Something had to go wrong .......

[phaedra]

Well it had to happen we're due to fly early Friday morning and we can't find my driving licence

I rang the DVLA yesterday and was told there was no way they could get me a duplicate by Thursday yet a friend has just told me his son rang them and got one in 48hrs

I've faxed Dollar at MCO and explained, we've got a Platinum package and there are 2 other drivers available but neither is keen to drive in the USA!. The DVLA will fax a copy direct to Dollar but I don't know if they will accept this, I have hired from them before at Sanford airport so would they have my details on file?. I've not had a reply from Dollar as yet (8 hours).

Any suggestions would be extremely well received

[florida4sun]

Well if you have extra drivers. Designate one as the main driver and they no longer ask to see the other driving lisences. Just dont get caught for speeding as your suposed to carry it with you. If you have a copy of it that should help. Its iffy buit the only way I can see for you to get around it.

quote:Originally posted by phaedra

Well it had to happen we're due to fly early Friday morning and we can't find my driving licence

I rang the DVLA yesterday and was told there was no way they could get me a duplicate by Thursday yet a friend has just told me his son rang them and got one in 48hrs

I've faxed Dollar at MCO and explained, we've got a Platinum package and there are 2 other drivers available but neither is keen to drive in the USA!. The DVLA will fax a copy direct to Dollar but I don't know if they will accept this, I have hired from them before at Sanford airport so would they have my details on file?. I've not had a reply from Dollar as yet (8 hours).

Any suggestions would be extremely well received

[blott]

Martin's right about Dollar not asking to see anyone other than the main driver's licence - they only asked to see the main one when we last rented a car in April this year.

The only other alternative I can think of is to ask Dollar if they will accept an International Driving Permit which you can get from the AA or RAC or some large travel agents. I know they don't usually accept this but perhaps if you explain your situation? If Dollar agree, you could get the copy of your licence faxed to yourself to take with you to get the IDP and you'll also need a passport type photo. Then take both with you to Florida.

If Dollar don't agree, then you'll have to try what Martin suggested but also get an IDP... just in case you're unlucky enough to get stopped by the Police.

If you can't get hold of Dollar by email or fax, you could try ringing them? Try a different office to the one you're renting the car from, just in case they remember you and you end up doing Martin's dodge! If you've rented from them before, have you got the copy of your rental agreement in case this helps them? You usually get a pink and yellow copy in a small Dollar folder when you collect your car.

Let's hope in the meantime, your licence turns up somewhere in your house, where you've filed it in a safe place!

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

When myself and Roger rented from Dollar at MCO in September they did see both of our licences. I can't remember if they asked specifically for this or if we just profered them anyway.

[phaedra]

Thanks All

Still looking, it's amazing the number of places we've found where it isn't!

I'll ring the RAC and ask them about the IDP, sounds like a good idea.

Back to the search.........

[blott]

Well, it's one way of getting the spring cleanout done early!

Always photocopy your driving licence as soon as you get it - so that you at least have the number and info it contains (or scan it into your PC!). Plus, photocopy your passport and travel insurance documents before you go to Florida and leave the photocopies at home with someone - they can fax them in an emergency!

[phaedra]

Spoke to Dollar and they won't accept a fax even from the DVLA or an IDP, checked on Google groups and the DVLA won't do an "over the counter" replacement so it has to be by post.

I've rang the car hire co. (hire for lower) and they've changed the voucher name details to my brother in-law, problem is he's a very cautious driver and doesn't fancy driving in Florida!. I'll badger the DVLA tomorrow morning and see what I can get out of them, I could fax a copy of my passport to them and email or post a passport photo so they would get it Tuesday, I'll also phone the RAC and try to get an IDP from them.

[blott]

Oh woe! The reason I'm being mega sympathetic here is that I have a confession that this once happened to me! I was booked with a car rental company who did accept an IDP (Budget - but it was some years ago) which was pretty lucky as we had no other drivers!

If it's any consolation, I did find my driving licence eventually... but after we returned from Florida! It was filed in another larger envelope (for safety) with a pile of other things I couldn't find either (yes, I know!).

[fiona]

Guess who travelled to France with a passport that had been chewed the day before by our puppy? Didn't have time to renew it so we went hoping and a praying that we didn't get stopped. I showed our passports with mine on top (it was Chris's that had been eaten!!) and phew we got through!!!

You could read most of the info and the picture was intact but it was obviously chewed!! Guy in the PO had a field day when I went in to get it renewed - no of course I didn't tell him what we'd done!

[phil moloney]

Last Easter my husband's driving licence was seriously out of date, it would taken 7 days to receive the new one. I did not want to be the main driver. We went to Orlando with a photocopy of an out of date licence and a receipt for payment for the new one. When he came back with the keys of a car I asked no questions, he said it was no problem. We had our car from Dollar at Orlando Int.
Phil