Are you planning to rent a car soon? If yes, what do you need in order to make the reservation? Is it just an agreement between an individual and a rental company or is there something more that needs to be done by the person who wants to rent a car?
We will answer these questions in this article. We will also give you some tips on what documents are required for renting your desired vehicle. Make sure that if you decide to drive around in somebody else’s car, there is no additional charge!
What Do You Need To Rent A Car?
1. You will need a valid driver’s license
2. You may also need your passport or other photo ID
3. Insurance is required for most car rentals, so you will want to make sure that you have coverage on your vehicle and any passengers in the rental car
4. If you are renting a car from an airport, there is usually an additional charge for dropping off the vehicle at another location
5. The renter should be at least 21 years of age with no major driving violations on their record
6. A credit card (or debit card) can be used as a form of payment when renting a car
Other Things To Note:
7. If you are under 25, you may have to pay an additional fee
8. Your credit card must be in your name and not expire for at least six months from the date of rental
9. The address on your driver’s license must match your current mailing address
10. You cannot rent a vehicle if you have any outstanding traffic violations or unpaid parking tickets
Hertz
J.D. Power ranks Hertz as the best car rental company in North America, and for good reason. Their focus on customer satisfaction means you’ll have a great time renting from them – from start to finish.
Enterprise
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has locations all over the world, so they’re bound to have one close by. Plus, they offer a wide selection of cars – from economy to luxury – so you can find the perfect ride for your trip.
Fox Rent-A-Car
Fox Rent-A-Car is the perfect solution for budget-minded travelers. They offer low rates on all of our vehicles, so you can hit the open road without breaking the bank.
* With Expedia member prices, you could save 10% or more right now on thousands of cars.
1. You will need a valid driver’s license
The first document you’ll need is a valid driver’s license. In most cases, you’ll need to be at least 25 years old and have been driving for three or more years with your current license. You also need to have a clean driving record without any accidents or major violations.
If you are renting a car from an airport, there is usually an additional charge for dropping off the vehicle at another location.
Your driver’s license or what’s called a “Primary Driving License” – should be valid and not expired. It should also have been used for three years at least before any rental fees are paid out.
2. You may also need your passport or other photo ID
In some cases, especially if you’re renting a car in a foreign country, you may need to provide a passport. If you do not have a valid driver’s license, then what is called a “Secondary Driving License” – should be provided instead.
Why is your Passport important when renting a car abroad?
When traveling abroad, you won’t have a local identification to prove your identity. You must keep your passport on you at all times.
What is a Secondary Driving License?
The secondary driving license is what it sounds like: a document that allows the company to take your photo and record information about what types of cars you rent in order to help them determine what type of insurance coverage they should be offering when you rent a car.
How many drivers can you have when renting a car?
Generally, renters will be allowed to have up to 4 different people driving the car at one rental period – but it depends on what type of cars you rent and what types of companies your rental agreement is with. This can get very complicated so if this situation arises for you, contact an insurance company for more information.
Additionally, if you are coming from out of state and plan to drive the car in what is called a “one-way rental” then one person can rent the car for your entire visit period – but again it all depends on what type of company you are renting with also.
It sounds complicated but fortunately, there are many different types of car rental companies out there to choose from and they will all be able to give you what you need when it comes to renting a car.
3. Insurance is required for most car rentals, so you will want to make sure that you have coverage on your vehicle and any passengers in the rental car
There are some car rental companies that allow you to take care of the insurance issue right on their website, so if this is what you want then make sure to first check out what they have available.
The best way to find a good deal online for any type of service will be through using our comparison list down below and finding the best car insurance for your needs.
The prices can vary dramatically depending on what type of car you want, so being able to see the difference between a sedan and an SUV can help save you time as well as money when it comes time to pick out one or more vehicles that will work best for you.
Here are the best online car insurance services:
- USAA: best overall car insurance company
- State Farm: best overall car insurance company
- Clearcover: best for digital presence
- Geico: best for high-risk drivers
- Travelers: best for budget drivers
- Erie: best for rubust coverage
- Auto-Owners: best for discounts
- Amica: best for claims satisfaction
- Nationwide: best for personalized coverage
- Progressive: best for digital policy management
- Allstate: best for high-value cars
USAA has the best overall car insurance company, hands down. Not only do they cover you with up to 150/-300k in their own liability but also 10/10 Coverage for damage and accident due to claims paid by others such as accidents or thefts from your vehicle–so if someone hits yours while driving without consent then USAA will take care of everything related!
State Farm is the best overall car insurance company. It has great customer service, competitive rates, and solid policies to offer its customers – which means that if something were ever wrong with your vehicle or you needed help in an emergency situation like a crash; State Farms’ employees would be there for support every step of the way!
2017 was another good year when it comes down to how much time we spend driving around town all over this beautiful country (or elsewhere). However, crashes still happen sometimes even though most people don’t want them happening on their watch/time either due they’re at work themselves so having quality temporary coverage through Drive Safe Insurance Agency can ease some worries about getting back
Clearcover is revolutionizing the car insurance industry with its technology-driven approach. The company has created highly affordable policies that provide drivers an amazing experience, making them clear contenders in today’s market.
Geico offers the best car insurance for high-risk drivers.
It is important to be cautious and protect yourself when it comes time to purchase an auto policy, but Geico has various options that can meet all your needs including plans with $0deductible or even free anti-collision services so you never need to worry about unexpected repairs costing more than what was originally covered by GEICO!
Travelers has been in the industry for over 150 years and offers a wide variety of products that will suit any driver. From robust savings opportunities to its strong independent agent network, Travelers is worth considering when looking into auto insurance options nationwide!
