Rental Requirements

Whether you're hiring a car or van, you just need a clean driving licence that covers the vehicle you're hiring. Don't worry if you have points on your driving licence. You can still hire a car in the UK if you have six or less points. You must have held your driving licence for at least one year if you are hiring in the UK. This will be different in other countries so ensure you check the Location Specific Conditions. Please remember to bring your physical driving licence with you when you collect your vehicle (we don't access electronic licenses). If you're driving abroad, you and your additional driver will also need to bring your International Driving Permits. But in some countries, such as China, you can only drive if you have a Chinese driving licence.

Discover whether you need an International Driving Permit for your trip and how to apply on the gov.uk website.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

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You are prohibited from hiring a car in the UK if you have any unspent driving convictions for the following infractions:

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  • Careless, reckless or dangerous driving
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  • Driving or attempting to drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
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  • Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks
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  • Theft or unauthorised taking of a vehicle
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  • Been disqualified (or anything similar) in the last 10 years
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  • If you have convictions for offences not listed above which total more than 6 points on your licence, your rental will be refused

Our Prestige vehicles have separate conditions. To find out more, please contact the location directly.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

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Unfortunately, you can't. We need to see your driving licence before you get behind the wheel.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

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In addition to your driving licence, we may require proof of address in the form of a utility bill or recent bank statement (less than 3 months old) when you collect your hire vehicle.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

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Yes, you can make a booking for someone else providing you have access to their credit card. The name on the card must match the driving licence of the main driver who must bring this card when they collect the rental.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

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Yes, but you need to provide another form of identification showing your current address. A recent utility bill or bank statement is perfect.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

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Yes, if you are driving abroad and the country requires it. But this alone isn't enough to hire a vehicle. You also need a driving licence from your resident country.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

Planning a trip? Start your journey.

Already planned a trip? Check your booking.

Avis cannot guarantee whether rental procedures for UK customers hiring in the EU and EEA will change or remain the same after leaving the EU. During the transition period of the UK leaving the EU, you don't need to do anything as we'll take care of the usual paperwork on your behalf. We will do our utmost to ensure that UK customers, like all our customers, will be able to hire vehicles at any of our thousands of global locations securely and with ease. Following leaving the EU on 31st of January 2021 the following changes may apply to UK customers:

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  • UK drivers may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in the EU and EEA.
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  • Visitors with EU driving licences will not need an IDP to drive in the UK.
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  • UK drivers may need a GB sticker on the vehicle even if the vehicle has a Euro-plate (a number plate displaying both the EU flag and a GB sign).
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  • You may not need a GB sticker to drive outside the UK if the number plate features the GB sign, without the EU flag.

Further information can be found on our Driving Abroad in the EU and EEA page. If you are renting in the UK and planning to take your hire car across the Channel or to Ireland, you'll need to take out Continental Cover. To arrange cover, please ring at least five days ahead of collection.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

Planning a trip? Start your journey.

Already planned a trip? Check your booking.

While we try to provide our service to everyone who books a vehicle, there may be circumstances where we cannot give you a vehicle. Some of these scenarios are below:

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  • If you did not satisfy the driving licence requirements: A valid driving licence must be provided. An international driving licence or an official English translation, by notary, of the driving licence must be provided if the driving licence was issued in a non-roman alphabet. Additionally, the driver must have held the licence for a minimum of one year, evidence is required to be provided to confirm this minimum duration. Please note that these minimum requirements could be longer for some of our special vehicles, such as our Prestige vehicles.
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  • If you did not satisfy the identification/security check: you must provide the following documents: The payment card used to make the reservation (plus an additional card is required for certain vehicles), a photographic ID issued within the last 10 years, passports, photographic driving licences, national identity cards and government issued certificates are accepted, proof of address, a recent utility bill or bank statement (driving licences are not accepted as proof of address).
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  • If you did not pass the DVLA's licence sharing check
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  • If you had Insufficient funds for the pre-authorisation transaction to be processed
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  • If you were not within the required age range for the vehicle type
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  • If you have any unspent driving convictions
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  • If you did not show up at the rental location to collect the vehicle per your reservation details
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  • If you refuse to take the vehicle provided and would not accept a replacement vehicle.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

Planning a trip? Start your journey.

Already planned a trip? Check your booking.

Driving abroad is easy because you can use your original driving licence in most of Europe, South Africa, the USA and Canada. If your driving licence isn't in Roman characters (for example, Japanese), or you're hiring in Australia, you will also need an International Driving Permit. Discover whether you need an International Driving Permit for your trip and how to apply on this website. Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

 

Planning a trip? Start your journey.

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The main driver and any additional drivers must be present at the counter to show their driving licence. Please note that adding another driver will incur a charge; the amount will depend on where you hire your vehicle, but we will tell you what it is there and then. If the additional driver is under 25, the young driver surcharge will also be applied.

 

Don't forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

Planning a trip? Start your journey.

Already planned a trip? Check your booking.

To hire a car in the UK, you need to be at least 23 years of age at the moment of collecting the vehicle and have held a driving licence for at least one year. If you or your additional drivers are under the age of 25, you'll need to pay an extra fee per day. The amount depends on where you hire a car, because the law and insurance terms vary between countries. If the location charges a premium fee, it could cost more. The minimum age you can hire a car also varies from country to country. You can find specific information in our terms and conditions or Contact us using the below icons. Under the age of 25, you can hire cars from Group A (e.g. Hyundai i10), Group B (e.g. Ford Fiesta), Group C (e.g. Seat Leon), Group E (e.g. Vauxhall Astra), and Group I (e.g. VW Golf (auto). Check out our fleet to find further information about specific categories.

There is currently no age maximum, so long as you have had a full, valid, licence for at least 1 year. Some additional steps may be required for those who are over the age of 75 on the date of scheduled return. Check the location specific terms and conditions for the country you are renting for more information on age requirements.

 

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You just need to bring your:

  • Driving licence*
  • Credit card (if it’s a high value vehicle two payment cards must be provided, one of which needs to be a credit card),
  • Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer or Avis Preferred card),
  • Photo ID for international rentals (such as a passport or driving licence)

*If you hold a UK driving licence and are renting a car or van in the UK, you must bring a DVLA licence code with you when collecting your vehicle. Codes can be requested from online (you will be asked to submit your driving licence number, National Insurance number and home postcode), or by calling the DVLA on 0300 083 0013 (Monday to Friday 8am7pm, Saturday 8am2pm). The code (which will be valid for a maximum period of 21 days from the point it is generated) must be presented to the store and still be valid when picking up any vehicle from us.

You may also need to bring proof of where you live, which could include a recent utility bill or bank statement.  Your driving licence will not be accepted as proof of address.  For more information on the rental requirements where you wish to rent, please review our location specific terms and conditions.

If you’re an Avis Preferred member, simply bring your membership card and your driving licence. Lastly, if you booked online or over the phone, bringing a print out of your booking confirmation showing your unique booking reference can streamline your check-out process. If you booked through a travel agent or third party agent, you will also need to bring the voucher they have supplied.

Need more advice? Contact us using the icons below.

 

Don’t forget to review the terms and conditions when you book, which include everything you need to know ahead of your journey.

Planning a trip? Start your journey.

Already planned a trip? Check your booking.