Seniors advised to do research when seeking car rentals

Drivers above 69 years of age should consider carefully researching car hire possibilities before planning a vacation, as they may find that not all rental companies will be able to rent them a car, due to age restrictions. American tourists considering a trip to the United Kingdom or Europe should be especially careful to avoid planning a trip that requires a car rental, only to find out that they have passed the maximum age for many car hire companies.

In the US, there are generally no age restrictions and as such, even those above 80, who are in possession of a valid license, can normally rent a car without any problems. Yet as the San Jose Mercury reported, this is often not the case in much of Europe. In the UK, many car rental firms have set 69 as their age limit, but this does ultimately vary from one company to another. Those above 69, for example, can turn to either National Car Rental or Alamo, both of which have no such limits in much of the UK, with the exception of the Isle of Man, Pembroke and Carmarthen, when the maximum age for a car hire is 70.

Those seniors who are over 69 years of age and are traveling to continental Europe should always bring with them a letter from their doctor attesting to their good health. Some car rental agencies may ask clients to produce such a document in order to secure a car rental. Additionally, each major car rental outlet has its own rules as to who can, or cannot rent a vehicle. As such, it is usually advisable to get in touch with Auto Europe (autoeurope.com), which serves as an umbrella organization for many of the largest rental companies.

www.nationalcar.com