New Driver Query (Car Rental)

I'm in the process of doing my lessons and should be able to do my test by October time, hopefully, and was wondering about renting a car once I pass.

I dont want to own a car ASAP (I have *some* money put aside for the car, but not enough for the insurance for the year) but if my partner and I wanted to get away for the weekend, would we be able to rent a car here?

I've heard this is not possible within the first year, and its kinda upset me. Also, would this affect renting a car in the US? (MY PA license lapsed ages ago and I'm no longer a resident there) We would like to make a large trip home and a car is a necessity.

So is this true?

You have to have held a full licence for at least a year to rent a care.

http://www.5thgear.co.uk/licence.html

UGH

Thanks. So bloody annoying.

Edit: though that link mentions nothing about renting a car abroad., just visitors coming into the UK

2nd Edit: Embassy says no go. So I'll have to wait until 2015 to get back home
http://london.usembassy.gov/rctour.html

Try iCar.

BD, that comes back just as insurance? Or Am I missing something?