Quick Summary
- Most US rental contracts forbid true off road driving, even if the vehicle is an SUV or has four wheel drive.
- Well graded gravel or unpaved park roads that are open to normal traffic are usually allowed, but anything rough, sandy or unsigned will normally void your cover.
- Always check your agreement, choose the right vehicle and plan routes in advance if you want to explore beyond the main highways.
What counts as off road use?
In rental language off road does not just mean rock crawling in the desert. Anything that is not a maintained public road may count, including sandy tracks to remote beaches, muddy forest entrances, dry riverbeds and rough desert washes. Even if locals drive them every day in their own trucks, your hire agreement may treat them as unauthorised. When you book your car rental with Hola Car Rentals, the terms you see at checkout explain clearly which surfaces and routes are covered.
Most suppliers expect you to stick to paved roads and properly graded unpaved roads that appear on standard maps and are open to general traffic. Short drives over gravel in a motel car park or on a campsite loop are usually fine, but heading miles down a rutted track in search of a viewpoint is a very different story.
Typical rules for unpaved roads
Policies vary between brands, states and even individual locations, yet the core idea is the same. If a road is maintained by a public authority, signed with a route number and clearly open to normal vehicles, damage cover normally applies. As soon as you leave that network, most contracts state that you are driving at your own risk. That means a punctured tyre, bent wheel or damaged underbody could be billed in full, even if you bought the highest cover.
For example, many visitors use desert SUV choices from Las Vegas to explore scenic routes around Valley of Fire or Red Rock Canyon. Sticking to the named park roads is fine, but dropping into unsigned sandy pull outs or driving onto dry lake beds is not. In the Rockies, mountain SUV options from Denver are perfect for reaching trailheads on paved canyon roads, yet they are not meant for high clearance four wheel drive trails marked for specialist vehicles only.
What happens if you ignore the rules?
Driving off road can create serious mechanical damage that is not obvious from the outside, from torn tyres and cracked alloys to dust clogged filters and damaged suspension. If the car has to be recovered from a remote track, you may be charged for a specialist tow on top of repair costs. Some modern vehicles also record driving data, so a breakdown miles from the nearest public road is difficult to explain.
The All Inclusive plus options available through Hola Car Rentals are designed to maximise your protection on normal roads, with high liability limits and clear coverage for windscreen, tyres and underbody where available. They are not a licence to ignore the agreement. If you know you will be visiting back roads, keep speeds low, avoid standing water and never follow local four by fours onto routes that are marked as unsuitable for standard vehicles.
Planning scenic drives safely
The safest way to enjoy remote scenery is to plan ahead rather than improvising on the day. Our road trip planning guide is a great starting point for choosing distances that match daylight, fuel stops and your appetite for long drives. Once your route is sketched out, cross check it against park advice and state websites so you only include roads that are clearly open to normal vehicles.
If you are carrying camping gear or travelling with a family, Denver minivan deals and similar large vehicles give you space without needing to leave the main highway. Hola Car Rentals also partners with major suppliers in popular gateway cities, so you can start your trip with a modern vehicle, free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up and no surprise local fees.
FAQs
- Are national park dirt roads allowed in a rental? Many national parks maintain short stretches of well graded dirt road that are open to all vehicles. These are usually acceptable, but you should avoid any route that is marked as high clearance, four wheel drive only or closed.
- Do SUV or pick up rentals have different off road rules? Even if you hire a rugged looking SUV, most suppliers still forbid true off road driving. The extra clearance is there for comfort and safety on rough tarmac, not to encourage rock crawling or dune driving.
- What should I do if a gravel track looks rougher than expected? If you arrive and the surface looks deeply rutted, muddy or flooded, simply turn around and find a different route. No photo is worth risking an accident, a ruined tyre or a large repair bill.
Whenever you are dreaming of wide open desert vistas or quiet forest roads, Hola Car Rentals makes it easy to choose the right vehicle and route so you can explore with confidence while staying fully within your agreement.
