US Car Hire & old style license
US Car Hire & old style license
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Discussion

cjs

Original Poster:

11,681 posts

281 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
I need to rent a car in the US, I still have the old style UK paper drivers licence, has anyone had any issues renting in the US and not having a newer photo ID Licence?


fadeaway

1,463 posts

256 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
cjs said:
I need to rent a car in the US, I still have the old style UK paper drivers licence, has anyone had any issues renting in the US and not having a newer photo ID Licence?
My Dad's done this in the US and Canada over the past couple of years and not had a problem. Although I think it got a couple of funny looks (esp as it's falling to pieces!).

It's a valid license, so you should be fine.

What I would say though is you often need photo ID in the states, so it might be worth getting hold of a photo license just to avoid carrying you passport with you*.


  • and it's fun watching US people try to work out your date of birth on a type of card they haven't seen before (as they use a different date format, I guess it doesn't jump out at them, and it doesn't say "Date of Birth" on the front)

v15ben

16,224 posts

271 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
yes Some places will state you must have a photo card but just tell them you have nothing else but the paper version and a passport and they'll accept it.

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 15th January 2010
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I've used my old paper licence to hire a number of cars and even a 30' RV without problems. Mine finally fell apart too so I recently spent the £20 and got a photo one.

Roo

11,504 posts

237 months

Friday 15th January 2010
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
I've used my old paper licence to hire a number of cars and even a 30' RV without problems. Mine finally fell apart too so I recently spent the £20 and got a photo one.
Similar situation to mine. Getting a photo licence also means I no longer have to show my passport in order to use a credit card.