Comments on: need to rent a car

Question: need to rent a car

jmarq — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 15:39:50 -0800

do car rental companies do a dmv check before you can take the car?

By: killdevil

killdevil — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:34:15 -0800

No. They just check to make sure you're old enough to rent, and that you can pay whatever deposit they deem necessary.

By: faceonmars

faceonmars — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:35:25 -0800

I rented a car Wecnesday and if they did a DMV check on me, they did it pretty unobtrusively. I didn't notice a thing.

By: deadmessenger

deadmessenger — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:45:42 -0800

A few years ago, I remember reading that some of the big rental-car companies were going to start doing so, but as far as I can tell, it hasn't happened yet.

By: bilabial

bilabial — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 17:24:19 -0800

Well, they'll certainly ask to see your driver license, and record that information. It's not impossible for them to do a check, but it's not common afaik.

By: rmhsinc

rmhsinc — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 17:37:35 -0800

The Federal Trade Commission says it is increasingly common. Check ahead if you have a concern.

By: cmonkey

cmonkey — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 17:58:10 -0800

I rented a car from Budget a few weeks ago and unless they're able to get DMV records from out of state immediately, they didn't check mine.

By: princesspathos

princesspathos — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:22:15 -0800

A friend of mine had an unpaid ticket before leaving Wisconsin. However, he kept his Wisconsin DL. As a result, when he came back to visit last fall, Budget declined to rent to him.

By: drstein

drstein — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:41:56 -0800

No, but some of them actually do a fucking credit check. Because, you know, your FICO score shows what kind of a driver you are! *eyeroll*

This was with Hertz. Avis never bothered be. Budget never bothered me.

There's always Rent-A-Wreck.

By: krautland

krautland — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 21:53:22 -0800

avoid hertz at all cost anyway. they will try to scam you out of an extra load of gas upon return. (at least they tried that with me. their response: "you didn't tell us you filled it up." yeah, right.)

By: BillsR100

BillsR100 — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:21:04 -0800

No. I worked at Dollar/Thrify Rent a Car for 5 years, and at Hertz for two years. They do a Homeland Security check on you, meaning looking to see if your on the "no fly" list. The feds force all rental car companies to do that for the US Patriot Act. no biggie, just Big Brother watching, thats all. Watch list screening.

By: drstein

drstein — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 10:07:26 -0800

Hertz sure as hell does a credit check. I have a copy of my credit report sitting right here on my desk and there's an inquiry from Hertz.

I wish my Homeland Security file would show up on my credit report too. :D