Last Updated on May thirty, 2022 by Jonathan

avoiding-additional-driver-fees

Do you lot hate getting nickeled and dimed? Many renters overlook automobile rental additional driver fees. Whether you program on sharing the driving or just want additional flexibility, it can be convenient to add together another commuter your rental contract. But at $10 per twenty-four hour period or more, this accuse adds upwardly speedily—unless yous find a fashion to avoid it altogether.

Be sure to add all potential drivers to your rental contract. If you skip this footstep and a not-listed driver gets into an blow, then your insurance or damage waiver volition exist voided. It's not worth taking the hazard of getting striking with a huge neb if in that location's an accident.

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

The Cease of the California Exception

If you haven't rented a motorcar in California lately, you should be aware of a change in the police. Rental car companies were once prohibited from charging boosted driver fees in the Golden State.

Simply start Jan 1, 2023, car rental companies in California will be allowed to charge for additional drivers, provided that the additional driver isn't a parent, spouse, co-worker, kid, sibling, or grandparent.

Also, remember, not just anyone tin can take the cycle. The additional driver needs to nowadays a valid driver's license and in addition exist listed on the contract.

The New York Reprieve

The State of New York gives renters a bit of a break by capping the additional driver fee at $5 per boosted driver per twenty-four hour period. That's about one-half of what rental companies charge in other states. It will get even meliorate in mid-2023 when the latest police force limits the maximum amount rental companies can charge to $fivein total per rental for an additional driver.

The Exception for Spouses in Some States

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

States where the primary driver's spouse is automatically listed as an actress commuter include:

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

In Nevada, the fee is capped by law, but adjusts annually based on inflation.

In every other land, there are no legal limitations on car rental additional driver fees, then it pays to endeavor to avoid the charge using one of the strategies beneath.

Additional Driver Fee Policies past Car Rental Company

It'due south of import to go along in mind the policies of each company, since non all are created equal:

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Enterprise/Alamo

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

Avis/Budget/Fox/Payless

At that place is no additional commuter fee for a spouse or domestic partner. Other individuals volition incur a per-day fee. Avis and Budget currently charge $13 per day at virtually locations merely cap the fee at $65 per rental.

Dollar/Thrifty

Both companies typically accuse per mean solar 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 Express and Thrifty'due south Bluish Chip programs.

Hertz

There is a daily charge for all boosted drivers, but if you are a member of Hertz Gold 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 surface area? Kyte is the kickoff rental company to offering door-to-door commitment service on both ends of your trip. Kyte will deliver a vehicle direct to yous and and then come option it up at end of the rental period, as long as you are within 1 of their service areas.

With Kyte, additional drivers are completely free which is a far more generous policy than any other rental company. Note that additional drivers be added before the trip begins and must be present at the fourth dimension of delivery with their driver'southward license. Additional drivers must meet the historic period requirement.

National

The fee is always waived for a spouse or domestic partner of the renter. In addition, family members sharing the same address equally a renter who is as well a National's Emerald Club fellow member can also drive for costless.

Silvercar

Silvercar does not charge for any boosted driver who meets rental requirements. It's a very client-friendly policy, but then again, you lot ofttimes pay significantly more than for the privilege of driving their Audis.

Sixt

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

Others

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

Memberships That Cover Additional Driver Fees

Another way to get around the additional commuter fee is to utilize a membership disbelieve lawmaking. The following organizations permit an additional driver at no charge if booked with a membership discount:

AAA: Members can list boosted drivers at no accuse with Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty when they volume with the AAA discount code at participating U.S. and Canada locations.

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

Costco: Members get a free additional driver at Alamo and Enterprise when booked with the Costco discount code at locations in the U.S., Canada, U.One thousand., French republic, Germany, Republic of ireland, Netherlands, and Spain. At Avis and Budget, the Costco code but kills the additional driver fee in the United States.

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USAA: At Hertz, USAA members tin can utilize a discount lawmaking to avoid the fee for a spouse or adult children. At Enterprise, there's no charge for calculation spouses and USAA family members to the rental understanding. With Avis and Upkeep, there's no accuse for spouses or other USAA members.

Many exemptions are automatic and don't crave list the qualifying additional driver on the rental agreement. In fact, specifically listing someone on the contract may stop up backfiring and triggering an boosted driver fee that you are actually entitled to waive. If you're unclear, always ask the rental agent for confirmation.

The Takeaway on Boosted Driver Fees

With a piddling bit of planning, you can avoid paying a fee when you need to add a 2d driver to your rental contract. Renters in California get a free pass regardless of company, as do customers of Silvercar, and spouses or domestic partners when renting from Avis, Upkeep, Enterprise, Alamo, or Fox, and in numerous states by law. If none of these situations apply, so y'all can often avoid the fee by joining a frequent renter program or using a membership discount code. Be sure to calculate all costs before booking.

If an additional driver can't be present when you lot selection upward the automobile, you can visit any of the brand'south locations and make the change later.

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