Can You Rent a Car with a DUI Conviction?
You cannot rent a car if you have a DUI or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction. When a license is conditional, suspended, or restricted, the person cannot rent or drive a car. This is because a rental car company often requires an unrestricted, active, and valid driving license.
Remember, if a person is charged with a DUI and the conviction is still pending, and the license is not yet suspended or restricted, there are still some chances of renting a car.
What is DUI and its Effects on Renting a Car?
Driving under the influence, or DUI, is a serious offense in the United States. When a person is convicted of this, it becomes harder to rent a car, drive it, and maintain their driving record.
When a DUI appears on a driver’s record, it indicates driving issues, risky behavior, and other problems. This makes a car rental company hesitant to give its vehicles to such drivers.
What is the Policy of Car Rental Companies for DUI?
Renting a car with a DUI is hard, as operators heavily count on risk assessments to decide whether the customer should be given the car or not. Most companies do not allow rentals to those who have DUIs due to legal issues and the risks associated with accidents.
However, company-to-company policies may differ for people with DUIs. To have a better assessment, check the rules beforehand.
Budget, Payless, and Avis: These service providers have the most straightforward policies, which do not give car rentals to those who have been convicted. The waiting period is 48 months. Once this period is over, they may give rental cars with some conditions, such as no rash driving, no speeding, etc.
Thrifty, Dollar, and Hertz: With these providers, people will get more flexibility, but they prefer background checks for DUIs. Although policies are not very overtly strict, they may refuse the car rental if DUIs history includes multiple cases.
Alamo, National, and Enterprise: Though these companies do not have specific rules and policies for DUI, they do not accept people who have a track record of reckless driving or have suspended licenses. Further, it is necessary to go through their rules before opting for their car rental with a DUI.
What Factors Do Car Rental Companies Consider for DUI Convicted People?
However, there are some car rental companies that allow you to rent a car with a DUI conviction. Nonetheless, countless factors exist that play a significant role in deciding if the operators will allow car rentals to people with a DUI or not.
Here are some essential factors that are considered by the leading car rental service providers:
Time Passed After the DUI: Many rental companies examine the time passed after the incident. In general, a DUI that occurred within the last 48 months, it will have restricted the person from renting vehicles. Since it will be seen as a greater risk, companies do not feel safe giving their assets.
DUIs Severity: A rental company, such as SIXT and Hertz, will also consider the severity of the incident. For instance, if the DUI involved serious accidents, injuries, and even fatality, the company will mark it as a serious issue. If it were just a small traffic violation, the service provider may not hesitate to allow access to their fleet.
Driving Records: The whole driving record and background will be checked by the car rental company. If there were one or two DUIs with minor incidents, the company would lend its cars to them. In case the records contain multiple traffic violations, speeding, and other issues, they will not be considered.
Renters' Age: Rental car service providers scrutinize young drivers, specifically if they are below 25 years of age. Since immature drivers have a higher rate of DUIs due to multiple accidents and driving behavior issues, operators generally avoid giving rental cars to them.
What are the Alternate Travel Options for People with DUI Convictions?
Since renting a car with DUI convictions is not easy, most companies follow stringent policies. Even if some car rental companies in Los Angeles and nearby regions allow it, they have solid rules that need to be followed by the person, which is a little hard.
Public Transportation: If a person has multiple DUIs, they may not be offered car rentals by any company. For them, public transportation can be an affordable and accessible option for travel.
Ride-Sharing: Many platforms, such as Lyft and Uber, are operational in the country, offering flexible travel solutions. Even though they have DUI policies, they are not extended to their customers.
Borrow a Car: One can borrow a car from their family members or friends, if it is urgent. Before opting for this option, make sure the car has a rental car insurance or personal auto insurance for additional drivers with extended coverage and liability.
Wait for the DUI period to get over: Since there is a waiting period for DUI convicted drivers, they will need to wait to get it over to rent a car.
Note: Each alternative option comes with certain challenges and advantages. Measure everything based on the circumstances, location, needs, and budget.
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Conclusion
It is hard to get a car rental with a DUI, but it is not impossible at all. Understanding the rules, policies, and restrictions of the respective car rental companies can help a person know how to rent a car with DUIs. Besides, consider other travel modes if there are multiple and serious DUI allegations.
