People who don’t often rent cars from rental car companies aren’t always aware of how the way they drive affects their ability to rent a car, or if it matters at all. If you’re renting a car, it’s a good idea to check with the rental car company for any disclosures or specific rules they may have about your ability to rent a car and your driver’s license. Some rental car companies will contact the Motor Vehicle Department to request a copy of your driver’s license. In order for them to do this, you often need to provide written permission for them to have access to this information.
Rental car companies each have their own set of regulations and requirements that must be met in order for a person to rent a car. Some rental car companies review a person’s driving records when a person first rents a car from them. If the car is returned in good condition after the first time and there have been no collisions or fender flexing for which the car renter was responsible, the logbook will not usually be checked again by the same company unless there is a significant period of time beforehand passed the next time the person rents a car from the company.
If you have a less than stable and perfect driving record, it is possible that you will be charged a higher fee for renting a car. Some car rental companies specialize in renting cars to drivers with a history of accidents and speeding tickets. Alcohol and driving offenses are not always overlooked by car rental companies; and depending on the offense and how long it’s been, this could result in you not being able to rent a car even if you have a valid driver’s license.
You may also be denied the option to insure the rental car and have to pay for the rental car insurance if your driving was unstable. Speeding tickets, drunk-driving tickets, collisions, reckless driving tickets and fender slams leave a negative mark on your driving record. While these tickets and offenses don’t necessarily stop you from renting a car, they can make it more expensive.
Taking a driving course will help put your driving record on a positive footing, and this can make all future car rental and auto insurance prices more affordable to you. Research several different car rental companies and compare prices for high-risk drivers to find the best deals. You may simply have to put down a larger deposit than someone with a good driver’s license. These deposits will be returned if no accidents occurred during the rental of the vehicle and you return the vehicle in the same condition it was rented.