In this country only a few vehicle models are available with a manual transmission and most rental companies rent only automatic transmission vehicles.
Specialty car rental companies that rent sports cars may have manual transmission cars available.
Here is an example;
It may be more practical to rent an inexpensive compact with an automatic transmission for a week, drive it until you are comfortable with it, then take your driving test.
To the OP,
First I sympathize. We have an old family friend who could not drive a stick.
Have you confirmed that your state DMV will accept a rental car use? I seem to recall that California wants to see registration (and do a safety check) of the vehicle before a road test. Maybe the rental agreement will work.
As an alternative suggestion, try calling driver education places to see if any offer manual transmission lessons. If so, they probably have an MT car and might be willing to rent it to you for a driver test. There are definitely driver ed places that offer use of AT cars for DMV testing.
Good luck!
@waterbuff; has a good idea.
Check with places that teach drivers education.
You may have to pay for the instructor to take you out to evaluate your skills and then again to escort you on the test day.
But if you are that experienced with a standard, he/she should not take long to evaluate your skills. Though they may want you to take a few lessons, just because things are different here from your home country.
Yosemite
I would think someone with an international license and 20 years driving experience could spend 30 minutes in a parking lot and figure out how to drive an automatic vehicle .
When you are issued a State Drivers License, you may have to surrender your International Drivers License. You may not want to do that…So I would not mention that you even had an International License…Just tell them you have NO drivers license…
“Unless you’re buying a high end car, like a 'Vette, I’m not sure you can even buy a manual tranny in the U.S. anymore. I don’t think anybody offers one”
Not trying to start beef with a respected member of the forum, but as of about 10 months ago when I was shopping for cars (didn’t buy one but that’s a different story), all of the low end cars offered manual transmissions, at least in the base trim. Talking about Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta, etc. Can’t speak to how many they were selling though, probably just to the automotive mennonites like myself. 
I wonder though, maybe you could go to like a small independent used car lot and offer some cash money to “rent” a manual trans car for a few days. Of course they’re in business to sell cars, but money talks. Might need the “gift of gab” to pull that off though.
Thanks Ed. I didn’t think any were available. I’m pleasantly surprised. I guess I need to get out more.
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I am old enough to remember when NY State used to stamp your license 'Automatic only" if you took your road test in an automatic equipped car but I don’t know how long that lasted. It was no longer the case when my kids started driving.
Interesting. I was going to rent a Yaris this weekend but ended up upgrading to a Camry. I wonder if it would have been a manual. The guy at the desk really discouraged it but to tell the truth that Camry was a very uninteresting car. Just like driving an Impala. No fun at all. Except I liked the drink holders in the door. So might want to give Hertz a call and see if the Yaris are manual.
A reviewer once wrote about the Camry that it was so boring you’d scream, but so well built that nobody outside the car would hear you.
And the Corolla is still available new as a 6 speed manual.
Perhaps then it WILL be possible for the OP to rent a manual.
I have a Camry, and I can tell you they ARE boring
People don’t buy Camry for the excitement or flashy looks
They buy them for comfort, reliability, and resale value
Comfort, reliability, and resale value Are exciting - to a guy like me. But seriously, there’s a big market for vehicles like this amongst those who view their car as an appliance to get them from a to b.
I like reliable and exciting. I remember when the neighbor lady traded in her 56 Ford convertible for a plain Jane Dodge in medium tan. I asked her why she picked that dull color and she said so it wouldn’t show the dirt. She moved after that so don’t know if she stayed with boring or went back to exciting.
I think you’ll have better luck looking at off-brand rentals first. If you can’t find what you want, try the major brands. Since it’s only one day, even a more expensive car like a Mustang won’t set you back too much.
I know it’s a nit, but you do not have an international driver’s license. No one does. You have an international driver’s permit. It shows in a standard format that you have a valid driver’s license in your home country. People that need to see a driver’s license (or permit) can’t know every countries licenses.
Guys, I was not criticizing the Camry
I bought one, remember?
And my next car after this one may be another Camry
In fact, I’m thinking of buying another Camry for my mom, as well?
Comfort, reliability, and resale value Are exciting - to a guy like meAnd that's why the Camry has been the #1 selling car and most popular for the last couple decades.
Yes, I bought a Camry 3 1/2 years ago and all my tools are rusting. I still like Chryslers seating position better. In the Camry the seat drops rapidly to the floor as it goes back like GM. I need a seat that will go back and remain tall.