So You Want to Rent a Car
Can I Rent A Car?
Looking for the best car rentals on your next vacation or business trip? Then be sure you can rent a car before you make that reservation. So who can rent a vehicle? You can rent a vehicle if you meet the car rental company's terms and conditions. You will probably be subjected to a minimum age requirement, a driver's license check and maybe even a credit check. In some extreme cases, you might even have your fingerprints taken! In any case, just remember: your reservation is no good if the car rental company denies you the car rental in person.
Young And Free
Most agencies will have a non-negotiable minimum age requirement of 25. Younger drivers (usually 18 to 24) will be subject to a younger driver surcharge. Even if you do meet the age requirement, some agencies will even have an upper age requirement for certain vehicles (eg. you must beat least 30 yrs old to rent an Audi TT from Hertz). On the other end of the age spectrum, some companies may decide not to rent to senior citizens (they are at the other end of the high liability population). Check with the agency to get clear details about the younger driver policy and your particular situation.
The younger driver surcharge varies from agency to agency, and even location, so check first. The factors that can determine how much the surcharge are: type of vehicle you want to rent (sports cars, convertible, luxuries, vans and SUVs are commonly limited), what state/city you're renting in, which younger age category you fall into (some companies will have different surcharges for different age groups). The best thing to do is check with the agency. An international company might have different requirements for each location. The easiest thing is to check the company's policy beforehand; call the hotline or check the website.
Working For The Man
Some car rental companies have agreements with businesses to allow car rentals to younger drivers with the intent of business usage only. Sometimes the younger driver surcharge is even waived. If you are going on a business trip, it would be best to consult your company's corporate travel manager for further details.
In The Army
Military personnel or government employees as young as 18 may be exempt from the minimum age requirement, as long as the vehicle is for on-duty purposes only.
ABC (A Bad Credit) History
Can you be denied a car rental if you have a less than almost perfect credit history? Why not? Besides what if you can't pay for the car? The company needs a guarantee for services. This is why most major companies do not accept cash deposits as payment.
But Officer, I Was Going The Limit
Having a history of driving offenses will understandably influence your eligibility to rent a car. DUI is a particularly heinous offense to rental agencies. In some states, car rental agencies are allowed to perform online dl check at the counter. A currently suspended driver's license is normally a sign that you will be denied a rental. Your online reservation is no good if you are not allowed to rent! Even if you have a confirmed reservation, you may be denied a car rental for any driving violations within the past few years. Seat belt violations; accidents, regardless of who is at fault; convictions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Driving Under the Influence (DUI), reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident; previous offenses with driving with a suspended or invalid license are all reasons companies will deny you a car rental. The best thing to do is check the company's policy regarding driving records. If you are worried about being denied a rental, then go with a company that does not check driving records.
|
