Can You Rent a Car With a DUI on Your Record? Answered

You can rent a car with a DUI on your record. Companies like Enterprise and National will rent to drivers who have had a DUI as long as you have a valid, unrestricted driver’s license and are not required to use a Breathalyzer. Other companies like Avis and Budget will not rent to drivers who have had a DUI in the past 48 months. Below, we have the list of policies and restrictions by rental company, including Alamo, Hertz, Turo, and more.

Can You Rent a Car With a DUI on Your Record?

Renting a car with a DUI on your record is possible — though sometimes restrictions are in place if you were recently convicted of a DUI or are a repeat offender. We contacted the corporate customer service departments and various locations of the major rental car companies in the U.S. to learn their policies for customers with DUIs. We’ve detailed our findings below.

Note: Any time you book a car, it’s a good idea to contact the location and/or check the terms and conditions during the online booking process to make sure you have a clear understanding of all policies. Violations of your rental contract (such as misrepresenting your driving history or driving without insurance) may result in fees, restriction from future rental, or even legal action.

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ACE Rent A Car

• Policy: Rentals are generally not restricted as long as you have a valid driver’s license, customer service representatives said. Some locations may have additional requirements.
• Make a reservation

Advantage Rent A Car

• Policy: A valid driver’s license is required and cannot expire during the rental period, according to Advantage’s corporate customer service department; further restrictions may vary by location.
• Make a reservation

Alamo Rent A Car

• Policy: Alamo will not rent to repeat DUI offenders who are required to use a portable Breathalyzer; see Alamo’s driver’s license policy for more details
• Make a reservation

Avis

• Policy: To rent a car, you must not have had a DUI, DWI, or DWAI in the past 48 months; see Avis’ rental criteria for more details.
• Make a reservation

Budget Car Rental

• Policy: To rent a car, you must not have had a DUI, DWI, or DWAI in the past 48 months; see Budget’s rental criteria for more details.
• Make a reservation

Dollar

• Policy: A corporate customer service representative said you cannot rent a car if you’ve had a DUI, but associates at various Dollar Rent A Car locations said you may be able to rent a car as long as the DUI wasn’t recent and you have a valid driver’s license.
• Make a reservation

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

• Policy: You cannot rent a car if you have a restricted license, a corporate customer service representative said. Enterprise also will not rent to drivers who are required to use a portable Breathalyzer; see Enterprise’s driver’s license policy for more details.
• Make a reservation

Hertz

• Policy: Hertz will not rent to drivers required to use a portable Breathalyzer; see Hertz’s FAQ for more details.
• Make a reservation

National Car Rental

• Policy: National will not rent to drivers required to use a portable Breathalyzer; see National’s license policy for more details.
• Make a reservation

Payless Car Rental

• Policy: Driving history is considered on a case-by-case basis; Payless may or may not deny you a rental based on a DUI, customer service representatives said; see Payless’ FAQ for more details.
• Make a reservation

Thrifty Car Rental

• Policy: Thrifty reserves the right to deny a rental based on your driving history; see Thrifty’s driving requirements policy for more details.
• Make a reservation

Turo

• Policy: Turo’s Verifications team evaluates driver account applications on a case-by-case basis, a corporate customer service representative said. It is possible to be approved with a blemished driving record, but it is not guaranteed.
• Make a reservation

Zipcar

• Policy: Zipcar membership requires a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. Zipcar does not accept drivers with alcohol- or drug-related violations, and if you get a DUI while you are a member, your membership will likely be suspended or voided. See our article on Zipcar’s driver requirements for more details.
• Sign up

None of the above-listed companies mentioned fees for drivers with past DUIs. Generally, there are only additional fees for young drivers, extra drivers, and/or other rental features. However, fee policies may vary by location and the manager’s discretion.

In Summary

While policies vary by rental company and sometimes by location, there are options available if you have a DUI on your record. Enterprise will rent to any driver with a valid, unrestricted license, as long as you do not have a Breathalyzer requirement. ACE, Advantage, Hertz, and National have similar rental policies. Avis and Budget won’t rent to drivers who have had a DUI in the past 48 months, and Payless, Thrifty, and Turo decide renter eligibility on a case-by-case basis. It would be a good idea to contact your rental company of choice before your reservation to make sure you have a clear understanding of its policies.

For more information on renting a car, see our article on whether you can rent a car for someone else.