driving test soon, but no access to car
 

I am due to take my behind the wheel driving test soon.

I have been using my UK driving licence to rent cars and was planning to use a rental car for the test.

However I found out that this may not be permitted. I then proceeded to call the rental companies and got conflicting answers when calling the customer support versus calling an actual rental location.

Can anyone confirm if rental cars can be used and if not what others have done?

Thanks in advance

rk164

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Driving School?

I used my wife's truck.

If you are going to use a rental you will need it for about 10 minutes.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

I used a Hertz hire car to take my test. They did ask for insurance at the test, and I just handed them all the paperwork Hertz gave me (which was a stack). She said that was fine and I took the test. This was in Texas.

But I don't know if that was just luck or not though.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

The rental car company doesn't have to know anything about it. It's what the DMV (folks giving you the test) think.

I don't see why it should be a problem. It's a legal vehicle, you legally rented it, and it is insured.

If you want to be sure, contact the office where you'll be taking your test.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Depends on state - for instance in NY you need someone to drive you to the test regardless of whether you can drive legally on UK license - I imagine this would maybe rule out rental cars too - however in Texas i had friends use a rental.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

im in ohio - we tried to take our test with our avis rental BUT when the examiner got to the car she saw the plates had expired (before we even rented it) AND wouldnt proceed. We are now booked in again next week with a different avis car (with up to date plates!).

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Just rent the car and take the test, the rental company doesn.t need to know unless you trash it which is unlikely.
Just make sure the tags are good!

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

A girl I used to work with did this, well actually not her fault. Total write off.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

I did mine in Georgia in a rental car. Rental car agency will not care...

Georgia DMV website said you couldnt do it in a rental car, but when I phoned they said it was fine as long as i was the NAMED MAIN driver on the rental. I showed them the e-mail receipt and they said it was fine. As we had valid UK licenses, we were allowed to drive a rental car fully insured, so I guess the not being able to use rental cars for your test is maybe for US people getting their first driving license.

I would recommend getting used the the car first though... When I did my test, I had reverse park and paralell park... I crapped myself as I had never even put the thing into reverse... lol I lost points in those two manovers as I forgot to use the indicators...

Good luck!

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

You absolutely need to check with your relevent DMV - if you were in PA you couldn't use a rental car, but obviously states vary. The only other option, if you don't have a friend's car you can borrow, would be the one previously suggested - approach a driving school.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Welcome to good old American service. I hope you sued Avis, like a native! :D

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Best to check with the local DMV exactly what type of car is acceptable. For instance when my daughter took her driving test 5 yrs ago in New Jersey she had to use a car with a traditional handbrake...ie not the one you operate with the foot.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Different DMVs different rules. Some will let you have a friend show up with you, some will allow for just a letter from a friend, and some may issue you a ticket if you show up driving a car to your drivers test (since in some situations you don't have a license).

Google will probably yield the best answer on your state's requirements.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

it's more expensive, but you can also get a driving school to accompany you for an hour, which solves the rental/driving yourself there problem.

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

Here in Michigan I used a car like the flintstones, just running around really, shouting brum brum and beep beep. They didn't seem to mind and I passed my test in half an hour. God bless america and it's insatiable need to flog cars and gas :thumbup:

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

I thought it was "vroom, vroom" LOL

I want the pics, with your feet sticking out of the floorboards!

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

When I was a bin lid it was bbbrum, bbbbrum!!! I think vroom vroom is much more modern though :)

Re: driving test soon, but no access to car
 

we took ours today (and passed) in the rental. examiner couldnt have cared less who owned it.