Algiers is Algeria's capital and largest city, spread along a dramatic curve of Mediterranean coastline, and car rental here works somewhat differently than in much of Western Europe or North America, so it's worth setting expectations honestly from the start. Rental arrangements in Algiers tend to run through a smaller number of local and regional operators rather than a wide field of familiar international brands, and paperwork, deposit requirements and vehicle availability can vary more between companies than travelers used to standardized Western rental counters might expect. Houari Boumediene Airport, Algiers's main international gateway, is the natural starting point for most visitors, with rental options available nearby, though confirming details directly with whichever company you choose well before arrival tends to go more smoothly than assuming a uniform, walk-up process.
Documentation matters more here than in many destinations: a valid passport, driving license and often an International Driving Permit are generally expected, and foreign visitors should be prepared for a more thorough verification process than a quick counter transaction. Given the variability in local arrangements, working through a reputable operator or arranging a car with driver through your hotel or a trusted local contact is a common and often simpler approach for visitors unfamiliar with the city.
Once on the road, Algeria drives on the right, and Algiers itself has dense, often assertive city traffic that takes some adjustment, along with a layout that mixes colonial-era boulevards with narrower, older streets climbing the hillside above the harbor. Outside the capital, coastal roads heading east and west along the Mediterranean are generally in reasonable condition, though rural and mountain routes further inland can be rougher and less consistently maintained. Fuel is generally inexpensive and widely available in and around Algiers, and travelers should budget extra time for city traffic and for the somewhat less standardized rental process compared with typical Western norms.