How to book car rental for US while in UK? Use my US license or UK?

 If anyone knows, I would like to know more about this. My husband (UKC), myself (USC, with leave to remain) and our daughters are going back to the US for Christmas. My Connecticut license is still valid, but in my maiden name. I have a UK license, but only for about a year and some change(in my married name).
 All my credit/debit cards etc. are in my married name, or else there would be no issue on me renting the car with my US license. So our plan is for hubby to rent it and have me on as an extra driver with my US license, and I'll probably be doing all the driving.
 I was back in the US late Sept/early Oct and was able to rent cars in Alaska and Washington(booked while over there)...but there was a lot of faffing about. I would like to avoid this as traveling with the kiddos (Glasgow to Amsterdam then on to Seattle)..will just want to get to where we are staying so they can nap. I was also charged a separate insurance as I was living in a different country "in case something happened, they would not be able to track me dow" was how the guy put it. Is this normal?
 Also, if I book from this end, will all the insurance etc. be on the price, or will I need to add on more once I get there? Thanks for any help!

Book from this side, using your UK license. The fee will be inclusive, no additional insurance required, and FAR cheaper than renting there.

You will need to produce the counterpart as well as the photo UK license when you get the car. There are several websites that give comparative rates, and almost all will be cars from the majors (Budget, Avis, etc.). After you find a price, double check the rental firm website directly; sometimes coupons give you a better deal. Just make sure the rate is all in.

Don't get talked into an 'upgrade' or anything additional when you get the car. Go for the smallest car you can live with....I always book an 'economy' which they almost never have at pick-up time, and you will get a larger one at the same price. If they really start the hard sell of "for $x more you can upgrade" just say no; it's a sure sign they do NOT have what you reserved available.

We found it was far cheaper to use a US license to rent a car when we went to Hawaii. They were going to charge a ton more if we used an international license. We booked it all from the UK beforehand (using our US card).

If you had one of those 'international licenses' it likely would be more costly. I've rented for business in the US for years, and the rates booked from the UK, using my UK license were FAR cheaper with insurance than rates I paid w/o any insurance using my 'preferred renter' and other discounts.

No, I meant a license from another country i.e. the UK. This was in 2010, so it certainly could have changed since then, but we saved a ton by using a US license.

So if you want to rent with a US license can you purchase the insurance when you rent?  I thought that wasn't possible?

The boy has a valid US license but not a UK license so would he be able to rent and purchase additional insurance at time of renting?

Yes, of course you can purchase insurance with a US license. Many people (probably even most) with a US license do not already have insurance that covers rental cars.

We've booked rentals online from the UK before via Hertz with all inclusive insurance in DH's name (as he has the credit card) and when we arrived we just gave them his US license. No questions asked. Same thing when we had to use his UK license when his US one had expired. 

I've rented for business in the US for years, and the rates booked from the UK, using my UK license were FAR cheaper with insurance than rates I paid w/o any insurance using my 'preferred renter' and other discounts.

Same for me. So out of curiosity, I just did a wee Expedia price comparison. UK price with all inclusive insurance & taxes for 1 week on Hertz in LA starting 11 Dec: £120.39. US price, same dates, $384.13 - and that's not including insurance. Expedia (US) usually charges $9/day for insurance if you book in advance. Compare that to about $29 per day at the counter.

Also, if I book from this end, will all the insurance etc. be on the price, or will I need to add on more once I get there? Thanks for any help!

Oh, and if you do book from here and it's all inclusive (Collision & Damage Waiver, Theft Protection and Liability) you do not need to book any additional insurance. I've had car hire companies try to sell more to us, thinking we are tourists. Just say no! Besides, if you book on a credit card, there are certain protections afforded you from them as well.

Book from this side, using your UK license. The fee will be inclusive, no additional insurance required, and FAR cheaper than renting there...

The ones I am finding are only telling me they have Collision and Damage Waiver and Theft Protection included, says nothing about Liability. Maybe I am just reading the terms and conditions wrong? All the ones I have found so far do tell me to bring both parts of the license, but also says you need to have held a full UK license for at least 2 years. Would this also hold true for additional drivers?

Don't get talked into an 'upgrade' or anything additional when you get the car. Go for the smallest car you can live with.

I have to book a minivan because there will be times we will have 6-8 ppl in the car (the joys of having lots of kids  ) Will also have to book a satnav so I don't get lost.

We've booked rentals online from the UK before via Hertz with all inclusive insurance in DH's name (as he has the credit card) and when we arrived we just gave them his US license. No questions asked. Same thing when we had to use his UK license when his US one had expired. 

Yeah, if my DH did it, there would be no problem as his last name is the same no matter what ID he uses. Would just prefer to be able to rent it myself, as then no need to pay for extra drivers.


Thanks for all the replies! Haven't found anything to book yet, but still wading thru the Terms and Conditions of all the rental car places  .

The ones I am finding are only telling me they have Collision and Damage Waiver and Theft Protection included, says nothing about Liability.

Check into the state you are going to on whether they require liability. California does, hence why the quote that I found included it. I imagine if the state doesn't require liability then it would be the extra insurance you'd purchase on arrival if you fancied.

Check into the state you are going to on whether they require liability. California does, hence why the quote that I found included it. I imagine if the state doesn't require liability then it would be the extra insurance you'd purchase on arrival if you fancied.

Good idea...tho my luck I would end up needing liability. I really should read up on all these terms so I know what they mean. I always used USAA and they did what I needed for whatever state was stationed in. Thanks.

Good idea...tho my luck I would end up needing liability. I really should read up on all these terms so I know what they mean. I always used USAA and they did what I needed for whatever state was stationed in. Thanks.

I loved USAA for rentals.  They covered my insurance in any rental and were great about it, so I never had to pay extra.