To rent a car in the US, you must have a valid driver’s license. This is something top rental companies and state laws require. Whether there are any exceptions to this rule depends on the rules of each rental company and the laws of the state in question.
We at Way.com can tell you everything you need to know to rent a car from a top company in the United States, with or without a license.
So can you get a rental car with no license?
You can rent a car even if you don’t have a license, but you have to meet several other requirements. The answer is no if you don’t have a valid driver’s license at the time of the rental and aren’t allowed to rent a car. This includes licenses that have already expired and, in some cases, licenses that were given out of the country. There are a few exceptions, but the main thing is that the driver should be able to legally drive a car but does not have their driver’s license with them.
One big exception is for renters who are disabled and have a driver for them. The renter doesn’t have to show a valid driver’s license, but the person standing in for them does.
If not, you have no chance.
Policies of rental car companies WRT driving license
In the United States, you can’t rent a car if you don’t have a license. Again, this is because you are not legally allowed to drive.
There may be an exception if you are disabled or have a temporary license. This depends on the situation and the rental company.
Here are some details about the major rental companies in the US and how they handle licenses:
- Budget: All renters must have a valid, up-to-date license, according to the budget.
- Enterprise: All renters must bring a valid driver’s license from the renter’s home state, which will be checked while renting a car. They don’t take temporary licenses or permits for learning how to drive.
- Avis: Renters must have a valid driver’s license at the time of the rental, and for the whole time they have the car.
- Thrifty: At the time of the rental, renters must show Thrifty a valid driver’s license. Thrifty will also accept temporary licenses.
- Hertz: To rent a car from Hertz, a valid driver’s license from the renter’s home state or country must be shown at the time of rental.
- Dollar: At the time of the rental, all renters must show a valid driver’s license. Temporary licenses are also accepted.
- National: National requires a valid, government-issued driver’s license with a clear picture of the renter. In addition, the license must be valid.
- Alamo: All renters at Alamo must have a valid license that is still in use. A license that has expired or is only good for a short time will not be accepted.
When is a car owner left with an invalid license?
Renters ask rental companies about their non-driver’s license policy for various reasons since most of the best rental companies won’t give a car to someone who doesn’t have a valid driver’s license.
Among these reasons are:
Suspended License
Federal and state laws say that people with suspended licenses can’t drive, which makes it hard for rental companies to let people with suspended licenses rent their cars. Renters often ask the rental company what they think about it because there are many reasons why a renter’s driver’s license could be suspended.
Disability
Most people think that disabled people can’t drive or have a driver’s license, so they want to know if they can rent a car even if they don’t have a valid driver’s license.
The general rule is that a disabled renter must have a substitute driver who meets all other rental requirements, such as having a valid driver’s license and being the right age.
Lost license
You could lose your license on the plane, at the airport, or between boarding a flight and getting the car from the rental agency. There might be an exception for these situations, so renters should ask about the company’s no-license policy to determine if it applies to them.
They might let you off if you rent from a company with a valid license. But in this case, the company may want you to file a police report saying it was lost or stolen.
Can I rent a car with a suspended license?
No, you can’t. Most of the time, people who don’t have a driver’s license aren’t allowed to drive because it’s a crime. This makes it nearly impossible for them to drive or rent a car.
People think they need a real government-issued document that lets them rent or drive a car. Presume that the law enforcers have taken away your license to drive.
You can’t rent a car with a suspended license as the state law forbids it. In addition, they could get in trouble with the law or be severely punished if they do anything else.
Can a disabled individual rent a car without a license?
They can, for sure. So, for example, if a renter doesn’t have a valid driver’s license because of a disability, they can still rent a car if they’re with a substitute driver with a valid license.
There are rules about the minimum age to rent and other standard rules.
But there is no extra cost for the surrogate driver, and the driver does not need to have a credit card, pay cash for the rental, or meet the company’s requirements for financial underwriting.
Can I use a passport to get a rental car?
No, a passport won’t let you rent a car. You need a valid driver’s license from the US or another country to rent a car. There is no other kind of ID that can be used.
In addition to your driver’s license, you may need to show your passport or an international driver’s permit when you travel outside your home country.
Is a temporary driver’s license a valid document?
Yes, it is. A temporary license is issued when a driver’s original license is lost, stolen, or no longer valid.
It’s sometimes granted to federally-permitted long-term U.S. visitors. A motorist with this license with the required age can rent a car.
Can I rent a car if I only have a photo of my license?
You might not be able to because a picture doesn’t show for sure that you have a valid driver’s license.
If you rent from a place with a valid license on file, they might be able to make an exception. But, of course, this could also happen if you lose your license. The company can prove its legitimacy in different ways. So customers can rent a car even if they don’t have a license.
Can you rent a car with your friend’s license?
You can’t rent a car for someone who doesn’t have a license unless that person is disabled. The substitute driver must be at least the minimum age and have a license for disabled renters. If they don’t, it can’t happen.
Rental insurance via Way.com
Always remember to get insurance for the rental car. With the help of Way.com, you can rent a car with great coverage for a low price. Way.com is the best and easiest way to find insurance policies that meet your needs.
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