Car Rentals and Additional DriversAdditional drivers will be anyone other than yourself, who will drive your rental car. Even if you rent a car, but never drive it, you are automatically considered the primary operator of the rental vehicle. Anyone else who drives your rental must be approved by the rental company. They must often complete and sign a form at the rental counter. The majority of the time, there are charges for additional drivers. These can be $10 per day and higher.
Some companies may allow you to bring someone back to the location to sign on after you have picked up the vehicle (but before they operate it, of course!) Check with the rental location.
Some car rental companies will allow you to have certain people authorized to operate your rental vehicle at no extra cost. These may include The renter’s employer or fellow employee Note: This must be a business rental and you often must have a corporate account with the specific car rental company. Check first!
For more information on business car rentals, click here. Some companies charge for a spouse to be an additional driver, while there are some car rental companies in North America who currently do not charge for a spouse to be an extra driver. Click here for more information on this policy.
Some companies acknowledge a spouse, common-law partner, life partner or significant other. In order to qualify, the spouse and renter must have the same address. Frequent Renter Program Members Some car rental companies will allow free additional drivers on a car rental contract, provided the addtional driver is a member of that car rental companies frequent renter program (National Emerald Club Executive, is one example). For more information on Frequent Renter Programs & Benefits, click here.
Driver for a Disabled Renter Most car rental companies will rent to a person who is disabled and who does not possess a driver’s license. The renter must show that they are able to be personally and financially responsible for the rental vehicle and must use their own credit card to rent the vehicle. The driver that they sign on must meet the drivers license and minimum age requirement of the rental car company. The driver must complete an additional driver form at the time of rental.
For more information on car rentals for persons with disabilities, click here. Car rental additional drivers may return and pay for the vehicle at the end of the rental. Note: In addition to permission to drive the rental vehicle, the additional driver form states that in the event that the named renter, for any reason, failed to pay all rental charges he or she, would immediately pay, upon notice from the rental company, the amount owed. Make sure to check with the rental car company on their particular policy. Good to know as a renter and if you plan on signing on to someone else’s contract!
They still must meet the minimum age requirement (usually 25 or older) and have a valid driver’s license and acceptable credit identification. Note: Sometimes even if a car rental location will accept a debit card to rent, they may not allow an additional driver to use a debit card as credit id. Make sure to check with your rental location.
For more information on Age Requirements, click here.
If someone else operates the car without the rental car agency's permission your contract maybe voided for protections that you have either through credit card coverage or insurance purchased from the rental agency. It can even affect claims against your own personal insurance coverage. For more information on Rental Car Insurance, click here.
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