Bill

Hello,<BR><BR>We're planning a trip to England this summer and we'd like to hire a car. Does anyone know of any car-hire firms that have 75 rather than 70 as the maximum age limit? I will be 71.<BR><BR>Thankyou in advance for any help in this.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

janis

Unfortunately you will have a hard time finding one. (Most won't rent to under 25's either.)<BR><BR>Your best chance may be through Hertz or one of the US affiliated biggies if you belong to their "preferred renter" program. But even then it is not a sure thing. <BR><BR>Most agencies in the UK will not even consider renting to anyone over 70.

Leslie

Wow, that's certainly discriminatory. Have you tried Auto Europe's website --- www.autoeurope.com -- you can also call them -- there's an 800# in Portland, ME. My parents are going to be 70 in the next couple of years. And, my Dad is probably one of the best drivers I know. And his eyesight is better than mine since his cataract surgery. I bet the ACLU would love to get involved in this.

Leslie

I just called Auto Europe 888-223-5555, and it has contracts with 4 different auto rental companies in the UK.<BR><BR>Avis -- no maximum age limit for rental<BR><BR>Europe Car -- 74 is the maximum age<BR><BR>London Car Hire -- 75 is the maximum age<BR><BR>National Car Rental -- no maximum age<BR><BR>I did not inquire as to rates, however, Auto Europe will beat any advertised European rate if they have contracts within a specific city, and it also usually gives you a free cell phone for use, however, you would have to pay for the calls.<BR><BR>I've had friends use Auto Europe in France and they have been very satisfied. Hope this info is of help to you.

janis

Leslie - I'm afraid you are totally incorrect. The US Car Rental agencies have to abide by the rules of the countries in which they operate. <BR><BR>One is not guaranteed the same treatment as in the US - unless they happen to BE IN THE US.

Leslie

Janice, I beg to differ, as both Avis and National are US based companies, and neither have maximum age limits for car rentals abroad. I just checked this information out. Also, the US-based auto rental companies have the ability to access the Registry Motor Vehicle data bases within the US, and therefore, only a good driving record is necessary.

janis

Leslie - I am sure you checked the US-based websites. If you arrive at a UK-based Avis or National with a driver over 70 they will not rent to you. I have personal knowledge of this. It was really sad at the Avis at Edinburgh Airport - While I was picking up my car a nice older couple arrived with a confirmed reservation and could not get a car.

frequentposter

Last summer we rented a car from Avis at Portsmouth, returning it to Heathrow. The renter was 71. We confirmed in advance that this was not a problem. It wasn't. Normally we rent through AutoEurope, but as this was a one day rental, they wouldn't do it, so we rented direct from Avis. No problem being 71.

Leslie

Janice, you may be correct about Edinburgh, however, your statement is obviously incorrect about London and Portsmouth, at least in regard to Avis.<BR><BR>Also, I did not bother to check any websites, you need to read my post much more carefully. I said in my prior post that I called Auto Europe and asked for the minimum/maximum age requirements for rentals from London. The CSR I spoke with gave me the above information. As Bill's post was not about younger drivers, I only posted the information regarding senior citizens.<BR><BR>I believe the difference may lie in whether a rental agency is either US-owned or a franchise. If it is US-owned the US rules regarding age would apply. Otherwise an agency may have its own requirements. A better question would be is a driver's license revoked of senior citizens because of age and not because the senior citizen cannot pass the driving exam. Where I live in MA, I believe it is at 68 or 70 years of age, a renewal of a driver's license also requires passing another driving test and not just the eye exam.

Sam

Leslie - your information regarding MA licenses is not accurate. There is no set age at which a person must retake the driving portion of the test. It is entirely subjective. A doctor or a family member can write to the DMV and suggest a person's license may be revoked. The clerk at the DMV can request a driving test based on the appearance of someone wishing to renew his/her license (regardless of age). If a person fails fails the eye exam he/she might be asked to retake the driving portion (again, regardless of age). <BR><BR>There is no law in MA stating a person must retake the driving portion, at any certain age.

Christina

I don't think the ACLU has anything to do with conditions in UK/Europe, nor would Europe care what they said (A stands for "American" in their acryonym). I also would think a car company can discriminate on age if they wish, it's for a good reason, not arbitrary, it's their risk and property. They probably could not based on sex or race, at least in US. The US is entirely too lenient about letting older people drive and not requiring exams. Ohio is terrible, they renewed my father's driver license when he was 84 yo, practically blind from cataracts and not entirely mobile as he'd had a stroke. He did not have to do anything to get it renewed, even though he could not walk properly, except pass the eye exam, which was very lenient--he passed at about 20/300 vision and that was all they cared about. We were having trouble controlling his behavior and he went to the DMV to get it renewed because he wanted it and would not listen to reason. (He never did drive with that license due to never getting his strength back, but he had a valid license)