Re=hiring A Car In Usa Without Counterpart

DPH1230

i asked on an earlier post about hiring a car in the us without the counterpart section of my licence(mislaid it).
as i'm going 11th jan there's no time for a replacement, can anyone tell me if there's any possible way around this as i need a car for my disabled wife.

Lorian

I don't think anyone can help except the DVLA.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_4022085

You'll need to ring them on the 27th and see if they can do anything to help.

Obviously keep looking in the meantime!

dzug

Apart from the DVLA route, the only possibility is that the car hire company may be too ignorant/incompetent/soft/eager to rent to you to insist that you produce a full legal licence. You really can't rely on this.

The other avenue that might get suggested (and again it doesn't legally solve the problem) is to get an international licence through the AA RAC or Post Office. This also MIGHT fool someone in the US - but legally it's only valid if you can also produce your UK licence, both parts, as well.

exel1966

From personal experience which includes at least 50 rentals all over the US I have NEVER been asked for the counterpart to the licence. Most american c/s agents wouldn't even know there is a counterpart to the Uk licence.

The only time I've ever been asked to produce it is when renting a vehicle in the UK.

From the DVLA :- This applies to the Photocard or the counterpart.

How do you obtain a replacement driving licence if yours is lost or stolen?

Conclusion

• complete a D1 application form, available from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) form ordering service or from Post Office® branches
• if your address has changed, enter your new address details in section one of the D1 application form
• if you wish to change your photograph, you will need to enclose one passport-type and size colour photograph, signed by a suitable person
• if your name has changed, include original identity documentation confirming your new name
• enclose the fee of £22.00, cheque or postal orders made payable to ‘DVLA, Swansea'
• enclose the photocard or paper counterpart you still have in your possession
• send your completed application to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB
• if you do not want to send your identity documentation by post, you may be able to use premium checking service
• inform the police if your driving licence has been stolen

What happens next

• a new driving licence will normally be issued within 15 working days from the day that DVLA receives your application
• if you find your licence after requesting or receiving your new driving licence you should return the old one to DVLA with an explanatory letter

bootsaholic

We have hired a car in florida every year for the last five years, and never been asked to show the counterpart licence yet - although we do always take it!

gkf

Likewise, never been asked for the paper part on our last 30 visits.

DPH1230

thankyou aii for that, hope it works for me.

debs66_2

have hired car 4 times in 2 years in LA/Vegas - asked for counterpart each time.

just our experiences.

have a fab holiday.

sturll

I have travelled to the USA and hire a car twice previously with Dollar and have been asked to provide the counterpart BOTH TIMES. I am travelling out there next week and am taking my counterpart and am expecting it to be needed as previously.

That said hire cars in the USA are far far far far far more lenient than in the UK. I dont think my car has ever been checked when i have returned it? Pretty good really, since i took a CrossFire off road through death valley :j

PBA

I thought I'd already posted in this thread, but must have been another one similar.

Basically, call the DVLA tomorrow and they will sort it out. A few years ago I realised I'd lost my licence a week before flying out to the States. A guy on the phone in Swansea gave me a special address to write to for his attention, sent it 1st class to them that day and got it back 2 days later. As long as your current licence is photocard you don't even need to send in a form any more, just call them up with your credit card number and they send it out in the post. If you make sure they know you need it by 11 Jan then they will make sure you get it.


Even if you managed to get a hire car with just the photocard, you wouldn't be driving with a valid licence so could get into serious trouble if you got pulled over. And hire car desks at the airports are usually all in a long row, so if you got refused hire by one of them all the others would know to turn you down as well. Just get a new licence and you'll have nothing to worry about.

exel1966

PBA wrote: »

Even if you managed to get a hire car with just the photocard, you wouldn't be driving with a valid licence so could get into serious trouble if you got pulled over. And hire car desks at the airports are usually all in a long row, so if you got refused hire by one of them all the others would know to turn you down as well. Just get a new licence and you'll have nothing to worry about.

Not true at all and I speak from experience of having driven in the region of 250,000 miles whilst living in the US.
It is very easy to get pulled over in the US by law enforcement as the most minor of motoring offences are taken very seriously, but the only piece of paper/ID any cop would want to see is that one with a picture on. There is no legal requirement to carry anything else.