Hi
Can you help??
Our son phoned from Connecticut/USA yesterday - which is smack bang in the middle of Boston and NY, USA.
He went there on the 22nd and hoped to hire a car - but has been advised locally that he can't hire a car/suv as hereuires an international driver's licence.
We know that in some states you have to be 25 yrs old or over and he is 24 - but that is not the issue.
He will phone me later today with his cc details/etc and i will try and book a local suv pick up - will this work - and does anyone else know of this situation??
We went to florida 3 yrs ago and last year - rented a suv from UK - no probs!
All help appreciated!!
Thanks in advance!
LD
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try www.carbookers.com they have a button to get a free callback from a 'specialist'.
Martin
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Hi
Thanks - we will read all replies - but will wait for our son to call back - I will update poss today/tomorrow. They are 5 hrs behind us!
Thanks
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Just a couple of points.
An international driving license is just a translation of the UK license and a photo.
I understood that if you have a new photo license then the Americans hardly need a translation as they have the mug shot.
Beware of the credit card use. The card issuer security may trigger if the card is being used both sides of the pond at the same time. The result may be a blocked card until the owner is contacted. Also it would not go down too well that someone else is using it.
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Near impossible to hire a car in the States w/o a Credit Card. Old style licence was accepted by Avis in FLorida earlier this year. They asked for a Passport as confirmation of identity.
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Thansk for the tip - we will advise our son to take his passport as well, though he has the new style licence.
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Hi
Our son has not rang yet - about half eight down there - but we will point out what you've just stated - cheers
Re the cc - they took Alamo took our cc details last year in Florida - but we paid for the gold service here - the details were taken for excess perposes but were not actioned as we returned the suv in one piece! :) Btw: our licence dates fron 1976 - no pics - last time it was changed was just over ten years ago when we moved home!!
Thanks again!!
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Is it Green or Pink ? (The Licence not the car)
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Mine is green I think and a bit of pink - but my son has a small cc size licence with his pic and I can't remeber what colour it is - but post you point please and I will tell him when he phones me/or me phone him.
Thnx
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He should be ok with his photo licence. I'm sure Cardew advised me here that the greenie may be a problem, I will try and dig out the thread for you.
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Does he have the complete (two parts - both photocard and counterpart) licence with him? If not this may be a problem. Rental Companies in UK have direct premium rate number to enable a check to be done if counterpart (paper)licence is not presented with a photocard licence - they charge the renter for the call cost, but this won't be possible from US.
JohnM52
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Advise him to try a different rental company. My experience in the States is that some companies ask for an International Licence and some don't. I've used National in various states and they've never asked for the International Licence.
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Hi all
International drivers licence is recommeded in the USA, but not a necessary requirement according to a search on the net.
So I will tell him to try other rental outlets - or just take his documents down.
I think I have enough info here for our son to get a car.
Thanks again - I will let you know if he does manage to get a drive.
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I'm a bit confused
I have rented loads of cars in the US and Canada just walking into the rental office and showed my DL photo or not.
MAybe he should go to a more cosmopolitan district like NY or Boston or maybe Providence, Rhode Island where they see more tourists?
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Agreed. I have rented many many cars in USA and my UK photo driving license was enough, and before that, the old paper license. They are often surprised at the expiry date though - here licenses last 4 years or so, not until you're 70!
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An IDL is only recommended for the States rather than a requirement.
Full details of where or where not you require one (it used to cost me about £3 to obtain one every year from the AA) at:
www.theaa.com/getaway/idp/
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Hi
Thanks for all the help - our son sent a brief e-mail late last night (our time) - He is cetain that he will be able to get one in Boston or NY - they are staying right in the middle of the two cities. As you look at the map - Boston is about 90 miles to the right and NY 90 to the left!!
Looks like small towns are not geared up for tourists!!
Thanks for all the help!!
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Hi
Our son phoned us today (about two hours ago) - he had received info re Boston car hire - but eventally got one earlier today from Bridgeport, state of Cuneticut - an suv from today until Friday as most places close around 4pm for about 430 dollars.
He took his cc size licence and the paper that comes with it.
Thanks for all the help!!!!!!!
Lucian
PS: It snowed there last night as it did a few days back - but only about an inch or two.
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