Renting a car for foreigners

[lizzyshakuntala]

We're planning a 3 week trip this December and we're thinking of renting a car for the first 2 weeks we're there (when we're staying outside of WDW).

Does anybody know the procedures for foreigners in order to be able to rent a car?
Are there any specific/necessary documents that we need to bring? We're planning to get an International Driver License for our trip and will be bringing our local Driver Licenses... Will that be enough?

P/S: This probably won't help but I thought I'd throw it out there; my husband and I each have inactive US Driver Licenses (expired in 2008) from when we lived there... Does that help?

 

[chocolate_monsta]

we hired a car last time - and will do so again this trip. We had a US travel agent book the car hire for us - it was quite cheap - through dollar rental. I'm not sure if they knew we were international prior or not.. Anyway, when we got there, they upped the price HEAPS to add on some stupid insurance package. After much arguing we managed to convince them that we were insured through our travel insurance - but to be honest I don't know if we ever really were. Many travel insurances do cover your excess etc... But in the US (as you would prob know if you lived there) they pay insurance for each driver seperately from the car.... So you have to be insured legally to drive. My US travel agent is trying to find out if we do legally actually have to take the additional insurance or anything else in the meantime too!

 

[ancestry]

But in the US (as you would prob know if you lived there) they pay insurance for each driver seperately from the car.... So you have to be insured legally to drive.

This is not completely true. You can't get insured to drive if you don't have a car. Now my daughter doesn't have her own car but she is required to be on my insurance since she has a license and she drives my car but that is because she lives with me. The insurance rates depend on what type of car you are driving. You don't have to be insured to drive legally in the US. The car you are driving HAS to be insured.

If a friend has a license but no car and no insurance they can still legally drive someone else's car.

 

[sjaakie]

Try Hertz. Coming from Europe we never had a problem plus you can get the Sunn Pass for the toll ways for a few Dollar.They have the toll pases build in.

 

[sympatico]

Try http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/
You can get lots of good info on there and their silver and gold packages include all insurances. The prices are good considering the insurance coverage that you're getting.
In their FAQ: Does it matter what nationality I am, or which county my license is from?

Dollar alllow us to take bookings for drivers of any nationality except US or Canadian license holders.

We used them in March. At that time they were using Budget to rent to Canadian drivers but they don't now.
You should be ok to use them.

 

[peteg87]

Foreign travelers can easily rent a car to travel in USA. You need a credit card to book a car from any rental company. There are so many companies but it is always preferable to book rental car through brokers as they are way cheaper and offer better deals. Recently my friend used pointcarhire.com/us and he was quite satisfied with the rates, services and car provided. You may visit their website for more details.

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Thanks for the pointers everyone!!

So far I found the best deals through Thrifty & Dollar.
But I'll sure be looking into the websites mentioned above right away...

 

[NotUrsula]

As a general rule, you will save money on US rentals if you book it through an agency that is NOT US-based, or if US-based, one that handles rentals for international travelers exclusively. Direct rentals from the car company should be priced via the local website for your country, not the *.com domain used by US customers.

The reason for this is the insurance. The rental companies sell special packages to overseas brokers that include the extra insurance in the price of the car, and by paying it in advance you will almost always save. Most US rental companies DO require nonresidents to purchase CDW coverage, and it is very expensive when purchased at the daily rate -- normally it will about double the cost.

 

[seashoreCM]

Go to the car rental agency's site and check their contract of carriage, er, rules/policies. Some agencies require that foreigners (includes U.S. residents visiting other countries) buy some of the "optional" coverages.

Individual rental offices may have slightly different polices but the ones shown on the nationwide web site should at least give a good idea.

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

wow thanks for more insights... that just gave me even more reasons really look into this 'issue'

 

[Brer Chump]

Be careful about the International Drivers License. Most of these are scams. Get a driver's license from the governmental agency that oversees driving in your country. The only other document you may want is an International Driving Permit (may be called a license). Basically it will translate your government issued license into different languages, including English. These are issued by AAA in the USA. Try the SAT in your area. You will need both if you are stopped by the police, if your license is not printed in English.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Being from Canada everytime we flew to Orlando International Airport and rented from Avis or National, they asked for our Ontario Driver Licenses and didn't need anything extra other then that.

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Be careful about the International Drivers License. Most of these are scams. Get a driver's license from the governmental agency that oversees driving in your country. The only other document you may want is an International Driving Permit (may be called a license). Basically it will translate your government issued license into different languages, including English. These are issued by AAA in the USA. Try the SAT in your area. You will need both if you are stopped by the police, if your license is not printed in English.

The Permit! Yes that's what we're suppose to get... THanks

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Being from Canada everytime we flew to Orlando International Airport and rented from Avis or National, they asked for our Ontario Driver Licenses and didn't need anything extra other then that.

That sounds simple enough but I think it'd be different for us since our licenses are in Indonesian.