UK Driving Licences when driving in the US

[mitchja]

My parents are flying to MCO in November with 8 of their friends (all on VS of course ) but one couple have been told (by a travel agent) that the old style paper UK driving licence is no longer accepted for hiring a car. My dad still has the old syle licence so has asked me to find out.

I cannot find anything that does say the old paper licence is no longer accepted. In fact, the V Hols web site FAQ section says that the old paper licence is still OK to use and I quote:

Q. Do I need a photographic driving licence to hire a car in the USA?
A. Old style driving licences are still fine to use when hiring a car in the USA.

I've only ever used my photo licence when hiring a car in the US so does anyone know different?

Thanks and Regards

[Nottingham Nick]

I only have an old style green paper one, and have never had a problem.

Last time I hired was in November for the Vegas trip.

Nick

James I too only have the old paper licence. I have never used anything else and had no problems.

I received my voucher from airline network the other day (travelling Tuesday) and on the information that comes with it, it specifically says that if you have the new licence then to take both parts but the old style licence is OK.

Jilly

[mitchja]

Thanks Nick and Jilly. That's what I thought as well. I always take the second paper section of my photo licence with me, but as yet, have never been asked to produce it!!

Regards

[preiffer]

I never even had an old paper one... [:I]

[:p]

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by preiffer
I never even had an old paper one... [:I]

Some may find it surprising that you have got one at all [:o)];)[}:)][:p]

[preiffer]

Even I find it surprising that I did!

It did take me 3 goes at it, mind...

James, my dad presented his paper licence in October at Hertz in MCO with no difficulties, so the TA seems to have their wires crossed.

I had a paper licence for about 5 years, but wanted a photo one when I started going to Vegas frequently to save having to carry my passport around. It's free to "upgrade" to it if you move address, otherwise around £20 to voluntarily request one. Put it this way - I didn't pay the fee.

Must have taken you ages to pass if you never had one, Paul, bearing in mind we're the same age (unless you started learning way after the age of 17)! I passed first time of course .

[preiffer]

First test, I hit a car trying to parallel park. I hoped the guy didn't notice, but evidently he did.

Second one, I jumped a red light. He didn't fail me for actually jumping it (apparently that was the right thing to do, as we would have been in danger if I'd tried to stop). No, he failed me because the reason we *had* to jump the red light was that I was doing 55 in a 30.


They do say you should take your test driving in the way you'll drive normally...

[preiffer]

Oh, in terms of dates - I got mine in July 1998. It was the month before I got my first brand new car .

Currenly when I have presented my paper one, all they need is a photo ID (valid, recognised one) like a PASSPORT (which we all need to travel on.... ) and it has been fine.

Juliet[8D]

Originally posted by preiffer
First test, I hit a car trying to parallel park. I hoped the guy didn't notice, but evidently he did.

Second one, I jumped a red light. He didn't fail me for actually jumping it (apparently that was the right thing to do, as we would have been in danger if I'd tried to stop). No, he failed me because the reason we *had* to jump the red light was that I was doing 55 in a 30.


They do say you should take your test driving in the way you'll drive normally...

ROFL

I love hearing thse stories about how people fail their test - it sounds a tad twisted, but they are usually very entertaining, like yours!

The most boring type of failures are those resulting from several minors. Next up, one major - usually something amusing. And then there's failing via a "Dangerous" - a friend of mine took 5 attempts to pass and one of his fails was due to one of these. Sounds like yours were major/dangerous level failures!

I passed 30/10/97 so not ages before you - the switch to photocard must have happened in between.

Just again to assure you, paper one is no issue for any of Avis, Hertz or Dollar at least. I rent cars average twice a month in the US and never have a proble with my paper license except for the fact its falling to pieces so one day it will need replacing!

[mitchja]

Originally posted by onionz


ROFL

I love hearing thse stories about how people fail their test - it sounds a tad twisted, but they are usually very entertaining, like yours!

The most boring type of failures are those resulting from several minors. Next up, one major - usually something amusing. And then there's failing via a "Dangerous" - a friend of mine took 5 attempts to pass and one of his fails was due to one of these. Sounds like yours were major/dangerous level failures!

I passed 30/10/97 so not ages before you - the switch to photocard must have happened in between.

I absolutley hated learning to drive and I would do anything to try and get out of my lessons - that's why it took me until I was 18 to pass my test (first time though I might add on 07/08/91 [8D]). Never looked back though since then and love driving now. I originally had a paper licence but took advantage of an address change to get a photo card for free . Though since then I have had to pay to get 2 lots of speeding points removed [:I]

Regards

I took advantage of an address change to get the photocard licence foc in 1999 (I think) - I much preffered the old paper licence though, and was a bit miffed that I was forced to change [:(]

NB I passed (1st time) on Friday 13th Feb 1990 - 1 month before my 18th birthday - no real interesting story, although the examiner did tell me to speed up a few times.... I don't think anyone's said that since :D

Cheers

Michael

[honey lamb]

I love hearing thse stories about how people fail their test - it sounds a tad twisted, but they are usually very entertaining, like yours!

