You can usually rent a car with a paper license. Hertz, Budget, Avis, Dollar, and Thrifty all have written policies that allow it, and Enterprise and National may allow it depending on the location. Every company reserves the right to refuse if the counter agent can’t verify your identity or the document’s authenticity, so bring backup ID and make sure the temporary license stays valid through your return date.
What a Temporary Paper License Is
A temporary paper license is the document your state’s motor vehicle agency hands you while the permanent card is in the mail. You might get one after a renewal, a replacement for a lost or stolen card, a name or address change, or a first-time road test. These paper documents typically stay valid for 30 to 60 days, depending on the state.
A learner’s permit is a different document. It restricts you to supervised driving and does not qualify you to rent a car at any major company. Enterprise says this outright, and the rule holds across the industry.
Which Rental Companies Accept a Paper License
Policies vary by brand, and sometimes by individual location within the same brand.
- Hertz accepts temporary licenses and says having one “shouldn’t stop you from hitting the road.” You’ll need a passport or government-issued ID with it, the license has to cover your full rental period, and vehicle selection may be restricted at some locations.
- Budget allows rentals with a temporary license if you meet its other requirements. You may need an additional photo ID such as a passport.
- Avis accepts temporary licenses if the license carries no restrictions and stays valid for the entire rental period.
- Dollar accepts temporary licenses paired with either a government-issued ID or a hard copy of your expired license. Staff can refuse the rental if they can’t confirm identity or authenticity.
- Thrifty follows the same policy as Dollar. The temporary license has to cover the full rental, and you need a government-issued ID or your expired physical license.
- Enterprise is more cautious. Some locations don’t accept temporary licenses at all, and the company warns that rentals may be refused if staff can’t verify identity. If you do rent with a temporary license, Enterprise will contact you to re-validate once your permanent card arrives.
- National takes a similar position. Temporary licenses may be refused when identity or authenticity can’t be confirmed, and extra government-issued ID may be required.
No company guarantees approval at the counter, and location-level discretion exists at every brand even when the corporate policy sounds like a firm yes.
What to Bring to the Counter
Showing up with only the paper license is the fastest way to get turned away. Every company that accepts a temporary license expects at least one more form of identification. Bring as much of this as you can:
- The temporary paper license itself. Check the expiration. If it lapses before your return date, most companies will refuse the rental.
- Your expired or voided physical license. If you got the paper document because you renewed or replaced your permanent card, the old plastic license with your photo is the single most useful backup you can carry. Dollar, Thrifty, and Hertz all list this specifically as an acceptable companion document.
- A government-issued photo ID. A passport works everywhere. A state ID card is also widely accepted. This matters most when you no longer have the old physical license, such as after a theft.
- DMV paperwork. Any official documentation of the temporary license’s issuance helps if the agent has questions about authenticity.
The expired physical license paired with the paper license is the combination that creates the least friction, because it lets the agent match your photo to the temporary document.
Why You Can Still Be Denied
The right paperwork gets you close, but a few things can still stop the rental.
Identity or Document Verification
Every major company’s policy includes a version of the same clause: they can refuse you if they can’t verify who you are or confirm that the document is genuine. Paper licenses are easier to alter than plastic cards, and counter agents know it. If the document looks off, the information doesn’t match your backup ID, or the format doesn’t match what the agent expects from your state, the rental won’t happen.
Your Driving Record
Rental companies can pull an electronic check of your motor vehicle record at pickup. Avis publishes specific disqualifiers, including one or more reckless driving convictions in the past 36 months, any DUI or DWI conviction in the past 48 months, leaving the scene of an accident in the past 36 months, three or more moving violations in the past 24 months, or three or more accidents in the past 36 months. Other companies use similar standards. A paper license doesn’t hide any of this.
Florida’s ID Restrictions
Budget flags a Florida-specific problem. Certain out-of-state licenses marked “Not For Federal Identification,” “Driving Privilege Only,” or “Not Valid for Identification” aren’t recognized under Florida law for driving on public roads. If your temporary license carries a similar restriction, a Florida location may refuse it even when the same document would work in another state.
What to Do Before You Go
A few minutes of preparation saves a lot of trouble at the counter.
Call the specific branch where you plan to pick up the car. Company-wide policies tell you the general rule, but the location-level discretion that Enterprise and National acknowledge in writing exists everywhere. Ask directly whether that branch accepts temporary licenses from your state and what documents they want to see.
Gather everything you have. The paper license, your old physical license if you still have it, a passport or state ID, and any DMV paperwork tied to the temporary license. More is better. Your job is to make it easy for the agent to confirm you are the person on the paper.
Have a fallback. If you’re traveling with someone who holds a permanent license, they can be the primary renter and add you as an authorized driver, which usually takes less documentation. If you’re on your own, know the rideshare and transit options at your destination. A policy that says “we accept temporary licenses” always carries the unwritten “unless we can’t verify it to our satisfaction.”
If your permanent card is expected to arrive before the trip, the simplest fix is to wait for it. The difference between a smooth pickup and a stressful negotiation often comes down to whether you’re holding plastic or paper.