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We get in need of rental cars from time to time and sometimes you can’t get by without a rental car. You may have flown to another city or country for business and you need a rental car to get you around. It can be embarrassing and devastating when you can’t because of a past DUI conviction that you have kept silent about.
Maybe your car is in for repairs for an extended time. It could be you want to go on a long road trip but you do not want to put the extra wear and tear on your own car. A rental car is a solution, but in this instance, it is not going to work for you.
How a DUI Charge Can Impact You
A rental car is not on the cards
When your business requires you to fly to different parts of the world and to hire a car to conduct business there, what are you going to tell them if you have a DUI to your name? Renting a car with a DUI is not possible and you may have to resort to other ways of getting around.
The problem is, what happens when your office admin checks your paperwork when you return. They will want an explanation as to why you used costlier options such as Uber.
Rental car companies want to minimize their losses
Most car rental companies in Minnesota and abroad will check your driving records before renting out their vehicles as they want to minimize losses and thus renting a car with a DUI might be impossible. They would not rent a car out to anyone who has been convicted of a DUI within 48 months.
Wherever you go in the world, you will find that Avis Car Rental is there, after all, they operate in some 165 countries.
Any driver who wants to rent a car from this leading car rental company will need to present a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record. You would not be able to rent a car from Avis if you have been caught drinking and driving within the last 4 years.
In fact, most car rental companies do not like dealing with anyone who appears to be on the wrong side of the law in terms of traffic offenses, so renting a car with a DUI becomes very difficult. Reckless driving, a DUI, and also driving with a suspended license raises red flags with them.
They want to see your driver’s license and address
You can rent a car for a day, week, month or even longer. Each rental company works differently but they will essentially ask for your driver’s license, your address and contact numbers. What happens if they notice that one of your recent addresses has been jail?
If you have had a drunk-driving conviction, there are some people who have interlocks on their cars. They assume that car rental companies will have cars with interlocks especially for drunken drivers, but this is not so.
You would not be able to rent a car with or without an interlock. Rental car companies do not put alcohol interlocks on their vehicles. They do not cater to drivers who have shown recklessness and irresponsibility.
If you have been convicted of driving with blood alcohol levels above .08, then expect to face the consequences. Drivers will be allowed to drive their own cars again but it will need to be equipped with one of these ignition interlocks – a breathalyzer-type gadget attached to the car’s ignition. If you’ve been drinking, it would not allow you to start the car and drive.
Not being able to hire a car is just one of the many long-term negative effects for those with a DUI.
If you have been arrested for a DUI, the best thing you can do is to be in contact with a defense attorney as soon as possible.
A DUI makes you a liability
You do not want to be looking at the possibility of losing your job as well. Also, because you’ve been convicted of a DUI, you are a liability to your work and your insurance company. If you drive a company car, your boss will have to start looking at increased insurance rates because of your reckless driving habits.
Get your DUI reduced or dismissed
The best Minnesota DUI attorneys have already helped many defendants with their DUI cases, and if you are worried about your future, contact a DUI attorney.
They can at least work to get your DUI reduced or dismissed before it does not get you into a whole lot of trouble that can mess up your life for a long time.
