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Yes, and many companies now
screen drivers when they rent in
vacation-popular destinations such as Arizona,
California, Florida, Nevada, New York, Virginia
and Washington, D.C. Sales agents conduct
screening checks by entering your license number
into a computer program that calls up your
driver's record as reported by your state
department of motor vehicles. If your record
doesn't meet the screening criteria of the
rental company, the agent will refuse to rent
you a car.
Instead of screening you,
some rental car companies may require you to
sign a statement that you have an acceptable
driving record. This shifts the responsibility
for providing accurate information away from the
company and to you. If you have an accident and
signed a statement that turns out to be
incorrect, the rental car company could use it
against you by claiming that you acted in
violation of the rental agreement.
Rental Car Screening
Standards
Generally, a rental car
company that screens drivers will deny you a
vehicle if, during the past 36-month period, you
-
were caught driving with
a suspended or invalid license
-
had one instance of
drunk driving, hit-and-run, driving a stolen
car or other serious offense
-
had three moving
violations, or
-
were at fault in two
accidents.
The standards adopted by
each rental car company vary and are subject to
change, so you need to inquire about the
specific rental screening standards of any
company you are considering using. If your
driving record is questionable, do the
following:
-
Call your motor vehicle
department to see if your state makes driver
records available. If it doesn't, then relax
and don't worry about being screened.
-
If your state makes
driver records available, when you call to
reserve a rental car, ask if the company
screens driving records and whether it
maintains a nationwide blacklist.
-
Get your driver record
evaluated by a screening company. Several
companies evaluate driving records to
determine in advance whether drivers will be
disqualified from renting. TML Information
Services (800-388-9099), the leading
evaluator of vehicle records for rental car
companies, operates a program for drivers
from states that make driver record data
available online. For around $11 (less for
AAA members), you can get an evaluation of
your driving record against the criteria for
screening risky drivers used by six major
rental car companies.
-
If you don't want to pay
for an evaluation, get a copy of your
driving record from the motor vehicle agency
in your state (allow plenty of time), obtain
the screening criteria of the rental car
companies you are considering and make an
evaluation on your own.
-
If you are traveling for
business, rent from a company that has a
liability agreement with your employer-the
screening company may overlook items that
would otherwise disqualify you.
Finally, if you are
disqualified by a screening system, have someone
you are traveling with rent the car and do the
driving.
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