Driving Licences for Car Hire in the USA

Tips on driving in USA and renting a car with a UK driving licence

To hire a car in the USA you need a full, valid driving licence from your country of residence (but not USA or Canada). Some car hire companies require that you have held your full licence for at least one year. But not all make this distinction – please see the checklist below. For UK drivers heading to the USA, we understand that nothing will change with regard to UK driving licences and that in other English speaking countries you will not be required to hold an IDP following Brexit. For drivers heading to Europe please click here

NB: If you have a driving ban in your home country you cannot hire a car in the USA

UK Counterpart Licence

Since June 8th 2015 the paper counterpart of a UK photo ID driving licence has ceased to have legal status. A UK driving licence is now either a paper licence or just the photo ID.  A paper licence will have been issued prior to 1998 and maybe pink or green. This is all you need to collect your hire car in the USA. You do not require a code from the DVLA to hire in the USA. If your paper licence is in a bad condition we advise you to replace it. With a rise in fraud, car hire suppliers are increasingly picky about physical defects in licences.

Photocopies or faxed copies of driving licences are not accepted.  Quite often we get calls from clients whose driving licences are with the DVLA and may not be back in time. Contrary to what the DVLA may tell you, the car hire companies in the USA will not accept a faxed copy from the DVLA. We usually have to switch these reservations into the name of another member of the party. The same is true for suppliers in Canada.

Points and Endorsements

The USA does not recognise the UK system of endorsements on a driving licence, so speeding points etc will not have an impact. The general rule is that if you can legally drive in the UK then you can hire a car in the USA. This also applies to driving bans. If your ban has finished and you can now legally drive again, then you can hire a car and drive in the USA.

International Driving Licences and Permits

Drivers from E.U. countries with an E.U. driving licence do not require an International Driving Permit (IDP). Your E.U. Driving licence is all you require.

A USA or Canadian driving licence cannot be presented with our pre-paid rental vouchers.

There are two approaches to driving licences of non-English speaking countries. The first is to make a distinction between Roman alphabets and non-Roman alphabets. For languages with a Roman alphabet, drivers are not required to obtain an IDP. The regular driving licence will be accepted.  Drivers from countries with non-Roman alphabets will be required to obtain an IDP to present at the same time as their national driving licence. Presentation of the IDP alone will not allow you to drive.

The second approach is to insist upon a written English section on your driving licence, and if there is not an English section then you will need to obtain an IDP as above.  There is a cost associated with obtaining an IDP, and they tend to be valid for just 12 months.

If you are in any doubt at all, please obtain an International Driving Permit.

Driving Licence Requirements, by Supplier

• Alamo
  • Full Licence
  • A driving licence in Roman alphabet accepted.
  • Chinese travellers should select Alamo, and may use the Chinese Driver’s License Translation Service, replacing the need for an IDP. Chinese travelers may not rent in the states of Michigan or Massachusetts.
  • Japanese travellers should select Alamo, and may use the Japanese Driver’s License Translation Service, replacing the need for an IDP
  • IDP in all other circumstances
• National 
  • Full Licence
  • A driving licence in Roman alphabet accepted.
  • Chinese travellers should select National, and may use the Chinese Driver’s License Translation Service, replacing the need for an IDP. Chinese travelers may not rent in the states of Michigan or Massachusetts.
  • Japanese travellers should select National, and may use the Japanese Driver’s License Translation Service, replacing the need for an IDP
  • IDP in all other circumstances
• Dollar
  • Full Licence held for a minimum of 1 year
  • Will need an IDP if the licence is not recognisable
• Thrifty
  • Full Licence held for a minimum of 1 year
  • Will need an IDP if the licence is not recognisable
• Hertz
  • Full Licence held for a minimum of 1 year
  • Will need an IDP if the licence is not recognisable
• Europcar
  • Full Licence held for a minimum of 1 year
  • Will need an IDP if the licence is not recognisable

UK Counterpart Driving Licence Cease to be Legal

Drivers from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cypress require an international driving permit even though the licence card has an English translation.

Elle Hubbard

Best Contact Email: reservations@carhireteam.co.uk

Office telephone number: Freephone 0800 0830123