People who do not rent cars often from car rental companies are not always aware of how their driving history will affect their ability to rent a car, or if that will matter. When renting a car, it’s a good idea to check with the car rental company for any specific disclosures or rules they may have about your ability to rent a car and your driving history. Some car rental companies will check with the Department of Motor Vehicles to request a copy of your driving record. In order for them to do this, you often need to submit a written permission form for them to have access to this information.
Each of the car rental companies has its own rules and requirements that must be established for a person to be able to rent a car. Some car rental companies will check a person’s driving history the first time they rent a car from them. After the first time, if the car is returned in good condition and there were no collisions or fender crashes for which the renter is responsible, the driving record is generally not reviewed again by the same company unless it has passed a significant amount of time before. the next time the person rents a car from the company.
If you have a less than stable and perfect driving record, you may be charged a higher rate for renting a car. Some car rental companies specialize in renting cars to drivers who have had accidents and speeding tickets in the past. Car rental companies don’t always ignore drinking and driving offenses; and depending on the violation and how long it has been since it occurred, this could prevent you from being able to rent a car, even if you have a valid driver’s license.
You may also face the possibility of not being offered the rental car insurance option and will have to pay for the rental car insurance if your driving record has been unstable. Speeding, drinking and driving tickets, collisions, reckless driving tickets, and fender crashes put a negative stain on your driving record. While these fines and violations may not necessarily prevent you from renting a car, they can make it more expensive.
Taking a driving class will help you put positive marks on your driving record and this can make all future car rental and auto insurance prices more affordable for you. Researching several different car rental companies and making price comparisons for high-risk drivers can help you find the best deals. You may simply need to put down a larger deposit than someone with a good driving record. These deposits are refundable if there are no accidents while you rented the vehicle and if you return the vehicle in the same condition in which it was rented.