Renting a Manual Car in the US
Neither specific websites of Hertz, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Thirftly or FOX allow you to specify that you want to rent a manual car. Neither do Kayak, Hotwire and Priceline.
Is there a way to book a manual car in the US?
Best Answer
Some companies rent manual cars. Here's one such company in San Diego.
I can't help but chuckle that they have a paragraph explaining the context, and have 'how to drive a proper car' (my wording) sessions.
I've not lived that long in the US, and finding a manual car to purchase was a struggle. We got a very fine two year old Saab, but gave up on the idea of getting a diesel powered vehicle.
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Are rental cars ever manual?
While it's possible to rent a car with a manual transmission, there are a few limitations: Manual transmissions may be offered for a limited time as a test. You cannot use rental cars to train drivers on how to drive with a stick shift, as stated in the Terms and Conditions.How can I drive a manual car in the USA?
How to Drive a Manual CarAre rental cars automatic or manual?
The truth is, most rental cars in the United States are automatic, and companies usually do not offer manual transmission cars. This is reflective of the general situation in the auto market, where only about 10-13% of cars have manual transmission.Why does America not drive manual?
There are a variety of reasons (and theories) to explain this continental divide in preference. You can't beat the convenience of not having to shift gears, especially in cities. Americans pay much less at the pump than Europeans. Automatic cars have more get-up-and-go than they did in previous decades.Why are MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS still popular in Europe (and in the Rest of the World)?
More answers regarding renting a Manual Car in the US
Answer 2
In North America the percentage of drivers who can use a clutch and manual transmission without burning one of them out inside a week is rather small. Driving schools teach with automatic transmissions, not all that many drivers bother to learn about anything other than D and R.
The rental car companies now have a simple choice: buy cars everyone can use, or buy cars a lot of renters will either decline or damage. You also won't get diesel rental cars for the same reason - the engine will be ruined the first week because someone put regular gas in it.
I've rented in Europe (Germany) and got manual-transmission diesels every time. Also every time the rental agent heard my Canadian accent and asked me if I can drive a manual. I said I own one back home, which ended the discussion.
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