Final Updated on March four, 2022 by Jonathan

avoiding-additional-driver-fees

Exercise you hate getting nickeled and dimed? Many renters overlook car rental additional driver fees. Whether you lot plan on sharing the driving or just want additional flexibility, it tin can be convenient to add another driver your rental contract. Only at $10 per solar day or more, this accuse adds up rapidly—unless you find a way to avoid it altogether.

Be sure to add together all potential drivers to your rental contract. If you skip this step and a non-listed driver gets into an accident, then your insurance or harm waiver will be voided. It'southward not worth taking the run a risk of getting hit with a huge bill if there'due south an accident.

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There are times when car rental additional driver fees don't utilize:

The End of the California Exception

If you lot haven't rented a car in California lately, y'all should be enlightened of a change in the constabulary. Rental auto companies were once prohibited from charging additional driver fees in the Golden State.

But since Jan 1, 2022, car rental companies in California are allowed to charge for additional drivers, provided that the additional commuter isn't a parent, spouse, co-worker, kid, sibling, or grandparent.

Likewise, remember, not just anyone can have the wheel. The additional driver needs to nowadays a valid driver's license and in improver be listed on the contract.

The New York Reprieve

The State of New York gives renters a fleck of a break by capping the additional driver fee at $5 per additional driver per day. That'south about half of what rental companies accuse in other states. It volition become even amend in mid-2023 when the latest law limits the maximum amount rental companies tin can charge to $fivein total per rental for an boosted driver.

The Exception for Spouses in Some States

Some states allow the primary driver'due south spouse to be an automatic authorized additional driver without a fee. When a spouse is legally authorized as an additional commuter by state law, it is not necessary to explicitly listing them on the rental contract. In fact, past doing so, the rental company may pressure you to pay an boosted driver fee when it is unnecessary to do so.

States where the principal driver'south spouse is automatically listed every bit an extra driver include:

  • Indiana
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Missouri
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin

In Nevada, the fee is capped by police force, but adjusts annually based on aggrandizement.

In every other state, there are no legal limitations on car rental additional commuter fees, then information technology pays to try to avert the charge using ane of the strategies below.

Additional Driver Fee Policies past Car Rental Company

Information technology's important to go on in listen the policies of each company, since not all are created equal:

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Enterprise/Alamo

There is no additional commuter fee for a spouse, domestic partner or business partner. For other additional drivers, there is a charge of $15 per day for each boosted authorized driver.

Avis/Budget/Fox/Payless

In that location is no additional driver fee for a spouse or domestic partner. Other individuals will incur a per-24-hour interval fee. Avis and Upkeep currently charge $13 per 24-hour interval at most locations but cap the fee at $65 per rental.

Dollar/Thrifty

Both companies typically charge per day for all additional drivers (including spouses). The exception to this rule is that spouses tin can drive for free for members of Dollar's Limited and Thrifty's Bluish Chip programs.

Hertz

At that place is a daily charge for all additional drivers, but if you are a member of Hertz Gilt Plus Rewards, the fee is waived for a spouse or domestic partner. At corporate and participating licensee locations, the additional fee is approximately $thirteen.50 per day with a maximum of $189.00 per rental for each additional driver.

Kyte

Renting in a major metro area? Kyte is the first rental visitor to offer door-to-door delivery service on both ends of your trip. Kyte will deliver a vehicle straight to you and so come up pick it upwardly at terminate of the rental menstruation, as long as you are within one of their service areas.

With Kyte, boosted drivers are completely gratis which is a far more generous policy than any other rental visitor. Note that additional drivers be added before the trip begins and must be present at the fourth dimension of delivery with their driver's license. Additional drivers must run across the age requirement.

National

The fee is e'er waived for a spouse or domestic partner of the renter. In addition, family members sharing the aforementioned accost equally a renter who is too a National's Emerald Lodge fellow member can as well drive for complimentary.

Silvercar

Silvercar does not charge for whatsoever additional commuter who meets rental requirements. Information technology's a very customer-friendly policy, merely so again, you lot oftentimes pay significantly more for the privilege of driving their Audis.

Sixt

There is a daily charge for all additional drivers including spouses.

Others

For other companies, contact the company directly to confirm the policy on additional drivers. Any savings you lot get from a discount brand may exist wiped out by a fee for an boosted driver.

Memberships That Cover Additional Driver Fees

Another fashion to get effectually the additional driver fee is to use a membership discount code. The following organizations permit an additional driver at no charge if booked with a membership discount:

AAA: Members can list additional drivers at no charge with Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty when they volume with the AAA disbelieve code at participating U.Due south. and Canada locations.

AARP: Members get a complimentary additional driver at Avis and Budget when booked with the AARP discount code at participating locations.

Costco: Members get a costless additional commuter at Alamo and Enterprise when booked with the Costco discount code at locations in the U.S., Canada, U.M., France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, and Spain. At Avis and Budget, the Costco code merely kills the additional driver fee in the United States.

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USAA: At Hertz, USAA members can apply a discount code to avoid the fee for a spouse or adult children. At Enterprise, there'south no charge for adding spouses and USAA family members to the rental agreement. With Avis and Upkeep, there's no charge for spouses or other USAA members.

Many exemptions are automatic and don't require listing the qualifying additional driver on the rental understanding. In fact, specifically listing someone on the contract may end upwardly backfiring and triggering an additional driver fee that you are actually entitled to waive. If you're unclear, always ask the rental amanuensis for confirmation.

The Takeaway on Additional Commuter Fees

With a little bit of planning, yous tin avoid paying a fee when you lot need to add a 2d driver to your rental contract. Renters in California get a free pass regardless of company, every bit do customers of Silvercar, and spouses or domestic partners when renting from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, or Trick, and in numerous states past police. If none of these situations employ, and so yous can frequently avert the fee by joining a frequent renter plan or using a membership discount lawmaking. Be sure to summate all costs before booking.

If an additional driver can't be nowadays when you pick up the car, y'all can visit whatever of the brand'southward locations and brand the change subsequently.

Related:

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  • How Much Does information technology Cost to Hire a Motorcar Per 24-hour interval?