International drivers are eligible for coverage under Wheelbase Auto Basic and Auto Essential protection packages. Because automated verification systems often cannot process overseas driving history, hosts are responsible for manually verifying the driver's age and documentation to ensure coverage remains valid.
Prerequisites
Minimum Age: The driver must be at least 25 years old, or 21–24 if you allow young drivers and the vehicle qualifies (see Under 25 renter eligibility below).
Active Protection: The vehicle must have Wheelbase Auto Basic or Auto Essential enabled.
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Verified Status: The host must manually inspect and store the driver's credentials.
Step-by-Step: Verifying an International Driver
Follow these steps to ensure your international guest is properly documented and covered by your protection package.
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Confirm Driver Age:
Verify that the renter is 25 years of age or older, or 21–24 if you allow young drivers and the vehicle qualifies.
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If the renter is under 21, or is 21–24 and the vehicle doesn't qualify, they are not eligible for Wheelbase insurance. In this case, you must verify their personal insurance independently (e.g., via Axle) before hand-off.
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Collect the Primary License:
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Obtain a high-quality photo or scan of the renter’s valid foreign driver's license.
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Check for English Translation:
If the foreign license is not in English, the renter must also provide an International Driving Permit (IDP).
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The IDP serves as a legal translation and is only valid when presented alongside the original home-country license.
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Perform Manual Inspection:
Carefully check the expiration dates on both the license and the IDP.
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Ensure the photo matches the guest standing in front of you.
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Document the Reservation:
Upload the photos of the license (and IDP, if applicable) to the Documents & Files section of the specific reservation in your Wheelbase dashboard.
⚠️ Warning: Verification Responsibility
Since automated background checks frequently fail for non-US/Canadian licenses, the host assumes the responsibility for manual verification. Failure to verify a valid license and the minimum age requirement may void your protection plan in the event of a claim.
Pro-Tip
State Laws: Some states have specific duration limits (e.g., 30 or 90 days) for how long a visitor can drive on a foreign license. Always check your local DMV guidelines.
Under 25 renter eligibility
- Renters aged 21–24 can book with Wheelbase Auto Basic or Auto Essential (Auto Premier is 25+ only) when you allow young drivers (Account Settings → Reservation Preferences → Under 25 renter eligibility, set to Allow by default) and the vehicle qualifies. A $25/day Young Driver Fee applies. The following vehicles are excluded:
- Vehicles located outside the US
- Certain exotic vehicle makes (brands like Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and others)
- Any vehicle with a replacement value over $49,999
- Cars set to rideshare insurance