Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2015, 05:03:54

Title: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2015, 05:03:54
.... but I've just realised that I need the online code so the hire company can check my licence details.  ::)

Trouble is, to get the code you need your National Insurance number, which I don't have with me here in the States and have no way of finding it out.  :-\  I don't have the old counterpart either..... ::)

'dangle berries'!!  >:(   I'll have a phone round the hire companies in the morning to see what the requirements are.  Any helpful suggestions?   ???

My plan was a little road trip from here in Houston down to New Orleans for a couple of days, but that might well be scuppered by the bloody DVLA!  >:( >:( >:(

opps it off to the pub!  :D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: 05omegav6 on 13 July 2015, 06:12:06
Buy the first Catera you see for sale and get it added to your mates insurance... Job jobbed :y

Like this one...
http://m.autoshopper.com/vehicledetails.asp?id=16857789
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: RossPhim on 13 July 2015, 10:22:57
Why not get yourself a US license?   :P

When I was in Houston back in 2000, one of the young lads asked me to give him a lift to the test place.
Whilst there I realised that for something like $25 I could do both the computer and driven test at the same time.

The only reason I did it was because I was fed up taking the passport for age checking at every bar/restaurant we went to.

Things may have changed since I did it all but you never know.

They also used to do a thing where you handed in your UK license and automatically gave you a US one, but I didn’t fancy temporarily losing my UK one.
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: biggriffin on 13 July 2015, 14:58:30
Have you flounced to America,or just annoying somebody else  ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2015, 15:53:04
All is not lost!  :y

After a few pints of a noxious brew called 'Sierra Nevada' while watching an excellent RnB band, I had a lightbulb moment and found my NI number written in the back of my little black book.  :)

So that number that I've only ever needed when starting a new job has new importance, and not having it with me could have ruined a nice little side trip.  ::)  Make sure you have it handy folks especially when abroad as you never no when you might need a car. ;)

Thanks for the suggestions!

Al:  I want to drive a car not work on a car while I'm still here.  ::)
Ross: Getting Texas licence might have worked.  :y
BG: I'm a bouncer, not a flouncer and will be bouncing back to Blighty soon! Too soon.... :P
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: aaronjb on 13 July 2015, 16:10:28
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Paddy Flannery on 13 July 2015, 16:18:09
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[

No, me too !  :y
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: 05omegav6 on 13 July 2015, 17:48:41
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[
Nope :-X :-[
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: biggriffin on 13 July 2015, 18:22:44
All is not lost!  :y

After a few pints of a noxious brew called 'Sierra Nevada' while watching an excellent RnB band, I had a lightbulb moment and found my NI number written in the back of my little black book.  :)

So that number that I've only ever needed when starting a new job has new importance, and not having it with me could have ruined a nice little side trip.  ::)  Make sure you have it handy folks especially when abroad as you never no when you might need a car. ;)

Thanks for the suggestions!

Al:  I want to drive a car not work on a car while I'm still here.  ::)
Ross: Getting Texas licence might have worked.  :y
BG: I'm a bouncer, not a flouncer and will be bouncing back to Blighty soon! Too soon.... :P

Is that due to the American sized portions. ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 July 2015, 18:54:00
Ha ha you're not wrong there. I'm even doing Yankee sized poops!  :o  ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Vamps on 13 July 2015, 21:09:41
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[
Nope :-X :-[

I only recently learned it, mainly by form filling............ :D :D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Lazydocker on 13 July 2015, 21:26:25
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[

No, me too !  :y

And me... Known mine off by heart since I was about 17
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: EMD on 13 July 2015, 21:36:27
Ha ha you're not wrong there. I'm even doing Yankee sized poops! :o  ;D

 ::)

That be all those Dunkin Donuts  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: aaronjb on 13 July 2015, 22:24:32
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[

No, me too !  :y

And me... Known mine off by heart since I was about 17

I'm glad I'm not the only one.. it's fortunate I can remember mine, I don't think I've seen my NI card since about 1997.. ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Vamps on 13 July 2015, 23:43:04
So it's just me who can remember his NI number off the top of his head?  :-[

