[blindlaw] Can the blind rent a vehicle

[Mike Freeman]

I tend to agree that the fee should be based upon the age of the driver, 
not that of the renter (person wielding the credit card). But the truly 
equitable (in terms of asking for equality while not at the same time 
asking for special despensations) would be to determine whether the 
added fee for drivers under 25 was due to increased insurance rates 
anand wheter, in turn, any of the insurance companies would base their 
rates to the rental car companies on the ages of *both* the driver and 
renter or *just** on that of the driver. IF the latter, than charging 
the extra fee to Rod would be unjust; if the former, all of us should be 
expected to pay the going rate IMO.

Mike

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006, McCarthy, Jim wrote:

> Is it ok for you to pay this fee if you provide a younger driver?  Sometimes I have talked them out of that saying I am vouching for the person and sometimes I could not.  I really do not know the equitable answer.
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
> Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 11:10 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Can the blind rent a vehicle
>
>
> Jim, I tried to make a reservation, and I encountered the same difficulty.
> In my case, as the renter, I am 24, and they insisted on imposing a young
> drivers fee even though my driver is over the required age of 25. Since I
> won't be doing any driving, it is ridiculous for me to be paying such fee!
>
> Rod
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "McCarthy, Jim" <JMcCarthy at nfb.org>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 10:59 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Can the blind rent a vehicle
>
>
>> There are a couple of settlements that the NFB was involved in during the
> early to middles 1990's that require the process to occur as Tim describes.
> I believe that the DOJ worked on these and they have basically made their
> way through the community of rental agencies.  One of the issues that I
> think remains unsettled is whether the driver can be someone less than 25
> years of age.  Many rental car companies assess substantial fees on drivers
> less than 25 years of age.  Is it right to assess the fee if I (just turned
> 40) provide as my driver someone who is 22.
>> Jim McCarthy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
>> Behalf Of Ford, Tim (DHS-OLS)
>> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 10:34 AM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Can the blind rent a vehicle
>>
>>
>> I have rented a vehicle on a number of occasions, but I do not know if
>> this is legally mandated.
>>
>> On a few of those occasions, the folks at the local office of the rental
>> car company had to find out from their headquarters office that it was
>> okay to rent to me.  IN the past few years, I have not had any such
>> trouble, so the rental car firms appear to have all communicated to
>> their local offices how to deal with the situation.
>>
>> So it now seems accepted that the rental car can be secured in the name
>> of the blind person, and the only additional requirement is that you
>> present to them the driver.  The company will make a copy of the drivers
>> license of the driver, and that is about it.
>>
>> My recommendation is that you call ahead to the office you are intending
>> to go to, explain that you are blind, and will be bringing the driver
>> with you at the time of check-in.  Be sure and state that you are going
>> to be the one renting the car, and it will be rented using your credit
>> card.  Otherwise, you may end up with a surprise when you get to the
>> counter, when they try and have the driver rent the car on their credit
>> card.
>>
>> So calling ahead will allow the company to check with their regional or
>> headquarters office if they are unsure.  Get the name of who you spoke
>> with, in case that person is not there when you show up.  It is also a
>> good idea to ask in advance who you should check in with when you
>> physically get to the rental car office, being sure to include with your
>> question whether that person will be there at the time you are planning
>> to come in.
>>
>> Again, the few times I had this problem were all over 10 years ago, and
>> not since.  I rent a car under my own name at least once a year.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Tim Ford
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
>> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 4:37 AM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: [blindlaw] Can the blind rent a vehicle
>>
>>
>> Hello everybody:
>>
>>    Can someone please comment on the legal requirements for a blind
>> person to rent a vehicle, besides having a driver available? Thanks.
>>
>> Rod
>>
>>
>>
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