Why can’t you pass a driving road test using a rental car?

Don’t you think it’s a deadlock condition? This means you need a car to learn to drive and then pass the driving road test. But you cannot rent a car to drive without getting a driver’s license. So you can’t pass a driving road test using a rental car, then go and borrow one from either your friends or relatives.

But there is one exception for passing this driving road test with a rental car. To know it, stick till the end of the article.

Here is the reason for being unable to rent a car to pass your road test

Is it the states or car rental companies that don’t allow rental cars for driving tests? And the truth is that states may permit the same but car rental companies follow basic criteria and requirements for drivers to have valid driver’s licenses, not even learner’s permits. Even some car rental companies have strict laws according to which rental vehicles can’t be used in road tests.

So you will have to look for a rental company that allows you to drive or pass the test with the learner’s permit. As per our experience of major brand’s rules, the chances for the permits are negligible.

For instance: if the state jurisdiction states that you can use rental cars for driving tests if you are listed as an authorized driver in the contract. But at the same time, these rental companies cannot permit learners to drive vehicles, rent a car, or use it for road tests. So basically, the state may permit you to pass the driving road test with a rental car but a company won’t.

Also, another criteria for being able to rent a car is the minimum age criteria. Your age can also hinder the use of a rental car for road tests, on the basis of your age at the time of taking the road test.

Most rental companies prefer the driver’s age to be in the range of 18-21 years and charge an extra young renter fee for drivers below 25 years. So it’s both the age and a full driver’s license that matter for the car rental companies.

Policies regarding renting a car for driving tests

You can go through the major policies of the car rental companies on their website, and in most of them you will find out that they don’t allow student drivers to use the rental car for road tests.

Most of the rental companies have these requirements to give their car on rent:

• Age above 21 and sometimes 18.
• Fully authorized driver with a full license.
• Credit card details of the driver.

So to rent a car, you need these 3 criteria to be followed. In case they are not you cannot rent and thus, pass the test. The companies have made these criteria mandatory so as to prevent road accidents or unnecessary use of rental cars by unauthorized or unlicensed or underage drivers.

In case you meet these criteria, you might pass a driving road test using a rental car. Some companies might allow the name of the second driver to be added to the agreement but his age should be more than 25 years and with a full license.

If you are an international driver, here is good news for you

For international drivers, here is good news for you as you are an exception. If you are a resident of another country and have a valid license, you can pass a driving road test using a rental car in the U.S. So make the proper use of your international license.

Some companies have the criteria of International Driving Permit (IDP) to allow international drivers to rent a car. Companies may ask you for IDP if your international license is not written in English or any other language not using Latin alphabets.

Now you know what to do and how to pass your road test

So you have two possibilities: find a rental car company that allows you to use a rental car for passing a road test. And if you are an international driver, there is no issue for you. I hope your query is now cleared.

If you still have any queries, you can mention them in the comment section below or email us.

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