Mark Hewitt

Everyone I've asked seems to think this is the case, but just wanted to make
sure..

I will be hiring a car (from Washington DC) when I visit the USA in late
June, and just wanted to make sure I can do this while only having my UK
drivers licence, and not an international permit, which I'm told isn't
needed as I have one of the new types of photo ID licences.

Les B. Avenue

Mark Hewitt wrote:
    >
    > Everyone I've asked seems to think this is the case, but just wanted to make
    > sure..
    >
    > I will be hiring a car (from Washington DC) when I visit the USA in late
    > June, and just wanted to make sure I can do this while only having my UK
    > drivers licence, and not an international permit, which I'm told isn't
    > needed as I have one of the new types of photo ID licences.

No probs.
I was concerned my old green licence might not be valid, but they seem
well aware of all the different versions of UK licences that have been
issued over the years.
Not sure about the old maroon ones though......
No need for an international one.

Les
--
Quitters never win, winners never quit. But those who never win and
never quit are idiots
------------
This post represents the views of the author and does not necessarily
accurately represent the views of my employer.

Keith Willshaw

"Mark Hewitt" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Everyone I've asked seems to think this is the case, but just wanted to
make
    > sure..
    > I will be hiring a car (from Washington DC) when I visit the USA in late
    > June, and just wanted to make sure I can do this while only having my UK
    > drivers licence, and not an international permit, which I'm told isn't
    > needed as I have one of the new types of photo ID licences.

It isnt needed with the old type either, as long as you have a major credit
card,
a UK drivers license and your passport you are all set although if
you are under 25 you may have problems

That said watch out for insurance issues. Unlike rental in the UK
us cars only come with the minimum insurance required by the
state. For the most part this is third party and theft and isnt adequate
even for that. You'll need LDW to cover any damage to the vehicle
and SLI to take the third party cover to a reasonable level.

Buying this insurance at the rental company desk is expensive
so consider either getting annual travel cover which includes
it or rent through a UK agent such as Expedia, Trailfinders or
Holiday Autos who include insurance in their charges.

Keith

Keith Willshaw

"Les B. Avenue" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Mark Hewitt wrote:
    > >
    > > Everyone I've asked seems to think this is the case, but just wanted to
make
    > > sure..
    > >
    > > I will be hiring a car (from Washington DC) when I visit the USA in late
    > > June, and just wanted to make sure I can do this while only having my UK
    > > drivers licence, and not an international permit, which I'm told isn't
    > > needed as I have one of the new types of photo ID licences.
    > No probs.
    > I was concerned my old green licence might not be valid, but they seem
    > well aware of all the different versions of UK licences that have been
    > issued over the years.
    > Not sure about the old maroon ones though......
    > No need for an international one.

Yea gods the old maroon ones that takes me back, but I'd guess
they phased them out around 25 years ago, they only lasted
a short period as I recall (3 years ? )

Keith

Mark Hewitt

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > It isnt needed with the old type either, as long as you have a major
credit
    > card,
    > a UK drivers license and your passport you are all set although if
    > you are under 25 you may have problems

I am 25, so hopefully no issues there.

    > That said watch out for insurance issues. Unlike rental in the UK
    > us cars only come with the minimum insurance required by the
    > state. For the most part this is third party and theft and isnt adequate
    > even for that. You'll need LDW to cover any damage to the vehicle
    > and SLI to take the third party cover to a reasonable level.

Yep. I noticed all that stuff. Strange that when hiring cars in the UK, they
always include full insurance with maximum £500 excess. Reducable to £75 or
even zero in some cases. However USA seems to be the other way around and
you insure yourself up to a maximum amount e.g. $5,000 worth.

    > Buying this insurance at the rental company desk is expensive
    > so consider either getting annual travel cover which includes
    > it or rent through a UK agent such as Expedia, Trailfinders or
    > Holiday Autos who include insurance in their charges.

I did notice when I looked at websites saying I was a US resident the
charges for insurance etc were all seperate, and extremely expensive
compared to what I'm used to here. However on the Alamo site if I say I am
resident in the UK, all the insurance becomes included in the price, sorted!

