If you're taking a trip across the country with a rental car, what is the extent of the risk involved with things not being "nice 'n' legal"?

I figured out that I can do this rental thing 100% legally if I rent the car from Hertz, pay an under 25 yrs. old charge, pay for an additional driver. A bit expensive, yes?

What if I have the other driver (over 25 yrs. old) rent the car? What if the other driver doesn't pay for an additional driver and I drive anyway? Bad idea?

What other complications might be involved with making a move with a big old van across the country (Albuquerque to Chicago)? I've never done anything like this before, so I'm trying to plan carefully/properly anticipate various pains in the ass.

Any suggestions of any kind would be appreciated...Mandroid, I know you pulled off such a trip fairly recently.

I'll be around...just studying.

Rent the car and then do whatever the F you want. I remember the guy telling me not to take the car out of state. See ya in Florida, sucker!

Have a valid license, don't be drunk or have drugs. Everything else is cream cheese.

if you get in an accident or get pulled over with you driving, just say that the person who's allowed to drive is sick, or drunk, or started getting dizzy, or whatever other reasonable and undeniable lie you can come up with. if you're driving because the allowable driver is not in good shape to drive, who's got anything to say about that? nobody! you're doing the safe and responsible thing.

all you need to do is be a convincing liar.

So...avoiding the extra charges = good thing.

Still, if anybody can come up with a good reason to pay a lot extra to keep this rental 100% legal, lemme know.

General cross-country moving suggestions are also welcome.

personally I always keep stuff like that on the level and follow the rules. that's mostly because i'm a terrible liar. can't really pull it off.

also, please don't misconstrue my offering ways to lie as encouragement. whether you lie or not is your choice. but if you decide to do it, at least don't go into it unprepared for dealing with the potential consequences.

also, get the insurance.

Hah...I guess I did misconstrue it as encouragement.

My concern is more what the consequences are...and if they're truly worth giving a shit about.

well unless you get in an accident or otherwise have police involved in your trip, how would anybody know anything of it?

you're not the guy that's dumb enough to drive the car into or out of the rental joint, are you? they hand the keys to your friend, who hands them to you and you get in the driver's seat?

don't be that guy.

unless the cops are involved, how does the rental car joint find out you were ever behind the wheel?

Not ridiculously stupid, check.

I can lie convincingly, but I don't much like doin' it...especially when a cop is involved. We'd be doing the speed limit for the duration of the trip...

I'm just being paranoid...just thought I'd ask the board since touring EA punkers are adept at saving money and cutting corners (right?).

I've moved cross-country about nine times. You should worry about a few things as you make your move:

1) Texas. If you have a moving van, chances are you'll be pulled over if you go one mile over the limit. Hell, if you don't take a shower that day they'll pull you over.

2) U-Haul. They have vans and trucks from the 1970s. When you're on your next tour count the number of broken down U-Hauls.

3) Hotels. Sleep in the truck, on an offramp or in a wayside.


Do you have pets? Fish? Cats?

Get the insurance.

Don't pay the under 25 thing. An understandable but totally goofy surcharge.

Don't pay the additional driver fee. I've been pulled over driving rentals w/o my name on the info. The renter was in the car, so it wasn't a problem for this officer.

Do not go even 5 mph over the limit in Texas or South Dakota.

Get the insurance.

Re: moving long distances:

-Allow good packing time. Throwing things into a junk heap in the back of a truck if you are moving cross-country doesn't save you anytime in the long run.
-Put as much in boxes as possible.
-Throw as much out as possible. Most people's things are 1) sentimental or 2) garbage. Get in the anti-consumer zone, get disgusted with yourself and attack.
-Records move well in dresser drawers
-Treat anyone who helps you well, as moving fucking sucks

On the truck, get the insurance.