Introduction to Adding Extra Drivers
If you’re planning a road trip in the United States and want to rent a car, you can typically add another driver to your contract. However, it might cost you a significant amount more depending on the company you choose.
Although including additional drivers on a rental contract was previously limited to spouses and domestic partners, many rental car companies like Alamo, Avis, and Hertz now allow any licensed driver to be added to the contract for a fee. Some companies do not charge for partners or spouses; however, this varies significantly across locations.
Keep in mind that fees and restrictions vary based on location—from state to state and even within different cities, even for the same rental company. Therefore, it is essential to check with your preferred car rental agency for specific pricing details and options to avoid paying for an additional driver altogether while ensuring you’re insured on your road trip.
Ways to Save Money
The best way to avoid paying for additional authorized drivers is to do your homework early, well before you pick up your rental car. You can acquire information from the rental car company’s website or call a customer service representative, but the answers you receive may not be consistent for your rental location.
To understand what you will be charged, read your rental car contract carefully before signing it. Because rental car policies differ from state to state and even office to office, be sure to review the entire contract.
Another effective strategy to bypass an additional driver fee is to join your car rental company’s loyalty program. While this method may not work in all instances, it can help avoid additional driver fees, especially when renting from National or Hertz.
Additional Driver Policies
Let’s examine the additional authorized driver policies for major U.S. rental car companies. (Note: All information, while current as of this writing, is subject to change without notice. Always consult your specific rental car company for location-specific policies and fee information.)
- Alamo charges a fee for all additional drivers, including spouses, unless rented under a corporate contract. Spouses of renters in specific states do not incur this fee.
- Avis does not impose a fee for spouses, domestic partners, additional drivers in California, and others engaged in official business.
- Budget shares a similar policy to Avis for adding spouses, domestic partners, and others for official purposes without a fee.
- Dollar charges a fee to add spouses and domestic partners, although specific exemptions apply based on certain criteria.
- Enterprise allows adding spouses and domestic partners at no charge, while other additional drivers may incur fees.
- Hertz has updated its policy, permitting multiple drivers depending on the seating capacity of the rental vehicle.
- National requires fees for additional drivers unless specific conditions are met.
- Thrifty allows you to add as many drivers as can fit in your rental car, subject to age differential fees for younger drivers.
Some rental companies waive additional driver fees for certain organization members, such as AARP or AAA. For instance, Costco Travel members renting from Avis, Budget, Alamo, or Enterprise can avoid the fee for the first additional driver added to their contract.
If you plan to add an additional authorized driver to your U.S. rental car contract, it is prudent to investigate additional driver policies and fees prior to making your reservation. When you arrive to pick up your rental car, make sure to review your contract thoroughly before signing.
