Hertz - Lost License - Can't Pickup My Car - Help!

Here’s the deal: Wednesday I’m selected for a gate check in ATL. They take my license to confirm my identity. They forget to give my license back to me and I forget to ask for it back before I board for my flight. Thursday I’m going to LAX – no license. They do a gate check on me so I can board the flight. I get to LAX and Hertz won’t let me pick up my car as I don’t have my license on me. I'm Hertz Gold/5 Star member. Now I’m stuck without a car until I leave on Sunday. Anybody give me an idea of what I can do to get a car??
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I have seen this before and I think you may be hosed. My only suggestion is to call Hertz, explain the situation, and see if they can help you. After using cabs/limos, I wonder how you will get thru security without a DL.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by OldTWAPlatGuy:
I have seen this before and I think you may be hosed. My only suggestion is to call Hertz, explain the situation, and see if they can help you. After using cabs/limos, I wonder how you will get thru security without a DL.</font>

Based on my personal experience, ID is actually still not a requirement to travel, but you will be a designated selectee for additional searches if you do not have ID.

Thanks for your replies. I'm sitting in my hotel in LA trying to figure what to do. Hertz said there is nothing they can do as its a "state law" that you need your license on you to pick up your car. As far as boarding the plane, NWA said that you really don't need a picture ID but they would search you (gate check) at the gate.

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A co-worker of mine had a similar experience where she had to pick up a car without a license. She had left hers at the office and had to go back to get it. One of the "pages" in the contract Hertz leaves in the cars is what indicates to the gate agent to check your license. The clerk told her which page it was and nobody asked for her id as she was leaving. I wish I knew which one it was. Not sure if this trick will help you - wish I had known, I was at LAX last night and we could have tried to work something out.

so I assume you don't have any family or friends in LA to pick up the car for you?

Isn't it illegal to operate a vehicle without the physical license? If it is, then you are basically asking Hertz to help you commit a crime (regardless of the fact that they have your license).

[This message has been edited by seawolf (edited 05-03-2002).]

One time when I couldn't find my license I called Hertz and asked that question. They told me when I got to the counter that I could call the Dept. of Motor Vehicles for my state and they could fax a copy of my license to Hertz. Thankfully I found the license.

Why not get a ID Card with picture from your state to use as ID at the airport and leave your ID safely in your wallet?

Thank you all for your replies. I was unsuccessful in getting my Hertz car. I found a driver through the Hilton concierge (one of his friends with a car) that I hired to drive me to my meetings for Friday so I was able to get my work done. The bummer part is that I’m limited today on getting out to play a little bit in LA. Talked to the elite line people at NWA and they contacted ATL and spoke with 4 different people and no one there has any record of finding my license. Called the Drivers license Bureau in St Paul and they said if I go to one of 4 special license bureau's that are "on line" it would still take 10 days to get a replacement license – said they would try to “speed it up”. My next trip is 10 days after that so I hope it arrives in time. Maybe when I’m in front of these license bureau people on Monday morning begging them to quickly expedite the process it will help!! After this is all over I’m going to somehow get a duplicate license and carry it with me on all trips in addition to carrying a colored photocopy of my passport as well. I would suggest to all travelers that read this board to have some sort of back up as well – this has not been fun!!.

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by seawolf:
Isn't it illegal to operate a vehicle without the physical license? If it is, then you are basically asking Hertz to help you commit a crime (regardless of the fact that they have your license).

[This message has been edited by seawolf (edited 05-03-2002).]</font>

This is the reason.

I have a friend who tried to pick up a car with an expired CA drivers license (he forgot to renew it). The DMV was able to fax over an extension document within an hour.

Getting Budget to accept the extension document was like pulling teeth (likely because they were running out of cars). The case had to be escalated to the legal departmnet at Budget with the threat of a lawsuit. (Because an expired license with a documented extension is the same as a valid license.)

I was surprised the DMV was so helpful in his case.

Get this - went in early this AM to apply for a replacement license. The lady said it would be 7-10 days but most likely I'd get it in 4-5 days. Good thing as I have my next trip in 9 days. I asked her about getting a duplicate license in addition to my replacement license so I would be covered should this ever happen again. She said it was "against the law in Minnesota" for you to have two (of your own) licenses in your procession at one time!


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&gt;
&gt; Why not get a ID Card with picture from
&gt; your state to use as ID at the airport
&gt; and leave your ID safely in your wallet?
&gt;

Many states will not issue both IDs. You
can get a DL or a state-ID, but not both.

Having been in exactly the same situation,
I decided to lie to the DMV [lost my
license] and now have two licenses.

-doug

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dranz:
&gt;
&gt; Why not get a ID Card with picture from
&gt; your state to use as ID at the airport
&gt; and leave your ID safely in your wallet?
&gt;

Many states will not issue both IDs. You
can get a DL or a state-ID, but not both.

Having been in exactly the same situation,
I decided to lie to the DMV [lost my
license] and now have two licenses.

-doug</font>

Instead of lying, why don't you get a passport for air travel?

Passports are really valuable and costly to replace. I use my INSPASS, which is free.

Bruce

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Based on my personal experience, ID is actually still not a requirement to travel, but you will be a designated selectee for additional searches if you do not have ID.</font>

I saw someone turned away from a DL flight in ATL last week because he left his ID somewhere. The GA sent him back to his arrviving flight to look for it - knowing he'd miss his outbound flight to MLB. Even though he was heading home, and wanted to just get a new lic. when he got there she wouldn't let him on the plane. The DL red coat agreed with the GA.

ID's do seem to be required to board.

With some of the rental kiosk machines you can get a car simply with the "loyalty" card.

I flew into Orlando (land of over 60 and under 6 - I HATE THAT AIRPORT!) any, National wouldn't give me a car with an expired license, but walked over to Alamo, swiped my card in the machine, and out popped a set of keys!

This is a good time to plug my trick; an id holder on a neck cord with an ID which is valid but basically disposable. You've all accumulated tons of HELLO! badge holders from meetings I'm sure. Just put a cord on one!

Mine holds an old military ID which has an indefinite expiration. You have to get some type of nonexpired, acceptable ID for yourself. Some DMV's will generate photo ID cards, I'm told.

My last trip a bunch of us in F were marvelling at how clever we were to have neck ID holders. I was the only one who could loose it and still rent a car etc.

I know that I'm bound to lose my DL if I keep pulling it out of the wallet enough times.

Jim

On top of it being a reprehensible crime, it is also morally wrong. Under most religious laws you will burn in hell for two eternities if you rent a car without a valid license. Of course the fact that you have a license but lost it is a mitigating circumstance.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by seawolf:
Isn't it illegal to operate a vehicle without the physical license? If it is, then you are basically asking Hertz to help you commit a crime (regardless of the fact that they have your license).

[This message has been edited by seawolf (edited 05-03-2002).]</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by seawolf:
Isn't it illegal to operate a vehicle without the physical license?
[This message has been edited by seawolf (edited 05-03-2002).]</font>

At least in California (the state in question) you can be cited for not having a license in your posession. But that citation is dismissed if you show up in court with the license.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d06/vc12951.htm

cnk