renting a car in England
 

I was told by my insurance company that in order to rent a car, I must have an international drivers license. Of course I can get one from them for a fee. They also told me that my insurance will not cover me internationally and that I am required by UK law to buy the insurance from the rental company. What are your thoughts?

Check with your credit card company. Most credit cards provide rental car insurance in many European countries. You usually have to decline all rental company insurance and rent the card with the credit card providing coverage. I don't believe the UK requires an International Driving License or International Driving Permit.

Italy is a little different and Ireland can be too.

Your insurance company is wrong.

In the UK, you can choose to use the coverage provided by some credit card companies. Check with your particular card company to make sure that you are covered and the details of that coverage. Normally, you have to pay for your rental car with the credit card providing the coverage and can not have a rental car longer than 15 to 30 consecutive days. You should also be sure that you waive coverage on the rental form from the rental car company.

Also, unless the car rental company requires an international drivers license, you don't necessarily have to have one. All an international license does is translate the information on your state drivers license into several foreign languages. Since they speak English in the UK, this should be necessary.

Check with your credit card company about the insurance coverage and your rental car company about the international drivers license.

Also, if you do decide to get an international drivers license, you can get it from AAA for $12 plus the cost of two passport size photos ($8 at Walgreens).

Try this car rental site. It has low prices and includes the extra insurance. And you can definitly get a drivers license from AAA before you go. Takes about 10 minutes and they can take your picture there.

http://www.fastcarhire.co.uk/

I do not have an international driver's license, and have rented a car several times in the UK. My Colorado license was just fine as late as May 2005.

Thanks everyone, I will do just that.

Insurance customer service agents are as misguided as most US bank customer service call centers. Usually do not have any idea what they are talking about.

First of all it is not an International Drivers <b>License</b>,, It is an International Drivers <b>Permit</b>. An IDP is merely a translation of your drivers license info. Necessary for countries where local police won't be able to read your licence. Last I checked, they can read English in the UK.

The insurance company wasn't entirely wrong. They got the most important part right. Their coverage doesn't extend to rental cars in the UK.

Good observation, Barbara, but they were wrong on every other point namaka outlined. It's a good thing namaka came to this board for help. :-)

yes it is! Thanks to all who replied.