Les B. Avenue

Keith Willshaw wrote:
    >
    > "Mark Hewitt" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Everyone I've asked seems to think this is the case, but just wanted to
    > make
    > > sure..
    > >
    > > I will be hiring a car (from Washington DC) when I visit the USA in late
    > > June, and just wanted to make sure I can do this while only having my UK
    > > drivers licence, and not an international permit, which I'm told isn't
    > > needed as I have one of the new types of photo ID licences.
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    > It isnt needed with the old type either, as long as you have a major credit
    > card,
    > a UK drivers license and your passport you are all set although if
    > you are under 25 you may have problems
    >
    > That said watch out for insurance issues. Unlike rental in the UK
    > us cars only come with the minimum insurance required by the
    > state. For the most part this is third party and theft and isnt adequate
    > even for that. You'll need LDW to cover any damage to the vehicle
    > and SLI to take the third party cover to a reasonable level.
    >
    > Buying this insurance at the rental company desk is expensive
    > so consider either getting annual travel cover which includes
    > it or rent through a UK agent such as Expedia, Trailfinders or
    > Holiday Autos who include insurance in their charges.
    >
    > Keith
I have always used a company called Bon Voyage who do Alamo car hire
inclusive of a good insurance cover package :-
http://www.bon-voyage.co.uk/YourBest...Hire/start.asp

Les

Barbara Vaughan

Mark Hewitt wrote:

    > Yep. I noticed all that stuff. Strange that when hiring cars in the UK, they
    > always include full insurance with maximum £500 excess. Reducable to £75 or
    > even zero in some cases. However USA seems to be the other way around and
    > you insure yourself up to a maximum amount e.g. $5,000 worth.

Most Americans don't need insurance on their rental cars. First, the
insurance for their own cars usually includes coverage for rental cars.
Second, most major credit cards include insurance for rental cars in
their annual fees. This means that most of the customers who buy
insurance neither own a car nor have a credit card. This is probably on
average a high-risk group, making rental car insurance coverage very
expensive, often more than the cost of renting the car.

Barbara

Mark Hewitt

"Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > Most Americans don't need insurance on their rental cars. First, the
    > insurance for their own cars usually includes coverage for rental cars.
    > Second, most major credit cards include insurance for rental cars in
    > their annual fees. This means that most of the customers who buy
    > insurance neither own a car nor have a credit card. This is probably on
    > average a high-risk group, making rental car insurance coverage very
    > expensive, often more than the cost of renting the car.

Whereas in the UK basic insurance is included by law.
Well what is basic for the UK might be considered comprehensive for USA, I
don't know. However I've seen anything where the price did not include a
liability for the driver for any more than £500.

I can see why with Alamo, the insurance is included for foreign drivers,
i.e. they are likely to need it and are not just buying it because they are
a "high risk" group, as you put it.

Keith Willshaw

"Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Mark Hewitt wrote:
    > > Yep. I noticed all that stuff. Strange that when hiring cars in the UK,
they
    > > always include full insurance with maximum £500 excess. Reducable to £75
or
    > > even zero in some cases. However USA seems to be the other way around
and
    > > you insure yourself up to a maximum amount e.g. $5,000 worth.
    > Most Americans don't need insurance on their rental cars. First, the
    > insurance for their own cars usually includes coverage for rental cars.
    > Second, most major credit cards include insurance for rental cars in
    > their annual fees. This means that most of the customers who buy
    > insurance neither own a car nor have a credit card. This is probably on
    > average a high-risk group, making rental car insurance coverage very
    > expensive, often more than the cost of renting the car.

The cynical amongst us may however take the view that its an
opportunity to make a good profit out of a captive customer base.

When an unsuspecting tourist form Europe or Australia gets to the
rental desk its a litlle too late to be shopping for alternate insurance
cover. The rental companies additionally impose higher charges on
high risk groups such as those under 25. In some locations I have
also been required to sign a declaration about my driving record.

Keith

Bbrr

"Mark Hewitt" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Everyone I've asked seems to think this is the case, but just wanted to
make
    > sure..
    > I will be hiring a car (from Washington DC) when I visit the USA in late
    > June, and just wanted to make sure I can do this while only having my UK
    > drivers licence, and not an international permit, which I'm told isn't
    > needed as I have one of the new types of photo ID licences.

just remember to stay on the 'proper' side of the road.
and look left before turning right.

