After you were convicted of drinking under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the court may have outlined all of the things you can’t do if you have a DUI. However, the judge may not have told you what it would be like getting a rental car if you have a DUI or a DWI on your driving record.
At some point in your life, you may need to see about renting a moving van or car if your own vehicle is in the shop or if you need a larger vehicle to use during a long-distance move. Learn the answer now to Can You Rent a Car with a DUI by discovering what criteria vehicle rental companies look for when deciding whether or not to lease cars and vans to clients with less than perfect driving records.
Can You Rent a Car with a DUI?
The answer to Rent You Get a Car with a DUI depends on the nature of the DUI or DWI charge of which you were convicted. It goes without question that the rental company will discover the conviction on your record even if you go to some lengths to hide it. The company will run a background check on your driver’s license number and your driving record and discover that you were arrested and convicted of this crime.
As such, it is important that you are forthcoming with the information and admit your responsibility in the offense. Admitting that you drove under the influence may not necessarily bar you from getting a rental car or renting a moving van. However, it will make it more difficult, which is why you need to be honest about the circumstances of your arrest and conviction.
If you did not harm anyone, damage any property, or had relatively low blood alcohol or BAC level during your DUI arrest, you may find it easier to rent a car or van than if you damaged property, harmed or killed someone, or had a BAC that was significantly over the legal limit. If you were convicted of DUI or DWI but paid a monetary fine or served out community service, you might be allowed to rent a car or van. However, you may be required to put up a larger deposit or invest in extra car insurance.
If you served jail time or had your license or driving privileges taken away, you more than likely will not be allowed to get a car or van from the rental company. The company may view you as too much of a liability and not want to take a risk on you being responsible while you are driving its vehicle.
So what can you do if you need to rent a vehicle but have a severe DUI or DWI conviction on your record? Do you have to add it to the list of things you can’t do if you have a DUI or DWI? Fortunately, there are a number of options available to you, the most significant of which includes hiring a DUI or DWI lawyer to assist you.
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help
A DUI lawyer will already know what things you can’t do with a DUI on your record. However, he or she may agree that you should be able to rent a car under the right circumstances. For example, if your conviction is several years old and you have served your time, it may no longer have a valid reason to be on your driving record. Your lawyer may be able to ask the court to expunge the DUI and let you enjoy a clean driving record that will allow you to rent a van or car as needed.
When your attorney asks for the DUI to be expunged, he or she is essentially requesting that the record be hidden from third-parties like insurers, creditors, and rental companies. When these entities do a background check on you, they will not be able to see the DUI record and thus have no knowledge of your conviction.
You may be eligible for an expungement if:
- the DUI is several years old
- you did not harm or kill anyone during your DUI
- you were a juvenile when you were arrested and convicted
- you were wrongfully convicted or evidence in the case could be called into question
Your lawyer can review your case file and find out if you meet any of these primary criteria for a DUI expungement. If you satisfy one or all of these requirements, you could ask the judge to have the conviction removed.
Other Ways a DUI Lawyer Can Help
Your DUI lawyer can also help you if you are facing current charges and have yet to go to court. When you have yet to be convicted of DUI, it is important that you hire a DUI attorney to represent you and review the specifics of your case.
Your attorney can not only ensure that your rights are protected as your case is put through the court system. He or she may also ask the court to reduce or drop the charges against you. You might have the charges dropped or reduced if:
- your rights were violated when you were detained, arrested, or tested for DUI
- the results of your field sobriety tests are skewed or wrong
- you are a first-time offender
- you are a juvenile and did not harm people or property
Depending on the nature of your DUI offense, your DUI attorney may succeed in going before the court and asking the judge to drop or reduce the charges against you. If the charges are reduced or dropped, you could find it easier to rent a vehicle or van.
Hiring a DUI Lawyer
It is important that you know when and how to hire a DWI lawyer to assist you. If you have just recently been arrested for DUI, you should get a lawyer on retainer as quickly as possible. You ideally should hire one as soon as you are booked, processed, and arraigned for the offense.
If you have already been arraigned and are now waiting for your court date, you should hire a DUI attorney to start working your case immediately. Your attorney can communicate with the court even before your trial date and ask for a reduction or elimination of the charges if the right criteria can be applied to your case.
You can still get legal counsel to assist you even if the conviction is years old and well in your past. As you can see, the DUI on your record can haunt you long after you have moved on with your life.
An attorney can obtain the old court records and review the details of your conviction. If the circumstances are right for your case, your lawyer may be able to petition the court and ask for the record to be expunged. This expungement not only will help you rent a car or van but also could help you be approved for employment, credit, and other types of contracts.
You never know when you might need to rent a car or van. You may plan on taking a cross country vacation. You also might find yourself in need of transportation if your car has broken down and is in the shop. Regardless of why you need a rental, it is important that you know that you can lease a vehicle whenever you need it.
Do not let a DUI or DWI conviction stop you from getting the transportation you need today. Find out what the car rental companies look for when reviewing your driving record and how you can overcome a DUI or DWI so that you will be approved for renting a moving van or car as necessary.