Short answer: yes, you can give someone a day in a supercar, and the usual way is a gift certificate. When you purchase a gift certificate for a supercar rental, you do not have to know the exact day that the certificate will be used. In fact, you don’t even have to know what type of car will be used. When you purchase a gift certificate, you specify the amount. Then, the recipient redeems the gift certificate when they are ready to book a day of fun in the supercar of their choice. Or you can choose the exact car and day, pay in advance, and surprise your friend with details.
Federal CARD Act
The Federal CARD Act sets down guidelines for gift certificate money, including that they must be valid for at least five years. An inactivity fee can only be charged after twelve months of non-use, and if certain other conditions are met. Some states also give gift cards more time, so check the terms to be sure.
In New York, gift certificates have to be good for at least nine years. Terms and conditions must also be clearly printed on the certificate. Florida generally doesn’t allow expiration dates or fees, though bank cards are not included in the rule. So here’s how it works: you buy the certificate in July, they book next spring, and the value is still the same. No guessing on your part, no calendar conflicts, and no use-it-or-lose-it trap for them.
Qualified to Rent a Supercar
In addition to checking out the terms on the gift certificate, you will want to check other details so that the recipient can make use of it. Most importantly, check that the recipient is actually qualified to rent a supercar. To get behind the wheel of a supercar, drivers commonly must be 21 or older, with a valid license, a clean driving record, and full-coverage insurance in their own name. In New York, though, companies can’t use age alone to refuse renters who are 18 or older, provided they can get insurance. If the person getting the certificate doesn’t meet those criteria, chances are pretty good they won’t be able to use it.
Don’t be surprised if a personal auto policy won’t cover a rented exotic. Look for value caps or coverage exclusions. Double check the details and get all questions answered before the rental date. If you’re giving a gift for a specific day, check whether the recipient’s insurance covers that. Otherwise, they may have a hard time booking their rental on time, or worse, cancel altogether. And remember that some companies won’t let them add insurance at pickup.
Remember that car rentals carry a security hold on the card. That’s used to cover possible damage, fees, etc. An exotic rental carries a security hold typically anywhere from about $1,000 to $3,000 or more. The price tag goes up for the true supercars. Confirm the exact hold when you book the car, and make sure the person you’re buying for has a card that can take it. No actual charge happens at first - it just reserves the amount of funds. The hold is released after the rental comes back clean. If using a debit card, the hold keeps their own cash from use. A credit card is usually a better bet.
What Sort of Car Another Person Might Like to Try
It’s a challenge to guess what sort of car another person might like to try. You can learn a lot by asking about what sort of car they might like to try. Or, if the person is the type that wants to choose their own, go with the gift certificate for a specific dollar amount. Think about the person who’s getting it, and what occasion it’s for. So for a milestone birthday, a flashy headline car can be perfect. If it’s a group, maybe a big family SUV instead. And if the driver really knows their way around cars, they may appreciate something especially driver-focused. Check to see whether one other person can come along, in case your giftee has someone they’d like to bring. But if your recipient plans to split the day behind the wheel with a friend, make sure the second driver also meets the age, license, and insurance rules.
Daily rates for cars can vary wildly. Get the exact daily rate confirmed up front. And if there’s a multi-day discount, you can make the gift last even longer.
When you set it up, first pick out the car and whether to lock down specific dates or just specify an amount. Then check that you’re getting the current rates, and the certificate gets all set up. Give it to your special someone and tell them to pick a day. Some places will email the certificate, or send a physical gift card, so ask. Note that not all certificates are refundable. Read the terms first to find out.
On the day itself, showing up at the rental place with all necessary paperwork is a good start. License and insurance are checked out at the beginning of the handoff. The rental company will check out the car’s overall condition. That’s normal for something of great value like an exotic car, so the recipient should be ready to let them do it. At the end of the rental, they’ll check again.
All that’s left now is to watch them open it. Just check the card’s expiration rules, and keep it safe so they can make the call when they’re ready.
