Hi GMC.

In two weeks, I'm going to the USA, hopefully on a road trip cross country. However, I had not realised that in order to buy insurance for a car, you must be 21. Same goes for most rentals. Now, both my friend and I are 20, turning 21 a couple of months after we come home again, but it's proved hard to find any concrete information on this subject.
So I'm hoping that someone here can help me out, it's really frustrating, and I loathe myself for not looking it up before I bought the plane ticket...

Almost forgot, we land in San Francisco, and were planning to buy the car there.

Thanks in advance!

If you try pre-booking a car for pick up at the airport in your own country via one of the big outfits you may have more luck? although having been to america a couple of times they are really tough on some of their laws and you may very well be out of luck, I was 32 last time I went and got asked for ID in a bar!!

Well, I wouldn't know how that would change anything? Pre-booking that is. I will probably still have to prove that I'm 21.

I don't know about the US but when we've picked up a hire car in the UK they ran a DVLC check .

When we've bought a 2nd hand car here in Spain - and previously in the UK years ago - we had to have insurance in place prior to being given the keys. I think they are legally obliged to do so in the UK and Spain - may be different in the USA.

Might be worth asking whether an international driving license would exempt you or possibly speak to the US consulate in England and see if they might provide something in writing to cover the issue?

Sted - maybe you just look exceptionally good for your age mate

Make that the US consulate in Denmark - England might not be that much help to you seagull

I got the international drivers license alright, so I'll check that out for sure.

US consulate in England? Why not just the Embassy in Denmark? (I live there, would be easier )

Didn't notice your location first time round seagull - yes consulate in England might be a bit of a drag for you to get to and they'll only tell you to go to the one in Denmark.

Hehe, glad we got that sorted out. I'll take that as a compliment on my english skills.

hehe, I wish! The missus has a photo of me on the mantelpiece to keep the kids away from the fire