Barbara Vaughan

Keith Willshaw wrote:
    >
    > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >
    > > Mark Hewitt wrote:
    > >
    > > > Yep. I noticed all that stuff. Strange that when hiring cars in the UK,
    > they
    > > > always include full insurance with maximum £500 excess. Reducable to £75
    > or
    > > > even zero in some cases. However USA seems to be the other way around
    > and
    > > > you insure yourself up to a maximum amount e.g. $5,000 worth.
    > >
    > > Most Americans don't need insurance on their rental cars. First, the
    > > insurance for their own cars usually includes coverage for rental cars.
    > > Second, most major credit cards include insurance for rental cars in
    > > their annual fees. This means that most of the customers who buy
    > > insurance neither own a car nor have a credit card. This is probably on
    > > average a high-risk group, making rental car insurance coverage very
    > > expensive, often more than the cost of renting the car.
    > >
    >
    > The cynical amongst us may however take the view that its an
    > opportunity to make a good profit out of a captive customer base.

At one time, the rental car insurance was included almost as a given
when you rented the car; it could be declined but most people didn't
know that and didn't realize they might not need it. Then there was a
massive consumer protection campaign to educate the consumers to the
fact that they might already have alternative coverage and to force the
rental companies to inform their customers that they might decline it.

After that, the credit card companies began including additional
insurance for rental cars as a selling gimmick, more and more customers
began declining coverage, and the cost of such coverage sky-rocketed.

I don't think the foreign renter is a big enough segment of the market
to have had much of an impact on this process. It's certainly a big
inconvenience for people such as us who maybe rent a car in the US once
every three years or so, and don't have any alternative coverage.

Barbara

Graham Harrison

With the non-photo licences hiring car was never really an issue. I can
remember being asked where the photograph was and just saying we don't have
them in the UK and that was (and remains) fine.

I've never had to test this out but the reason why an international licence
was recommended (and I think remains recommended) was in case you had a
brush with the law. The theory seems to be that the police in the US are
so used to seeing a licence with a photo they will be doubtful about
something that doesn't have one and haul you in while they check it out. I
was particularly warned (by some Americans) about small towns where "the
budget is maintained by stopping tourists who are speeding". I can't prove
any of the above!

--
*****
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Keith Willshaw

"Graham Harrison" wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
    > With the non-photo licences hiring car was never really an issue. I can
    > remember being asked where the photograph was and just saying we don't
have
    > them in the UK and that was (and remains) fine.

Not all US issued driving license have a photo in any case. ISTR the New
Jersey
licenses didnt. In reality as long as you can prove your ID there's no
problem. I've had to get rental agents in small towns call head office
a couple of times to check that the license was OK but thats about it

    > I've never had to test this out but the reason why an international
licence
    > was recommended (and I think remains recommended) was in case you had a
    > brush with the law. The theory seems to be that the police in the US are
    > so used to seeing a licence with a photo they will be doubtful about
    > something that doesn't have one and haul you in while they check it out.

Trouble is all an international drivers permit is legally is a translation
of a national license. Without your UK license its has no validity and
since the UK license is in English it has no real purpose !

Where UK drivers tend to get into trouble is through not carrying
the license when driving. Unlike the situation here you are supposed
to have it with you when driving in most (if not all) states.
I
    > was particularly warned (by some Americans) about small towns where "the
    > budget is maintained by stopping tourists who are speeding". I can't
prove
    > any of the above!

The latter part certainly has an element of truth in it and if you have an
out of state license the usual procedure is to haul you down to the local
judges office and collect the fine then and there. Having said that its
very often justified. I sttayed in Hurricane Utah once, its a small town
that
traffic to Zion NP passes through and the local police dept was doing
a roaring trade stopping people speeding through a school zone.

The lights were on , the deputy's fully marked car was sitting right outside
the school and people still werent slowing down.

Keith

Jonathan Makepeace

Nothing to do with driving licences, but a British acquaintance once
tried to purchase beer or wine in Oklahoma using her passport as proof
of age. The store clerk looked at it dubiously and asked, "Ain't you
got an Oklahoma driver's license?"

Keith Willshaw

"Jonathan Makepeace" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Nothing to do with driving licences, but a British acquaintance once
    > tried to purchase beer or wine in Oklahoma using her passport as proof
    > of age. The store clerk looked at it dubiously and asked, "Ain't you
    > got an Oklahoma driver's license?"

The best story of that kind came from Bill Bryson when in the
deep deep south he was asked by a waitress where he came from.

When he said the UK she said'

Well you sure do speak English purty good fer a foreigner

Keith