• May 24, 2023
• / by admin

What Do You Need To Rent A Car? Things To Know Before Renting

Are you looking to get a car rental and wondering what you would need for the booking? Do not worry too much; it is a very common query that many people think about at least once in their lifetime. In order to get rid of that confusion, we will be providing you with all the necessary information you need to know before you go on to rent a car. We will also go through some special requirements that you may need to have. 

Without further ado, let’s get started!!

What Are The Requirements To Rent A Car?

There are plenty of requirements that are common in any rental service, and there are a few that are rare but may be required. We will be talking about all of these requirements here. 

Age 

At what age can you rent a car? This question comes to anyone’s mind when they go for a car rental for the first time. The minimum age required to rent a car in most states is 21. However, you may come across services that ask for a minimum age of more than 25 years.    

There are car rentals that do allow individuals in the age group of 18-24 years under certain specific conditions and an extra fee. This extra fee is taken as an underage fee. It does not simply that every car rental service allows individuals in the underage group.  

There is also an exception in payment of extra fees for US government personnel who do not have a Government Leisure Pass. Having the pass may subject them to paying the underage fee.

Documents

Next, we move on to the documents needed to rent a car. The mandatory documents that every car rental agency would require are

• A government-issued driving license which is valid for the time period of car rental. A temporary license may also be acceptable under certain specific conditions. 
• A valid ID card or passport to verify your identity. 
• An international driving permit (in the case of foreign nationals)

These documents are the minimum that you should have for renting a car. The agency may also ask you to present original copies of these documents to verify their authenticity for safety reasons. 

Clean Driving Record

Having a clean driving record would also be necessary as no agency would rent their cars to reckless drivers. There are cases that count as reckless driving; they are mentioned below.

• There should not be any convictions for reckless driving in a specified time frame. Also, there should not be any DUI/DWI/DWAI** convictions. 
• A record of possessing a stolen vehicle should also not be there.
• You should also not have a case of failure to report an accident or running away from an accident. 
• You should not have any case where you used a vehicle in a crime. 
• There should be no more than two accidents or moving violations in a specified time period. The number is subject to change in different cases. 

(**DUI - Driving under the influence, DWI - Driving while impaired, DWAI - Driving while ability impaired) 

So, it is better to have a clean record in driving when going for easy access to a car rental. 

Credit/Debit Card

You would also need a credit or debit card to deposit the payment for the car rental. Some car rental services may put a hold on your card at the time of renting the car to cover the estimated cost. You should also know that a hold will limit the amount of funds in the account linked with your card. 

The minimum amount that a rental agency holds is $100, which can move up to $300. The amount held serves as a security deposit.  

Most agencies accept the known card, which includes American Express, Mastercard, AT&t Capital, Visa, etc. There may also be exceptions for using debit cards for payments, such as

• An individual less than 25 years of age, must present a credit card as they cannot present a debit card. 
• There are places where debit cards are not prevalent for payment deposits at the time of car rental, and we usually accept debit card payments once the car is returned. They may also ask for a credit card to check your credit value before renting them their cars.

Insurance Coverage  

Another important thing you would need for a car rental is insurance coverage. The insurance coverage may be included in your credit card as well. In case you are found to have no insurance coverage, you will have to purchase the coverage from the rental agency. 

It would certainly be a good idea to ask for the type of coverage the agency requires and to check whether you have it available or not. A non-US resident may be asked to buy the insurance policy.

Also Read: How Much Does A Rental Car Charge Per Day In Minnesota?

Things You Should Know Before Renting A Car

Now that we have covered all the major requirements let us move on to the important things that everyone should be aware of before they rent a car. If you are renting a car for the first time, then you need to know the following. 

• Rent the car that you feel more comfortable with while driving rather than renting a flashy car. 
• Get an advance reservation for renting your car to avoid missing your booking at the last moment. It may also get you discounts and offers for the rental, which is a plus. 
• Don’t forget to pick up your ID and credit card. 
• While returning the car, ensure that the car is clean. It is because the agency may charge a cleaning fee if you return it in an untidy state. 
• Going for a prepaid gas will be a big time saver as you will not have to look for a gas station beforehand. 
• Credit Cards may not cover as much as you thought they did. To avoid any confusion in the future, ask the rental agency to know about their credit card coverage. 
• Before you assign drivers, consider the additional fees you may incur. Every additional driver registered also leads to an additional fee for each driver. It would be better to assign one or two drivers only, unless you need more, to save yourselves from the extra cost. 
• Also, know that the cost of registering a driver under 25 years would cost a lot more. That is why it is better to have drivers who are 25 years or more. 

Conclusion

Whether you need a car rental for a long trip or a drive with your family or friends, you should be aware of all the details beforehand. It will help prevent unnecessary confusion and costs. We hope that this guide was able to answer all your questions related to car rental requirements.  

Are you looking for a car rental company in Bloomington, Minnesota? To book economy or SUV cars at transparent prices with no hidden charges visit our website.

FAQs

Can I rent a car without a credit card?

While it is possible to rent a car with cash, you will still need to present a credit card. It is not possible to rent a car without presenting a credit card. 

Can you pick up a car without a driver’s license?

There can be a situation where you lose your driving license. However, in its absence, you can not get a car for rent. In that case, your only option is to get a new license or find your old one. 

What Credit Score do you need to rent a car?

Generally, a credit score in the range of 550-600 will be good to rent a car in the economy range. And as the credit score rises, so will your options for getting a car rental. 

What happens if I return my rental car late? 

Returning the rented car late may not have any major consequences. However, it will undoubtedly cost you more.