Do you have to provide a copy of your driver's license when renting a car?

When you rent a car, most car rental companies ask you to bring your driver's license and passport when you pick up the car. This is logical: the car rental company wants to know whether you are authorized to drive a car. Therefore, you must show that you have a valid driver's license and that it has not been confiscated, for example. However, is it allowed to copy the driver's license? Or is it allowed to scan the driver's license? This blog will try to answer the question: Do you have to provide a copy of your driver's license when renting a car? And is this allowed?

Can a car rental company ask for a copy of my driver's license?

You are planning to take a test drive in a new car or you are planning to rent a car? In that case, a car rental company may make a copy of your ID, such as a driver's license or a passport. The rental company makes a copy so that it can report suspected theft of the rental car. The copy or scan must meet a number of conditions, otherwise the rental company may not use it. The same applies to the rent a van or at the rental of a passenger bus.

What conditions must the car rental company adhere to?

Both when taking a test drive and when renting a car, the lessor or seller may make a copy or scan of your ID under certain conditions. The first condition is that the rental company has a legitimate purpose for making a copy. In addition, the lessor must:

• Hide your passport photo and BSN. The landlord does not need this when filing a report, for example. You can give explicit permission for a copy or scan, then the photo and BSN do not have to be hidden.
• Explain what legal obligation it is that he needs a scan or copy.
• Copy or scan should be stored somewhere safe.
• The copy or scan must be given to you after you have returned the car.
• The copy or scan must be destroyed when you return the car.

AVG

The GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. This new European privacy law gives a person more rights and companies/organizations more responsibility to handle your (digital) data carefully and to inform you about it. In short, companies need a good reason to process personal data. If this is not done correctly, it is punishable. There is a violation of the GDPR when the confidentiality, availability and integrity of you as a tenant are damaged. For example, when your data is leaked to a third party.

Identity fraud

Covering important data, such as your Citizen Service Number and your passport photo, when making a copy or scan of your driver's license is important to prevent identity fraud. With a copy of the driver's license, malicious people can already commit fraud. For example, they can apply for a loan or take out subscriptions in your name. It is even safer to only have your driver's license registered with the car rental company without making a copy. Registration of your driver's license looks like this: 'Driver's license, document number.'

Provide secure copy yourself

Do you know that you need a copy of your driver's license to rent a car? Then make a scan or copy yourself. Pay attention to the following:

• Make your BSN invisible.
• Make the number sequence at the bottom of your pass invisible.
• Write on the copy that it is a copy.
• Write on the copy for which car rental company the copy is intended.
• Write on the copy date that you will return the copy to the rental company.

Copy of registration certificate when renting a car?

At many car rental companies you will receive a copy of the registration certificate. When you ask for it, the rental company will say that this is the normal procedure. But is that the case? Although it happens more often, this is not covered by Dutch law. You are required to take an original registration certificate with you. If you do not have this with you when you are stopped, you as the driver will receive a fine. The same applies when you drive abroad.

Rent your car safely without a copy of your driver's license

At Adrem Car Rental you can rest assured: when rent a car no copy or scan will be made of your driver's license, passport or identity card. However, at the beginning of the rental your details (driver's license number, date and place of birth) will be noted. You will get your driver's license back uncopied and unscanned.