Originally Posted by
cestmoi123
Agree on all points.
1. Never had an issue using my US driver's license in the UK with any of several rental car companies.
2. If you need an automatic, book one.
3. When you get the car, go over it with a fine-toothed comb, and make sure any damage (scratches, dings, scrapes, even little stuff) is noted on the damage sheet before you take the car out of the lot.
Good advice. I've taken to (when overseas, at least) getting out my camera and taking pictures of the car from every angle before it ever leaves the parking spot, just in case I missed something on the damage sheet. It's not guaranteed (any damage is technically supposed to be written down on the sheet), but if there is something you've missed, and you've got a reasonable employee/manager when you return it, you should be ok. At least better off than you would be without the pictures.
It's also much better to take them with a real camera, not just your phone. Sure, your phone takes nice pictures, but it doesn't capture quite the detail of a 16-20 megapixel device made for one purpose and one purpose only.
And don't fall into the trap of brand new cars being in perfect shape. I had a Taurus in SLC with 23 miles on it, and half the weatherstripping on the passenger door was torn off. There's a reason some of these end up as rentals.