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    Car hire in Houston – Gateway to Texas

    Car hire in Houston

    The largest city in the state of Texas and the 4th-biggest in the whole of the USA, Houston is a burgeoning oil-industry city that has gradually been metamorphosing into a major tourist destination in recent years. Founded on the banks of Buffalo Bayou in 1836, it was named after General Samuel Houston (a heroic figure in the Texas War for Independence) and since its inception has been on the map as a boomtown for business.

    Nowadays people flock there from all over the world to savour the city's myriad of attractions, many of them truly unique, and to appreciate its variety of architectural styles ranging from minimalist to Art Deco. Besides being a hub for space exploration, it boasts a plethora of museums, galleries and top travel attractions, many of which are concentrated in the city's exciting Downtown district.

    With its pleasant subtropical climate, Houston offers its growing number of annual visitors year-round recreation with beaches, lakes, golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts and a host of other outdoor amenities. It also has more parks and gardens than anywhere else in Texas. And where else can you touch a piece of moon rock, witness an astronaut actually in training and take part in a simulated rocket launch?

    With a car hire in Houston you can enjoy everything that this remarkable city has to offer before venturing further afield. Having your own transport will give you all the freedom and flexibility you need to explore the greater Houston area and experience some of the vast landscapes for which Texas is so famous. Some of the main attractions for people discovering Houston's environs on four wheels include the amazing Sam Houston National Forest and the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge.

    Established midway through the 20th century, Auto Europe has been offering the best car hire deals and the widest choice of vehicles in Houston and elsewhere in Texas for almost seventy years. As one of the world's leading car hire brokers, we now offer over 24,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in more than 180 countries. Book online now or call Auto Europe's award-winning rental specialists on +44 123 3225 114 for the best rates.

    Please also read our Houston car hire reviews page to find out what other Auto Europe customers thought of their car rental in Houston.

    For more information on renting a vehicle in Houston, click on the car hire related topics listed below:

    Suppliers Car Hire FAQs Travel Guide

    Where to pick up a car hire in Houston

    For many years Auto Europe has been collaborating with all the world's top car hire suppliers, including Sixt, National, Hertz, Europcar, Dollar, Budget, Avis and Alamo, as well as the most prestigious local car rental providers in the USA and elswhere around the globe. As a result, we can offer our many customers the widest choice of locations in Houston, which means that you can pick up your vehicle in the heart of Downtown and start exploring this incredible city in a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating at Houston Airport, there are several conveniently-located suppliers' offices in other parts of the city, most of which are in close proximity to Houston's top tourist attractions, such as the Museum District and the world-famous Space Center Houston. In order to assist you in making the right choice for your cheap car hire in Houston, our state-of-the-art booking engine allows you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip. Once you've keyed in your dates, an interactive map will come up with all the available car hire locations in Houston.

    Houston International Airport

    Located 23 miles north of Downtown Houston, Houston International Airport (IAH) serves around 30 major passenger airlines, with routes to and from almost 200 non-stop destinations. Currently catering for annual passenger movements of more than 45 million, it was officially inaugurated on the 8th of June 1969 and was renamed George H. W. Bush (the 41st president of the United States and resident of Houston) in 1997. The car hire desks can be found in the IAH Rental Car Center located 5 min from the terminal by shuttle bus. The shuttle bus runs every 5 mins and can be found outside the Arrivals area of the different terminals.

    Houston International Airport (IAH)
    Website: fly2houston.com
    Address: 2800 North Terminal Road, Houston, Texas 77032, USA
    Telephone: +1 281 230 3100

    Houston Regional Airport

    Just 7 miles south of the centre, Houston Regional Airport is the city's oldest commercial airport having first opened in 1927. Mostly catering for domestic services, it has a single terminal building with two concourses (one domestic and the other international) with a total of 30 gates. With over 14 million passengers passing through every year, it is a hub for several major passenger airlines whose operations serve more than 80 different destinations.The rental desks can all be found inside the terminal at the bagage claim area, except for Fox Rent a car and Payless Car rental.

    Houston Regional Airport (HOU)
    Website: fly2houston.com
    Address: 7800 Airport Boulevard Houston, Texas 77061, USA
    Telephone: +1 713 640 3000


    Book with the best car hire suppliers in Houston

    Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 180 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.

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    Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.


    Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Houston

    Contact Us

    This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Houston. 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 call our reservations team on +44 123 3225 114 and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.


    Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Houston?

    Yes. Every traveller who decides to rent a car in Houston must present a valid credit card when they arrive to collect their vehicle. This is due to the fact that the local rental car companies in Houston and elsewhere in the USA will need to place a hold on the value of the deductible for the duration of the rental period. Customers booking a premium- or luxury-category car should bear in mind that the car hire supplier might ask for a second major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Diners or American Express, and also in the name of the main driver) due to the high value of such vehicles. Please read our blog post for more the importance of credit cards when hiring a car.