A friend of mine failed his test before it even began!! [:0] He saw a friend passing the test centre just before he turned on the engine and beeped the horn at him. Ooops! [B)]

Originally posted by honey lamb

I love hearing thse stories about how people fail their test - it sounds a tad twisted, but they are usually very entertaining, like yours!

A friend of mine failed his test before it even began!! [:0] He saw a friend passing the test centre just before he turned on the engine and beeped the horn at him. Ooops! [B)]

I thought that was featured in an advert once - the story rings a bell with me! Not that I'm doubting its authenticity. Sounds like that should have gone down as a minor.

My sister will despise me for publicising this - on her 3rd/4th attempt she drove off with the handbrake on at the start of the test, so failed immediately for improper use of controls. She realised what she had done, released the handbrake, expected to fail (and did), but continued with it to get the practice.

[mcmbenjamin]

Uninformed person question alert. If older style UK driver's licenses do not have a photo, how would you prove your identity say when a cashier asks for proof when using a credit card, beside a passport?

I am assuming there is not a UK national ID from the Prime Ministers Questions

"If his concern is that they won't be introduced quickly enough, work with us to ensure they come in earlier,"

Tony Blair, 18JAN2006, responding to Mr. CameronÕs concern that the IDs would not materialize until 2013.

BTW- The PM questions are good fun to watch. Almost as fun as watching U.S. Senator Ted Stevens speak!

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Uninformed person question alert. If older style UK driver's licenses do not have a photo, how would you prove your identity say when a cashier asks for proof when using a credit card, beside a passport?

Well, in the first place, over here you're very unlikely to be asked for ID simply for trying to make a purchase with a bit of plastic If one had the old style driving licence, that would probably suffice - aside from the photo card driving licence the only real "photo id" we have is a passport.

Now, if you want to buy alcohol in a store/pub and are lucky enough to not look old enough, there are some schemes where an independent 3rd party will provide a "proof of age" card (like this or this)

I am assuming there is not a UK national ID

Correct young sir.

Cheers

Michael

[RichardMannion]

Okay confession time - I passed on my 5th Attempt.

1st fail - Being in middle lane approaching a roundabout when needed to turn right - harsh in my opinion seen as everyone was doing it.

2nd - driving tbelow speed limit on a B road and causing traffic to build up behind me

3rd - stopping at a redlight as bus had jumped its signal and I was unfortuantely left in a bike route area.

4th - failed at the end of my test as the bumper was touching the fence in the car park, huge argument breaks out with the examiners and the pack of waiting driving instructors as to when the test had finished - was it the gates of car park? Argued the toss with the chief examiner for Reading, no avail so switched to Slough and passed on first attempt there.

Passed March 2001.

And Ben as for ID, well some US states don't like my UK phot driving licence - especially Washington.

Thanks,
Richard

[mitchja]

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Uninformed person question alert. If older style UK driver's licenses do not have a photo, how would you prove your identity say when a cashier asks for proof when using a credit card, beside a passport?

That's just reminded me actually...OK hands up people - who else had an NUS (National Union of Students) card with a false D.O.B. on it - I know I did [:I] Mine said I was 19 when actually I was only 17.

Regards

[RichardMannion]

A NU..what card?

Did they ever issue them in black?

Thanks,
Richard

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by mcuth
If one had the old style driving licence, that would probably suffice - aside from the photo card driving licence the only real "photo id" we have is a passport.

Very interesting Michael and thank you. Puts a new light on a paper I am writing.

My ATM card has my photo on ID but when using other card I get IDed in the states. I had one almost blow out with a movie ticket seller at a theater in Kensington because according to her my Visa card was fake and so was my US passport. Went to ATM and got cash.

[RichardMannion]

Now fake credit cards I have seen a few of, there were constant reminders of cards 'designs' to watch out for when I worked at Selfridges.

Shame the people making them never worked out which issuer to clone as one certain one has a very high floor limit in comparison to other cards in most merchants.

Thanks,
Richard

[Scrooge]

Ok confession time,I passed on my third test as well.

First one I was a nervous wreck,must of stalled the car a dozen times [:I]

Next one,we get in the car,about to pull into traffic and the car dies on me,running through my mind no this cant be happeneing again,regain my mind and realise that my left foot is pushing the clutch pedal all the way in,put the handbrake on,take the car out of gear,push the clutch in and try and start it...darn thing wouldn't start for anything,after a couple of mins the man giving the test just kind of smiles and says these thing's happen [}:)][:#]

Third time all was going great,driving down a little road just of Shirley highstreet in Southampton when a ball comes bouncing out maybe 200 yards in front of me,I throw on the brakes come to a stop maybe 50 ft from the ball and the examiner is looking at me like im nuts,I say "wait for it.........wait for it" and out comes the kid chasing the ball,thruth be known the kid had probably spotted me and was wondering what the hell I was doing waiting in the middle of the street [?],but the examiner smiled and said,well if you can make it back in one piece and pass the sign exam you've got a licence .

In the course of the next year I wroye off 3 cars,one my fault,the other two I still have no idea how in the hell these idiots hit me.

I got my licence in oct of 88...