Traveling in the USA — what you should know before you go
Before you happily set off on your U.S. trip, here are the key things you need to know about self-drive travel, all gathered in one place.
Did you know that in the USA, pedestrians really do have the right of way — it’s not just talk? Do you know what “HOV” means when you see it in the USA? Did you know that, unlike in Taiwan, you can’t tint every window of a car in the USA?
Here are all the traffic rules you should know, gathered in one place, so you don’t make mistakes on the road and tickets stay far away from you.
| Pedestrians have the right of way | Pedestrians absolutely have the right of way in the USA — otherwise a US$300 fine could come your way, so don’t pick a fight with the ticket book. |
| HOV/Car Pool | The innermost lane of a U.S. highway is usually the HOV (HIGH OCCUPIED VEHICLE) lane, which requires at least 2–3 people in the car. |
| STOP SIGN | Whenever you see a STOP sign, you must come to a stop for at least three seconds — never try your luck. |
| Right turn on red | Oncoming vehicles turning left and traffic coming from the left have priority; only once there’s no oncoming traffic can you turn right on red. |
| Speed limits in snow | Speed limits in snowy conditions vary from region to region, but the key is to slow down and brake early before red lights. |
| Ambulances | Whenever you hear or see an ambulance, fire truck or police car, pull over to the right to let it pass. |
Traveling in the USA — what you should know while driving
How do you read U.S. road signs on a self-drive trip?
What should you do if you can’t read the road signs during your U.S. trip? Some are easy enough to figure out from the pictures, but others relate to local conditions that differ from Taiwan, so it may not be obvious why they exist. Below, gogoout has gathered them all for you — it’s like taking the written driving test again, so give it one more review before you hit the road!
Guide signs
White regulatory signs
Hazardous load signs / slow-moving vehicles
Red and white regulatory signs
Highway construction and maintenance
Warning signs
What should you do if you get pulled over while driving in the USA?
You’re driving on your U.S. road trip and a police officer pulls you over — what should you do in the panic of the moment?
Take a deep breath and don’t panic! First, slow down and turn on your turn signal — that’s the right move!
Step 1. Slow down, signal, and follow instructions to pull over to the side of the road, then turn off the engine
If you see a police car behind you flashing its lights, sounding its siren, using a loudspeaker, or tailing you, you’re being pulled over! That’s when all of these notes come in handy, so memorize them! Never speed off because you’re flustered — U.S. police are legally allowed to use firearms and aren’t as friendly as police in Taiwan, so don’t test the law. What if you really can’t safely pull over to the right right away? Then keeping your signal on is important: slow down and signal so the officer behind you knows you’re going to stop. In short, don’t let them think you’re trying to flee.
Step 2. Face the officer, keep both hands on the steering wheel, turn off the engine and don’t get out of the car!
Once you’ve parked, turn off the engine, roll down the window, and keep your hands on the steering wheel while you wait for the officer. Don’t do anything unnecessary — just follow the officer’s instructions, which usually means showing your driver’s license and vehicle registration and answering some questions. Never think about getting out of the car, unbuckling your seat belt, or reaching for something; all of these may be seen as dangerous or resistant behavior. Treat a police stop as a very serious matter.
Step 3. Sign for the temporary yellow slip (Notice to Appear)
Once the officer has recorded your information, they’ll issue you this temporary slip; the official ticket and the fine amount will be mailed to your contact address later.
How do you fill up the tank on a U.S. self-drive trip?
Filling up in the USA works a little differently than in Taiwan — here’s how it goes!
What kind of fuel should you use in a U.S. rental car?
Usually you’ll choose Regular, but when you pick up the car, be sure to double-check with the counter staff — putting in the wrong fuel makes compensation a much bigger hassle. For all the details on renting, check out our article on car rental in the USA, where everything is explained in detail.
How do you pay for gas with a U.S. rental car?
In the USA you can pay for gas with cash or with a credit or debit card; most tourists pay in cash. Here’s how paying with cash works.
STEP 1: Pull up in front of a pump, turn off the engine and get out, and remember the pump number (usually displayed prominently on the top of the pump). Remember to lock the car so no one drives off with it.
STEP 2: Walk into the gas station store, tell the clerk your pump number, and hand over the cash. As a rough guide, if a regular sedan is nearly empty you can put in $20; if it’s about half full, $10 is about right.
STEP 3: Go back to the pump and select the fuel type (remember to double-check with the rental company).
STEP 4: When the tank is full or the money runs out, the nozzle will shut off automatically and stop fueling.
STEP 5: After hanging the nozzle back up, go back into the store, tell the clerk your pump number again, and they’ll give you your change.
If you pay by card, you’ll do everything on the pump’s screen: select your card type — choose Debit for a debit card or Credit for a credit card. The rest of the fueling steps are much the same as with cash.
How can you save on gas in the USA?
Here’s one way to save on fuel: Costco has a lot of gas stations all over the USA,
and their prices are much cheaper than other stations. If you have a Costco membership card, remember to bring it with you and head to a Costco gas station — you might save quite a bit on fuel! As for locations, you can look them up on Google Maps or on Costco’s U.S. website.
What you should know after you park
How do you pay a parking fee notice or ticket on a U.S. self-drive trip?
First, let’s go over how to tell the different types of tickets apart:
| Common name | White ticket (Parking ticket) | Yellow ticket (TVB ticket) | Red ticket (Pink summon) |
| Type | Parking Violations | Non-Criminal Driving Violations | Court summons — a criminal traffic ticket (Criminal Driving Violations) |
| Penalty | Fine only, no points | Points, fine, license suspension | Heavy fine, vehicle impoundment, license suspension, jail time, criminal record |
| Offenses | 1. Parking in a prohibited or restricted zone 2. Overtime parking at the curb 3. Parking that obstructs traffic | 1. Speeding 2. Reckless driving 3. Passing a school bus 4. Following too closely 5. Improper braking | 1. Driving under the influence of alcohol 2. Driving under the influence of drugs |
| How to pay | Fines and appeals can be handled online, by mail, or in person at the office | Fines and appeals can be handled online, by mail, or in person at the office | See you at the police station |
| If you lose the ticket | If you lose the ticket, you can look it up through each state’s ticket lookup authority | If you lose the ticket, you can look it up on each state’s official ticket lookup website | Check with the local court |
Self-drive travel in the USA is actually really easy — don’t scare yourself into thinking it’s complicated! We’ve covered everything you need to watch out for, from the moment you leave home to after you get back. By now you should know what HOV means! And if a police officer asks you to pull over, there’s no need to panic — just follow their instructions. All in all, you just focus on enjoying your trip, and let gogoout fill you in on everything else you need to know!
Read more articles about traveling in the USA
[USA Car Rental Guide] 2026 update: nine things you need to know!
[USA Car Rental] A must-read for self-drive trips: insurance types and coverage details explained
Must-see sights in Seattle! The Space Needle and the Gum Wall — self-drive travel and transportation tips
One day in Washington, D.C.: top sights, must-try food, Ladurée macaron afternoon tea, and renting a car in the USA!
Minnesota independent travel: top attractions, shooting ranges, skiing, and renting a car in the USA
This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