    It couldn't be easier to check which cards (and card types) are accepted in Houston. All you need to do is make a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine, after which you just need to click on the blue and white info icon (i) to see all the relevant credit card information. Please take a look at our other related blog post for more advice on credit cards and deposits before arriving to pick up your low-cost car hire in Houston.

     

    What insurance do I need for my car rental in Houston?

    The first thing to know hiring a car in Houston with Auto Europe is that the prices quoted on our website always include the minimum amount of legally required coverage, complete with 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). However, as some parts of the vehicle are not covered by this basic rate, it's always best to pay a little more for Auto Europe's Full Protectection policy. If the worst happens and you need to make a claim, please note that you must pay the car rental supplier first before claiming the amount back from us. All the information relating to car hire coverage is clearly accessible on the Auto Europe website. You just need to click on the blue and white info icon (i) after selecting your preferred car category and supplier, and all the relevant details will pop up.

    It’s common practice for local car rental staff to push their company's own products when customers arrive to collect their vehicle. One such product is insurance, which is completely optional and very often surplus to the driver's requirements. Please read our related blog post that provides a general overview of the types of car hire coverage available. For more help and information about Auto Europe’s coverage policies, please feel free to call our rental specialists on +44 123 3225 114 and they will be happy to provide you with all the necessary info you need.

     

    How is the traffic in Houston?

    Driving your car rental in Houston can seem challenging - especially if you do not enjoy stop and start style congestion. Bad roads, poor planning and constant building works can test even the most patient of drivers. City roads and even freeways are often congested, but for a little respite it's always best to avoid the morning and late afternoon rush hour traffic (the morning rush hour in Houston is between from 7-9am, while the in the afternoon the traffic build-up begins as early as 4pm and tends to die down around 7pm). Likewise, avoid peak socialising times such as late Friday afternoons and Saturdays. Whenever special events or big name concerts are taking place in the centre of Houston, the traffic gets more congested with motorways and main roads near sports stadiums getting gridlocked for hours both before and after. For more tips and advice on getting around Texas and the rest of the United States of America by car, please consult our USA Driving Guide where you'll find specific info on driving licence requirements, age restrictions, driving distances, etc.

     

    Where can I park my car hire in Houston?

    Paid on-street parking in downtown Houston operates from 7am until 6pm Monday to Saturday. The maximum stay on a meter is up to 3 hours, before you have to move to another bay. When parking, make sure to avoid any red markings (red paint, red bags or red stripes) as these signify that parking is not permitted at any time. Likewise, make sure you understand the parking signs fully before leaving your car there. Some meters become tow-away areas between certain times. You are able to pay for meters either using money, credit cards or pay via your smartphone. Large selections of covered garages exist in downtown Houston - which can also be a great option if you're looking for secure parking. The Houston transport system is very expansive with the Metro Park & Ride system offering direct non-stop services to and from Downtown and other major city hubs from 26 spacious car parks dotted across the city.

     

    Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Houston?

    Yes. There are currently overy 250 miles of toll roads in theHouston (Grand Parkway/SH 99 and SH 249), Austin (Central Texas Turnpike System) and Dallas & Ft. Worth regions of Texas. The Sam Houston Tollway is the main toll in the Houston area, but there are plenty of others, including the Katy Freeway toll lanes, Grand Parkway, Westpark Tollway, Tomball Tollway, Fort Bend Parkway (note that this is considered one of the most expensive toll roads in the USA) and Hardy Toll Road. There are around 15 toll roads in and around the city of Houston area, and depending on which toll roads they use, drivers may be issued toll payments from separate operating companies. The Sam Houston Tollway between US 59 North and SH 225, Westpark Tollway, Katy Managed Lanes, and Tomball Tollway are all-electronic tolling facilities that require either an EZ TAG or other interoperable Texas toll tag in order to make payment.

     

    Do I need an international driving licence to hire a car in Houston?

    An International Driving Licence (IDL) is strongly recommended (but not obligatory) if the main driver's home licence is not printed in the English language. However, an IDL becomes mandatory if the driver's licence is not in the Roman alphabet (ie Japanese, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, etc.), in which case it must be accompanied by the driver's home licence.


    Houston Travel Guide

    This beautiful, culturally-diverse city is winning more and more awards as America's top tourist city due to its abundance of attractions, including some of the country's most important museums. There's so much to see and do, most notably the Space Center Houston situated about 25 miles from Downtown, which combined with the Johnson Space Center is somewhere you could spend an entire day.

    Best day trips with my car rental in Houston

    Despite the many things to see and do in the heart of the city centre, its environs are as much an attraction for visitors who choose to explore the area with a car hire from Houston. As you'd expect in a state as vast and interesting as Texas, travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to natural attractions, with Anahuac Wildlife Refuge and Sam Houston National Forest both within a short drive of the city. Road-trippers looking to go further and see more than than the city of Houston, it's possible to embark on an extended journey by picking up their car rental in Houston and dropping it off in another city (such as Dallas or Austin) with a one-way car hire, which can be combined with one of Auto Europe's regular Free Additional Driver offers for extra freedom and flexibility.

