How can I rent a car for a CA driving test?

October 14, 2008 6:23 PM

I've got a foreign license, don't own a car and need to take the California driving test. All the rental car companies I've spoken to won't rent out their car for use in driving tests. This, even though I already have a foreign license and can legally drive here [for now]. How does one get a car for a driving test without owning one?

Borrowing from friends isn't an option unfortunately.

posted by shimon to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

Many student driving courses offer cars for rent to take a driving test. Try calling a few near your local DMV.
posted by thewittyname at 6:27 PM on October 14, 2008

Call a local driving school.
posted by mudpuppie at 6:28 PM on October 14, 2008

Hmm... a foreign license is enough to let you drive legally, right? I can't imagine that rental companies refuse to rent to foreign tourists. Can't you use your foreign license to rent the car?
posted by alexei at 6:29 PM on October 14, 2008

alexei: The DMV specifically check the insurance before you start a test and they won't let you use a rental car without a letter from the rental company (which the companies I've talked to at least, will not give).
posted by shimon at 6:38 PM on October 14, 2008

Might be a longshot, but you could try explaining your situation on craig's list and offering a monetary incentive.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 7:14 PM on October 14, 2008

Don't tell the rental company you need the car for a driving test. Why even bring it up?


Problem solved.
posted by Zambrano at 7:22 PM on October 14, 2008

Have you tried calling a private insurance company and seeing if you can get your own insurance for a week or something? I'm not sure if they would do it, but my own car insurance covers rental cars.
posted by whoaali at 7:29 PM on October 14, 2008

Alternatively, find a "friend" on craigslist. As in offer to pay someone like $200 to borrow their car for the driving test. Tell them that if they feel more comfortable, they can drive you to the DMV and wait for you to take your test, that way your car is never out of their (or the DMV testers) sight.
posted by whoaali at 7:32 PM on October 14, 2008

craigslist. if you are in the bay area you can use mine.
posted by arnicae at 7:37 PM on October 14, 2008

honestly, you already got the answer - call driving schools. They do this all the time.
posted by moxiedoll at 7:59 PM on October 14, 2008

Driving school.
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:14 PM on October 14, 2008

I took my CA driving test in a driving school car.
posted by crinklebat at 11:12 PM on October 14, 2008

Thirding driving school. It would kill two birds with one stone- you are getting a car to take the test with, and maybe you could pay a few bucks for an hour or two refresher course on the vagaries of US and California driving laws.
posted by gjc at 5:14 AM on October 15, 2008

in Australia (so presumably in the US as well) there are Driving instructors / Driving Schools that exist for this very purpose. you use their car for training and for the test if you want to.
posted by mary8nne at 8:15 AM on October 15, 2008