw for tourists and one of America's most unique attractions. It comprises sixteen of the city's most important buildings and monuments, most notably the Old State House (site of the Boston Massacre) and Faneuil Hall, a place affectionately known as the 'cradle of liberty'.
Best day trips with my car rental in Boston
With a car rental in Boston you'll find that there's so much to see and do just beyond the city limits, with the long coast road and vast national parks of New England also at your disposal, Boston and the magnificent state of Massachusetts has something for everyone, so choose from the list below for an exciting day-trip once all the city sightseeing is done.
For drivers looking to explore the north-eastern corner of the USA, it is also possible to plan a fun-filled road-trip with an Auto Europe car hire in Boston and drop the vehicle off in another city such as New York or Philadelphia with a one-way car hire for more freedom and flexibility. It's also possible to share the driving with a friend of family member with our regular Free Additional Driver promotions whilst saving money at the same time.
Cape Cod
A long, curving peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic, Cape Cod boasts some of America's best beaches along its 560 miles of sandy Atlantic shoreline. Opt for the less crowded beaches of the north coast just off Route 6-A, such as those near Sandwich and Brewster. Famous for its white sands, nesting shorebirds and the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail winding through beautiful cedar woodlands, the Cape Cod National Seashore region protects much of the Cape's east coast, including vast areas of sand dunes that have remained mostly intact since the 1800s.
Plimoth Plantation
Just an hour's drive south of Boston brings you to Plimoth Plantation, the spot where separatists from the Church of England (known as Pilgrims) landed in December 1620. Visit the living history museum and step back into their world, including a tour of the full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower, the vessel that carried them across the Atlantic all those years ago.
Salem
Close to Boston lies Salem, a beautiful former China Trade port town full of elegant old houses with well-preserved period furnishings. Here you can learn all about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and visit the famous House of Seven Gables, which was immortalised in the book by Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose 1804 birthplace is also open to the public. The excellent Peabody Essex Museum portrays the significance of the China Trade during that period with all its history.
Old Sturbridge Village
One of the Boston area's most visited tourist attractions is Old Sturbridge Village, which recreates life in early 19th-century New England. This impressive open-air display includes more than 40 historic homes, craft shops, stores, mills and farm buildings brought in from far and wide. Actors in period costume demonstrate the day-to-day activities of the farmers, blacksmiths, housewives and local craftspeople, with plenty of hands-on activities to entertain the kids.
Martha's Vineyard
After a few days' hectic sightseeing in downtown Boston, there's no place better than Martha's Vineyard to recharge the batteries. Comprising six small towns and miles and miles of fine sandy beaches, The Vineyard (as it is known by the locals) is a wonderful place to visit with your car rental in Boston and stop for a nice lunch of fresh fish or seafood and to admire the spectacular Atlantic vistas.
What to do in Boston
Popular for its vibrant arts scene and year-round entertainment programme, Boston is a city bursting with history, culture and architectural beauty. It has long been an inspirational place for visitors due to the popularity of its gastronomy and diversity of its neighbourhoods, and no other city in the USA has such a rich offering of first-class museums and attractions to suit everyone in the family, young or old.
- Freedom Trail: Encompassing two and a half centuries of the most significant chapters in America's long and turbulent history, Boston's world-famous Freedom Trail meanders through the very heart of the city and features many important sites of the Revolutionary War, including Faneuil Hall and Old State House where the Boston Massacre took place in 1770.
- New England Aquarium: One of the world's largest marine attractions is the New England Aquarium located in the Central Wharf area of downtown Boston. Highlights include a colossal 200,000-gallon saltwater replica of a Caribbean coral reef, the huge indoor penguin exhibit and the chance to have fun with the playful inhabitants of the outdoor seal enclosure.
- Museum of Fine Arts: Founded in 1870, the Museum of Fine Arts has more than 500,000 exhibits, including many rare pieces of American art, notably Paul Revere’s Liberty Bowl. Other popular sections feature Egyptian treasures (many of which were acquired through excavations in conjunction with the city's Harvard University), the Japanese collection (the first of its kind in America and one of the finest in the world) and its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist galleries (including one of the largest Monet collections outside France).
- Institute of Contemporary Art: Another of Boston's must-see art attractions, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is the cultural highlight of the city's vibrant Seaport quarter. Housed in a huge glass construction, the museum has many galleries, a large theatre and a wonerful café serving excellent food. After enjoying the exhibits, head for the scenic outdoor deck to catch a live performance.
- USS Constitution: Nicknamed Old Ironsides, USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy. Still commanded and crewed by Navy personnel, it is open to visitors who can go below deck and hear all about the ship's construction and action at sea. The ship is located in Charlestown Navy Yard, which is part of the Boston National Historical Park, plus it's a short walk from the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum where the first pitched battle of the American Revolution took place.