Car Hire in Scotland by foreigners

I've rented a car in Scotland and did not have to show anything until I picked up the car, but that was with Celtic Legend/Arnold Clark.

I would suggest that you email them and ask why they need it so far ahead of time. Tell them you will definitely have them when you pick up the car. They may be just trying to save some time, but it is an extra burden on you.

I, on the other hand, would be a touch relieved that they have me on their schedule of cars and wouldn’t think twice about sending it ahead of time. You have seemingly reserved this early and it seems an organized thing to me for them to be completing documents along with your reservation.

Sounds strange to ask for your passport ahead of time, let alone your driver license. They didn’t need identification to take your money, did they? We also used Arnold Clark in Scotland several years ago, and just as Mardee experienced, we showed documentation upon picking up the car, not months in advance.

That’s been the experience in other European countries, as well - show the license and passport at the pick-up desk, even when reserving and opting in advance. Now that I say this, I think it’s possible that Hertz in Norway wanted the Colorado, USA driver license, and maybe Passport information ahead of time, maybe even photos of them sent electronically. I don’t recall for certain. We were in Norway this past September, and booked the rental in August. But the whole process was electronic, and we picked up the car at an automated machine in a garage in Bergen, inserting the driver license into a slot, before getting the key. There wasn’t supposed to be a human there, although one happened to be there, which we, and a separate couple both needed to get our transactions completed.

Maybe the Fort William company is combating some recent thefts or scams. Maybe they’re covering their bases more than in other countries or than other companies. Either way, it’s still strange.

It's worth asking them. I did a car hire booking a few months back a couple of months ahead of time (different company) and they also asked me to upload passport and licence into their system ahead of tome. I phoned and asked and they said it didn't matter and I could just present it on pickup.

Just chiming in to add my recent experience: booked a rental car for this coming Wool Week on Shetland in Sep/Oct and after reserving and paying and a couple emails back and forth the company asked for photos of licenses of all folks who would be drivers of the car. Didn't hesitate and sent them off. I figure it will hopefully make the pick up process easier and quicker.

I’ve never been asked to provide that information in advance, but I always rent with a major company. As mentioned, you can ask them why it is needed so far in advance.

thanks for the comments, the major car company's do not operate from Fort William so this is a small local company. I jusy wondered if it was something to be expected for Scotland and will write and see if I can just show them on the day we pick up the car. Especially with the passport I am worried about security of sending that info.

I sent my info ahead of time for small local companies on both Skye and Lewis and Harris. Maybe it has to do with personnel available. I do know it took me more time at pick up when I rented local from Arnold Clarke in Edinburgh and York when I did all paperwork at pick up. On Skye, they brought me my car to the ferry in pouring rain - the less time spent out in that, the better.

There are plenty of people on here who say that sending passport info to lodging accommodations isn’t a problem - no secure information involved. I can’t see why a car rental would be different. Maybe someone knows different.