Renting a car in the US

[croyde]

20 years since I last went and had to use an International Licence to hire cars but how about now?

Is the new photocard enough or do you need the paper bit as well?

Cheers.

[randlemarcus]

Photocard on its own worked for me last year, but - that was not in a major airport, where they may be more familiar with the concept of two part licences.

[Harji]

I got an International driving permit once and it's never been asked for! No, you fine with your photo licence, and also I recommend Dollar-rent-a Car.

[GreigM]

In theory you need both parts, but I've not had to show the paper bit in the hundreds of times I've rented.

Also watch the prices and your insurance coverage - better to book in the UK via the ".co.uk" sites and get a fully inclusive price...you can probably find cheaper out there (although in my experience you don't) but it may not include insurance.

IME Avis are currently the cheapest, but also try:
holidayautos.co.uk
usrentacar.co.uk

[so called]

I hire rental cars several times a month in the US at various airports with my old UK licence (no picture) without any kind of problem at all. Got one outside right now.

The only time I had a problem was when I flew from Germany to LA last year without my licence.
The girl at the Hertz desk told me that there was no way anyone would give a car without a licence.
She ordered a cab to get me to my hotel and very kindly Hertz paid.

[jbi]

you are permitted 30 days or about one month in most states on your British license before you need to get a local one.

[GreigM]

jbi said:

you are permitted 30 days or about one month in most states on your British license before you need to get a local one.

only if a resident......you can go longer if just visiting, up to a year

[jbi]

GreigM said:

only if a resident......you can go longer if just visiting, up to a year

Interesting... the lady in the registrations office was very insistent

[Sooty]

I must have rented 20 cars in the last 12 months with just the photo part of the licence. I don't they realise there is another part.

www.ebookers.com are the best for fully inclusive prices.

[ViperDave]

Agreed, never needed the paper part, but you should take it none the less as technically the card is not valid without it.

[h0b0]

jbi said:

Interesting... the lady in the registrations office was very insistent

Different states different laws. In MA you have to drive a car to get a license in NJ you don't. (only if you have a full UK license already and can prove you live in the state which is not being a US resident)

Officially, you need the paper part because a photo license is only valid with paper. In reality they are not concerned about your license.

Check your credit card for insurance details. You may be covered if you use your card and buying extra insurance couold be a waste. If you are going for a while or many times a year AMEX do a deal for about $30 that gives total coverage and no worries.

When renting a car don't think that it will be representative of the vehicle you have read of before. Us rental cars are often specific models for the rental companies and not sold to the general population. normally this is bad because the cars are crap. I used to have a charger and rented one at the same time when on vacation. They wer meant to be the same base spec but the rental one had no power at all.

Keep an eye out for tax. I took a car from an airport in Arizona that cost me almost as much in tax as it did for rental. Also, in most places picking up the car is much cheaper at a local place than it is at teh airport. Vegas is an exception to this where even after paying the air port "convenience" charge the car worked out dramatically cheaper at the air port.

Always check the actual rental car web site as they have deals that don't show up on Orbitz type sites. I have save a fortune this way.

[croyde]

Cheers all.