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Driving is on the right side of the road.

All Norfolk Airport rental cars are automatic transmission.

Your local drivers' licence is required.

An International Drivers' Permit (or IDP) may be required, especially if your local drivers' licence is in a language other than the local language (you may inquire when you pick up your car).

Norfolk Driving Stress Level: 4/10

It isn't as easy to drive around Norfolk as you might think.

 

Hampton Roads (the metro area Norfolk is part of) is only second in the state to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. such as Fairfax County and other outlying areas for horrendous traffic, especially during the summer season when many tourists throughout the United States and Canada flock to the beaches of Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks in North Carolina. You'll need patienconion large doses.

 

If you must drive around the city, a good map and/or a local with knowledge of the roads is an absolute necessity. Stay on interstates for as long as possible, for once you leave, any signage is the responsibility of the city, not VDOT, and it shows. If you directions tell you to follow US 58, US 460 or state route 337 through the city, be prepared for a nerve-wracking drive. Directional signage (i.e., US 460 east, turn left) is virtually non-existent, and what signage does exist is more often than not inadequate or even incorrect. If there is a difference between signage and a map, the map is correct. Routes can and do change direction and shoot off onto side streets at a moment's notice, often without any signage advising travelers as to which road to follow. It is much easier than you might think to miss a turn and end up in a dangerous area. 

 

Virginia Beach shares a common trait with many American cities in that it is nearly impossible to get around without a car. There are some transit services once you get there, but if you want more freedom, and if you want to explore other areas in Hampton Roads, the best way is to rent a car.

Car Rental Protection
Learn how to protect yourself when renting a car at Norfolk Airport.