    Sam Houston National Forest

    Located about an hour's drive north of Houston, Sam Houston is the largest of the four national forests in the state of Texas. A major attraction is the Lone Star Hiking Trail which stretches for more than two hundred kilometres through some of the most stunning natural scenery in the USA. The forest also features a number of biking trails and picnicking places, as well as several lakes for swimming and watersports. With almost a thousand lodges, cabins and eco-hotels located inside the forest and the surrounding towns and villages, Sam Houston is a great way to unwind after a few days' busy city sightseeing.

    Anahuac Wildlife Refuge

    Covering more than 37,000 acres of prairies and coastal marshes, the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge is one of the state's top wildlife sanctuaries. Located an easy 45-minute drive east of Houston, this excellent attraction is one of the best places in the USA to see alligators in their habitat, as well as snow geese, coyotes and bobcats. Established in 1963, the refuge offers visitors the chance to drive around Shoveler Pond to see a variety of birds, reptiles and small mammals, as well as walk a short boardwalk overlooking the marsh before enjoy the recently-added Butterfly Garden.

    Situated a 30-minute drive south-east of Downtown Houston,The San Jacinto Battleground Historic Sitespot is where Texas won independence from Mexico in the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution in 1836. Covering a total area of 1100 acres, the site's main feature is the 567-foot monument (the world’s tallest stone column) with an observation deck offering panoramic views from the top, encompassing the Houston skyline in the distance and Battleship USS Texas (once considered America's most dangerous weapon). The on-site museum recounts the story of the state's road hard-fought struggle for freedom.

    Space Center Houston

    Just half an hour from Houston lies one of America's most popular tourist attractions, the world-famous Space Center Houston. The amazing Space Center Houston offers visitors a deep insight into NASA’s exploration operations (both past and present), including close-up views of spacecraft, displays of space suits and spaceflight simulations. Higlights include the Apollo 17 command module used in the last manned mission to the moon in 1972 and the world’s largest collection of moon rocks on public display. Don't miss the tram tour to see Johnson Space Center across the street which incorporates the Mission Control Room as it was during Apollo 11 (of 'Houston, we've had a problem' fame).

    What to do in Houston

    The first thing to know about Houston is that it is home to one of the largest museum districts in the whole of the USA, with more than twenty museums, galleries and cultural centres grouped together within easy walking distance. One of the top museums of its kind in the world, the city's outstanding Museum of Fine Arts boasts magnificent collection of French and Italian Impressionist Renaissance paintings, many fine sculptures and some of the best European and American decorative arts on display anywhere.

    • Museum of Fine Arts Houston: The city's excellent Museum of Fine Arts (the best in Texas) features a stunning collection of ancient art representing many different cultures (and periods) from around the world, plus an extansive range of contemporary works by numerous artists. This stylish 14-acre centre ranks as the biggest cultural institution in America's south-west with many notable pieces on display, such as several Georgia O’Keefe paintings and works by Goya and Rembrandt. Visitors can also marvel at the museum's collections of Columbian and African gold, numerous photographs, prints and drawings (many of them rare) and an interesting section dedicated to Latin American art.

    • Menil Drawing Institute: Besides a permanent collection of works from Africa and the ancient world, the Menil Drawing Institute operates a rotating series of exhibits by many notable artists throughout the year. The main section is mostly dedicated to modern and contemporary artists featuring works by Picasso and Matisse, as well as Cy Twombly and Dan Flavin. Built around three courtyards lined with trees and bushes, the museum is a lovely place to spend an afternoon in the upmarket Montrose neighbourhood just west of downtown Houston.

    • Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS): Another of Houston's heavyweight museums is HMNS, which features state-of-the-art facilities and exhibits on a wide range of scientific and natural topics. In addition to some of the world's rarest fossils, visitos can enjoy a replica of an off-shore drilling rig, the 2,500-square-foot Energy City (Houston and its environs in 3D) and the Eagle Ford Shale Experience (EFX 3000), an immersive ride experience telling the story of Texas gas and oil drilling. Don't forget to stop at the museum's gift shop on your way out to buy a souvenir of your visit.

    • Houston Zoo: Home to over 6,000 exotic and indigenous animals, Houston Zoo is one of the city's star attractions and must for families with young children. This vast 55-acre site includes lions, tigers, bears and a wide assortment of other creatures, large and small. The zoo's highlights include feeding the giraffes, getting up close to marine life in the aquarium and watching the sea lions and otters entertain the crowd. Houston Zoo is located in the city's extensive Hermann Park which incorporates a host of other attractions, most notably Houston Museum of Natural Science, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Japanese Garden and McGovern Centennial Garden & Lake.

    Useful links

    Houston Tourist Information