Non US citizens with Alamo

[willise]

I noticed on the web site that non US citizens need to have a passport to rent a car. As a Canadian, we don't require passports to enter the US and I didn't need one to rent with Alamo last year in MCO.

Is this a new rquirement or has it been there all along and not been enforced?

Thanks

 

[chrisann]

We rented with them in December, and I called to ask the same question and was told that Canadians didn't need a passport. When we got there, our driver's license was fine(and birth certificate) Have fun!!!

 

[bavaria]

I did get a hard time from Alamo once years ago (when they were still offsite) - I think that I had booked on a UK travel site and I DID have to show my passport. They were also looking for an intl driving permit (?!!) and were really suspicious that I had documents from different countries (I have lived and worked in many different countries.....)

But for Canada you should be just fine... and I don't think that UK travellers do need an intl driving permit - I have one and have never used it in the last 15 years!

 

[pezpam]

US laws require that if your country issues driver's licenses without pictures on them, you also need your passport to rent. I forget what Canada does for licenses at the moment, so I'm not sure if that answers your question. Some rental companies prefer seeing your own license to an international one, though, so it's worth checking that company's policy and maybe even carrying both if it isn't too expensive.....

As someone who does cross the US/Canada border, though, I will say it's much easier to have your passport with you. I know that technically we aren't supposed to need them until 2008, but relying on being able to cross easily (driving or just going through customs at the airport) with just a driver's license is taking a chance these days. A passport is also a great form of ID to have in a lot of different situations and I'd advise having one with you whenever you leave your home country.