Car hire in US - can't find paper part of license!

kodys_angel

I think my best bet will be to confirm directly with Avis what, if any, extra charges there will be when we get there... Getting slightly worried reading peoples reviews about traveljigsaw/rentalcars.com/carhire3000 who all seem to be the same company. Unauthorised credit card payments, charging for damage that doesn't exist etc...
For peace of mind I may just take out an extra policy offered by Avis, as I haven't actually paid anything for CDW provided by the broker... In the event of any damage we'll deal directly with Avis then, no? Could work out pretty expensive though

visidigi

That's why the headline rates are nothing but a front and it drives me crazy!

I would consider looking at the broker option of coverage, purely as they would be the ones who would hit you with damage charges that avis hit them with (if they ever do of course).

Car Hire is a tricky business, so many pitfalls - I guess I've just been lucky the 100's of times I've rented in the US.

kodys_angel

By the broker option do you mean from rentalcars.com? Or a separate broker? They say that CDW is free and there was no option to add any other insurance during the booking.

visidigi

I would initially ask the same broker you booked the car with - see if they offer additional, through themselves or a third party. I do know that the US rentacar is merely just a broker for the third party coverage which you pay and claim back on return.

ferf1223

visidigi wrote: »

No license checks at all, we used them last year and will most definitely use them again next.

you don't even have to show your license when you exit? I've been Dollar express for years and still always have to show my licence to the guard at the gate when leaving...but have never rented with Dollar at LAX.

headpin

Must have hired in the states 25+ times. Four times in past 15 months. Never ever been asked for the paper counterpart.

Also been stopped by State Trooper for speeding and again Photocard part only required.

As they only use the Photocard themselves I do not think they expect the paper counterpart. So, I would not worry. Indeed with Alamo you can check in on line and just go straight and pick your car from the Lot. The exit booth will check your paperwork but not ask for your Licence.

Backbiter

headpin wrote: »

Indeed with Alamo you can check in on line and just go straight and pick your car from the Lot. The exit booth will check your paperwork but not ask for your Licence.

This is news to me. We've booked with Alamo for two weeks time, so online check-in would suit us fine. Will definitely look into this!

EDIT: Have now submitted Licence details online, for me and my wife, so that should save a bit of time at the airport. The confirmation - after entering all the licence details - says:

Here's what you do to pick up your car:

• Take the elevator down to the first level, Alamo is located in the middle of the first floor in the airport terminal. Proceed to the counter obtain your rental agreement and vehicle keys.

so I'm not sure we can just go straight to the Lot to collect the car.

kodys_angel

Thanks for all your help guys. My mind is a bit more at ease now.
Just to be sure I got in touch with Avis via live-chat and asked them if the paper part would be required and the guy said photocard alone will be fine.
Also confirmed that, after reading horror stories about rentalcars.com, there would be no further charges to pay when we got there. He confirmed that this was correct.
Also signed up to Avis preferred so we don't have to wait in line (which I have read can regularly be 90+mins) and they have linked our booking for us so we should just be able to get straight through and pick up the car

Printed out a transcript of the webchat too, just in case!

2 days to go!