Written By: Rushikesh Joshi
Don’t own a car but still want an awesome vacation? Read on to find out how.
In some countries outside the US, the public transportation system is quite developed and you don’t necessarily need to have a car to commute or travel during break.
But once you’re here in the US, especially in Irvine, you’ll soon notice that having a car makes it easier to be able to do anything around town. Be it for buying groceries or other chores or even to go out and travel. Also, in this time of social distancing, for going on isolated hikes or tours, having a car is a huge benefit. Another important thing to note is that testing for the new coronavirus is being done mainly through drive-throughs for which having a car is essential.
But owning a car is a huge responsibility; not just the cost of the actual car but the time and money you have to spend on maintaining it is substantial. So, here’s where renting a car comes in handy.
Even if you think rental cars are not for you, I still urge you to look into it. If you ever need one on an urgent basis, this article will help you get started.
Ok. So what do you need?
Driver’s License
You’ll need to have an acceptable driver’s license. So, if you’re new to the country, you’ll most likely need to get a California driver’s license. But this is tricky since the DMV reopening currently does not say anything about new California DL (Driver’s License) applications and tests. Best to contact the DMV office (closest ones are Santa Ana and Costa Mesa) and ask them regarding the same. If you have your international driver’s license, the DMV may allow you to drive using that for a stipulated (amount of) time. Confirm with the DMV to ensure that you’re eligible for the same. In any case, the DMV issues a guide for new drivers on their official website and I encourage you to read it to make sure you’re aware of the rules and regulations before you get on the road.
Credit Card
Most car rental companies require you to have a credit card. If you don’t have one they may ask you to submit a monetary deposit. If you’re an international student, you probably won’t have an SSN (unless you are employed, as is the case for Research Assistants or Teaching Assistants) which is needed for most credit cards. So, do check out some of these credit card companies – Journey, Deserve, Capital One where you may be eligible to get a credit card without an SSN.
Car Insurance
One other thing that you’ll need is car insurance. Some car rental companies require you to have insurance; while others simply add that as a charge in your bill. So, before you compare
car renting costs, make sure you have cleared whether or not getting car insurance is your responsibility. In case it is, I recommend you get CDW(Collision Damage Waiver) or LDW(Loss Damage waiver); since it covers even physical damage to the vehicle. Some car insurance companies you might want to take a look at are – Metromile, State Farm and Geico. Make sure that you note what the insurance does and does not cover. Also, talk to the car renting company about the consequences in case the car is damaged in such a way that it is not covered by the insurance.
Done. But how long do you want to rent?
Short-term rentals
Now, that you have a valid driver’s license, car insurance and a credit card, you need to think about why you want to rent a car and for how long. For very short time periods, there is a car rental company called Zoom Car which actually also has student discounts. I have personally used this for “move-in shopping” trips when I moved here. Their service is quite amazing and
the price is also reasonable. They have a 3 hour car rental which is what I believe is best for such short trips. Some other options to explore are Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Quick Auto-rentals.
For the most part, the car rental companies charge extra rent for renters below the age of 25. This is actually something that may not be shown on their website. But when you pay, the price you’ll be charged might include an additional fee for being below 25 years of age.
Long-term rentals
Another reason why you’d want to rent a car is for long-term, as in on a monthly basis. This is a great idea in case you’re living off-campus (trying to save on the rent) and commuting every day to the university. Also, if you’re the kind of person who just goes on weekend getaways quite frequently, this may be a good option for you. In that case, some other car rentals to check out are United Auto Rentals, Allied Rent-A-Car and Stop-N-Go Rent-A-Car. It is recommended that you get a car that you are comfortable with since you’d be using it for a long time. Some companies reduce the rental cost if you’re using the same car for another month; so definitely check that option if it applies.
Also, remember that most rental pickups are from airports. That might be a bit of a problem to go to the airport just for the rental pickup. So, make sure you include that in your plans.
In conclusion, you can easily rent a car being a student at UCI but just make sure you plan it right. Stay safe and Happy Renting!