Do car rental companies check if your license has been suspended?
Car hiring is always regarded as the most efficient and rapid means of getting around in a new area, or for a holiday. The purpose of this paper is as follows: It is easy, practical and quite affordable. But, if you have ever thought that a suspended license may have an impact on your capabilities to rent a car, then this article is going to provide you with all the information you may ever need.
License suspension refers to the term given by administrative bodies to punish violators of the road laws and regulations across the country.
A driver's license can be suspended or revoked for various reasons such as:
1. Reckless driving or road accidents which include traffic jams, racing, running red lights, or driving at very high speeds.
2. Drunk driving and operating a vehicle when ‘high’ on other substances.
3. Non-payment of fines, attendance of traffic school
4. Acquittals and convictions of criminal offence
5. The penalty points are all added up to your record if you have been driving excessively.
6. Medical reasons
7. Not making it to court because of a traffic violation.
With this background information of why a license may be suspended let us explore whether car rentals conduct a search on suspended licenses.
Does Car Rental Companies look at Your Driving Record?
The answer is yes, car rental companies also take a look at the driving record and the standing of the driver's license. It is widely accepted that, most rental agencies perform a brief background check before they let you drive their vehicle to confirm the validity of your driving privileges.
There are various methods to check the status of a license, such as:
1. Visit the official website of the country
2. Getting credit reports from third party agencies
3. Cross checking with the driver’s license number
Thus, if your license has been suspended, then you can be sure that the car rental company will know this.
Consequences of Suspended License
If the rental company checks your background and gets your license suspended, it’s the state laws and the rental company policy that determines the effect on your rental agreement.
Some common outcomes include:
Denial of the rental: The car rental agency may simply decide not to rent you a car at all if there are certain specific rules against renting to drivers with a suspended license.
Additional fees: Sometimes, the car rental firm may agree to rent the car to that driver, but will charge you higher prices because the risk has shifted to their side due to the driver’s suspended license. Such charges are; insurance charges, damage charges or waivers and security charges or deposits.
Reporting to the DMV: It is also possible for the rental agency to turn you over to the DMV for renting a car with a suspended license. This means that it may even result in worse situation that you losing your license or being punished even more.
Legal repercussions: Renting a car with a suspended license might be illegal in some states since it is against the law, depending on where you live, you can be jailed or fined.
Why does the car rental companies want to check your license?
Car rental business conduct criminal background checks on the intended clients in order to reduce the probabilities of cases whereby customers cause damage or get involved in an accident and similarly to check their rights and authorities as per the law. The cost of hiring the car also lies with the rent organisations and they are supposed to provide the vehicle to be employed by a competent driver for the road. Through confirming the status of a driver’s license, an organization is in a position to avoid high risks of litigation, insurance claims, and other legal lawsuits.
Moreover, all car rental companies have to stick to the law. Some states have put laws that regulating that rental companies should not rent vehicles to any driver who has a suspension of license. In this way, through conducting such background check, these agencies stand to reduce cases of falling into the labyrinth of law courts and penalty.
Guide to getting a car when one’s license has been suspended
While it may seem daunting to rent a car with a suspended license, there are some strategies you can use to increase your chances of successfully renting a vehicle:
Research: If you are looking for renting a car, find more about the policy on renting a car if your license has been suspended. This can save you time as well as possible complications.
Temporary license: You can have temporary license. It may aid in the temporary regaining of your driving privileges.
Contact the DMV: If your license has been suspended, don’t let it stop you from reaching out to your state’s DMV office to learn how long your suspension is and what you need to do to get your license back.
Car rental companies investigate whether or not your license is suspended by asking you directly. In virtually all car rental companies, there is a requirement that you must pass through background checks, including your driving record.
To prevent this, one should always read the policy of the car rental firm and know why your license is seized. We have shared tips that will help any person who wants to make sure that their car rental experience is perfect.