No, me too !  :y

And me... Known mine off by heart since I was about 17

I'm glad I'm not the only one.. it's fortunate I can remember mine, I don't think I've seen my NI card since about 1997.. ;D

I don't even have one......... ::) ::) ;)
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: chrisgixer on 13 July 2015, 23:47:02
No idea meself. H knows I bet. :)
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Webby the Bear on 14 July 2015, 18:08:52
what online number/code did you need tig?
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: scimmy_man on 14 July 2015, 18:45:45
you wont need it,

They ask to see your licence, glance at it and you are good to go,

not sure they ever knew about a paper bit.
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: SteveAvfc. on 14 July 2015, 19:34:14
Just got back from two weeks in Spain. Booked and paid for car hire months ago before the code was required. But as it has since been made a requirement I obtained it before I left. Got to the hire desk proceeded to give it to the rep along with the counterpart ( just in case) and guess what never asked for it. Whats the point.  ???
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Viral_Jim on 14 July 2015, 21:33:53
Just bluff. Worked for me in at least 4 countries when asked for the counterpart - I work as an internal auditor so do 10-11 three week overseas trips a year.

Worked in Germany this time regarding the one-time code. Truth is the new requirements probably haven't filtered through to the US, particularly if you pick ones with a smaller European presence - National maybe.

I'd be amazed if you get asked for it.
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 15 July 2015, 18:14:57
Yep in the end there was no problem. In and out within 20 minutes, just gave my photocard licence and credit card  and I was away in a shiney black Chevy! :y

Could be a Daewoo though......  :-\  :D  ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: scimmy_man on 15 July 2015, 18:51:27
told you.

didnt you ask for an upgrade? ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 July 2015, 18:54:10
Yep in the end there was no problem. In and out within 20 minutes, just gave my photocard licence and credit card  and I was away in a shiney black Chevy! :y

Could be a Daewoo though......  :-\  :D  ;D

That'll be a Chevy matiz then  ::) ;D
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 16 July 2015, 00:07:07
Nope it's an Equinox LTZ AWD, all for the princely sum of $236.10 for 7 days!  :y

I booked an economy tin box but they had run out of those, so I got this instead.  8) and as its made in Canada it's not a Daewoo, before y'all start taking the piss!  :P
 
It's a nice drive and made the 6 hour run from Houston to New Orleans pretty effortless!  :y
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: 78bex on 16 July 2015, 00:43:12
What`s gas & ammo prices like ??? I`ve always fancied a 9mm browning high power. :y
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: 05omegav6 on 16 July 2015, 03:21:37
http://m.chevrolet.com/equinox-fuel-efficient-suv/trims.html

One of Theses... Stock GM mid size SUV and about the same price as a very nice house in Flint, MI...

What`s gas & ammo prices like ??? I`ve always fancied a 9mm browning high power. :y
$750 will go along way...
http://www.shotgunsupply.com/ ::)
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 16 July 2015, 03:53:58
What`s gas & ammo prices like ??? I`ve always fancied a 9mm browning high power. :y

$2.47 a gallon!  :y

As Al points out guns are cheap and easily got.  I haven't done the gun thing this time, but when I was here last time I went into a gun shop and they had old single shot bolt action rifles in a bargain bin for $100 each!  :o  ::)
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: scimmy_man on 17 July 2015, 18:19:25
gas in california in june was as low as $2,15 a gallon (and as much as $3.60) I had a play on a gunrange 9mm glock box of bullets and a target, entry for two (both allowed to shoot but she didnt) $60 =£40.
Title: Re: Want to hire a car in the US......
Post by: Shackeng on 17 July 2015, 19:14:39
What`s gas & ammo prices like ??? I`ve always fancied a 9mm browning high power. :y

I paid £35  for a SH one in '72, and then had to hand it in for scrappage after Dunblane. >:( >:( >:(
In Bangor in about '81, a gun shop had brand new Mk4 Lee Enfields in Maintenance Unit grease still with labels, for less than $100. Unfortunately as a non-resident I couldn't buy one. :y