If you’re shopping for car insurance, it’s important to look at all the different insurers. Erie Insurance has a high score and offers generous “optional” coverages in their policies which make them stand out from other companies we researched significantly more than 43% cheaper rates when young drivers typically see an average rate that is much higher than what can be found on nationwide averages
Auto-Owners has a reputation for providing excellent auto coverage and earned the second-highest J.D Power claims satisfaction rates of any company on our list. Its wide range of coverage + discount options are available to drivers in 26 states.
Amica has a customer-centric business model and standout claims service, which makes it an excellent choice for drivers.
For those who need car insurance coverage from the best company out there – Amica is your first and only stop!
For car insurance, it’s not just about the price. It’s also crucial to find a company that has options for drivers and their needs; Nationwide does this well in its nationwide availability as well as on its website full of useful information where customers can customize policies to match what they need exactly – no matter how different everyone may be individually!
Progressive has been one of our top picks for car insurance because it offers competitive rates, handy tools to find discounts based on the customer’s own budget and driving habits. Third-party agencies have given Progressive high ratings which is an additional reason why you should choose this company when looking into your next policy!
Allstate offers a long list of valuable coverage options that make it an appealing option for many drivers, but especially those with unique vehicles. All these benefits are not just about protecting you from accidents or providing financial relief in case something goes wrong – they also have great rewards programs to offer!
The fourth-largest auto insurance provider on this side of things is named “AllState.” They boast over 60 million customers worldwide as well as being headquartered right here at home where their headquarters can be found inside Chicago’s Loop Business District next door neighboring off Michigan Avenue across from Navy Pier & Soldier Field Park aka Chi-Town USA 101 Rosemont Illinois 60004.
4. If you are renting a car from an airport, there is usually an additional charge for dropping off the vehicle at another location.
When renting a car for your trip, be prepared to pay any extra costs that may arise.
Renting a car involves paying what might seem like hidden fees and charges. If you’re planning on dropping off the car in a different location, be prepared to pay an extra charge. This may seem like an unnecessary fee, but it’s important to be prepared.
Sometimes, different rates will dramatically change if you’ll be dropping car in the airport versus in another location. The same thing could happen if you’ll be renting a car in a city center and dropping it in the same location. If you’ll be needing a car for several days, you might also need to pay the fee of having it parked in a lot.
5. The renter should be at least 21 years of age with no major driving violations on their record
The minimum age requirement to rent a car is usually around twenty-one years of age, and the person renting the car should not have had any major traffic violations in the past. Having these qualifications makes it so you are responsible enough for what may happen when you rent a car and makes it so the company is not liable for what happens in your possession.
If you do happen to be younger than 21, there may still be an option available if someone else over the legal driving age signs on as well or if there have been no major violations in their past. Also, you will have a much better chance to get what you need if you can provide proof of your identity and that there are no other outstanding warrants on your name.
6. A credit card (or debit card) can be used as a form of payment when renting a car
When paying for your car rental, make sure you have a credit card available to be used.
If your debit card is what you end up using, not only will it take longer for the transaction to go through but there’s also a possibility that the company may need further forms of identification from you in order to ensure you are who they say you are and that your accounts do not have any outstanding debts.
If you do not want to use a credit card as your form of payment, what you can do is ask for an imprinted debit card which will allow the company to take out what they need from your bank account rather than using a pre-paid amount that has been placed on it by someone else.
Currently, what is now required for you to be able to rent a car in the United States is that you are at least 21 years old and have an appropriate form of identification.
In general, what you need to do when renting a car from any company in order for them to accept your offer and have you as their customer will be due diligence on their part which includes taking down some details and doing what is necessary to decide if you will be a suitable customer.
Other Things To Note:
7. If you are under 25, you may have to pay an additional fee
If you are under 25 years of age, when renting a car and offering to pay for it, what you may be asked to do is pay an extra fee.
8. Your credit card must be in your name and not expire for at least six months from the date of rental
When you are looking to rent a car, what your credit card must have is that it be in your name and not expire for at least six months from the date of rental.
9. The address on your driver’s license must match your current mailing address
If the address on your driver’s license does not match what is currently in your mailing system, what you may need to do is update it. Otherwise, you may not be able to rent a car.
10. You cannot rent a vehicle if you have any outstanding traffic violations or unpaid parking tickets
If you have any outstanding traffic violations or unpaid parking tickets, what you will need to do is resolve them before renting a car. Otherwise, if they are not resolved when the company does their background check on your driving record, what it may mean for you is that you will not be able to rent a car.
Final (Bonus) Tips:
If there’s anything that you can do while renting a car, is to make sure that your contract is flexible enough and allows changes. You should know what are all fees involved into this process as well as what are all the rules and regulations.
If you’ll be renting a car for a business trip, there might be some extra fees involved as well such as tolls or mileage fees which can vary depending on where you live and what kind of vehicle will it be (SUV, truck etc.). If you’re living in NYC area for example, it could be very expensive to rent a car if you don’t live in New Jersey (located right next door).
Another thing that you might need to know is what kind of insurance they’ll offer for this vehicle. Make sure that the coverage will cover both your liability and physical damage because these are usually required by law. If something happens to the car, what will you do? You can’t just leave it there or pay for the repairs out of your own pocket.
Then ask yourself what kind of gas mileage are they expecting from this vehicle – if it’s an SUV that doesn’t get good fuel economy then make sure to inquire about refueling costs before making a final decision because you don’t want to get a surprise bill after finishing your trip.
Wrapping Up
When you’re ready to rent a car, make sure that the rental company has all of your information and documents. Make sure they have copies of your driver’s license as well as any other required documentation such as identification cards or passports. If this is not possible, do some research on what forms are necessary for renting a vehicle in order to avoid any problems getting behind the wheel!
