$5 per day fee for rental cars extra driver

[Mjasp]

Do you really have to pay the $5 a day fee for the extra driver?

Our insurance agent says yes on the $5 a day extra driver fee but not to buy the insurance.

I didn't speak to him my DH did and didn't ask the question I wanted to. Aren't you covered in any vehicle you drive?

Anyone have any input on this?

Any insurance agents out there?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

The fee is not for insurance, it is for the extra driver. And, unless you use a code that includes and extra driver, then you will need to pay it.

 

[Mjasp]

Gail...I know the fee isn't for insurance and is for the extra driver. But, why do they charge you for an extra driver when as an insured driver, you are insured to drive any car.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

Our insurance agent stated that we would both be covered on the rental even if only one of our names was on the agreement. I, however, did not feel comfortable with that and didn't want to pay the $5/day, so DH just drove the entire trip. My mil, fil, bil and sil all rented a car together and they all drove it without paying the fee based on what the insurance agent said (we all have the same agent). I could see the potential for legal libility with the rental agency and possibly the insurance company if I was involved in an accident and I wasn't on the contract.

 

[Mjasp]

Wonder if its the contract you sign, that makes the difference. I guess when one persons name is on the contract and then you sign as the driver, it may be different as if I came over your house and drove your car.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Even with car insurance, you are not covered for any vehicle you drive. You must be authorized to drive the vehicle to be covered. So, if you steal a car, sorry, your auto insurance won't cover you (you probably knew that!)

I read once that insurance companies differ in their interpretation of authorization when it comes to rental cars. For some, if you have permissionof the person whose name is on the contract, then your use would be covered.

For others, you must have permission of the rental car company. As noted above, this permission may cost you a per day or per rental charge or require you to rent under a specific program that includes the additional driver as an authorized driver.

Hope this helps. -- Suzanne

 

[Mjasp]

Thanks Suzanne for the explanation...if I go through Hertz with AAA then they waive the extra driver charge. But they are not on the airport and we will probably go through Dollar and have DH drive.

Thanks

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Gail...I know the fee isn't for insurance and is for the extra driver. But, why do they charge you for an extra driver when as an insured driver, you are insured to drive any car.

It is a fee they impose. The fact that you are insured to drive any car means nothing to the agencies, it is a fee for you to drive.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Thanks Suzanne for the explanation...if I go through Hertz with AAA then they waive the extra driver charge. But they are not on the airport and we will probably go through Dollar and have DH drive.

Thanks

If you use Sam's Club, BJ's or Costco codes at Alamo, the extra driver is free.
If you are EC members then the spouse drives for no extra charge.

 

[safetymom]

Mjasp, we have been satisfied with Hertz at MCO. They may be offsite but we are driving out of the lot in less than 10 mins from the time we get on the shuttle bus.

I think that is as fast as any onsite agency. I have rented many times this past year at MCO and it never took long to be on my way to WDW.

 

[lorin]

A good place to rent a car I think is Budget because they do not charge the extra $5 for the spouse. When making reservations also try and pick up at an off-airport location. It is much cheaper and there is no charge to drop the vehicle off at the airport location. I saved my Aunt over $200.00 having her pick up a rental at an off-airport location. Also make sure you mention when you make the reservations, if you belong to a wholesale club or AAA.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by lorin
A good place to rent a car I think is Budget because they do not charge the extra $5 for the spouse. When making reservations also try and pick up at an off-airport location. It is much cheaper and there is no charge to drop the vehicle off at the airport location. I saved my Aunt over $200.00 having her pick up a rental at an off-airport location. Also make sure you mention when you make the reservations, if you belong to a wholesale club or AAA.

Unfortunately, they do in Orlando.

 

[HappyMommy2]

For our recent WDW trip I made an online reservation with Dollar. When I saw that $5 additional driver fee on the printout, I was shocked and called Dollar to ask about it. I said something like, "That's strange...I've never encoutered that type of fee before," and the woman replied, "Well, extra fees like that are common down there, that being a touristy place and all"!

To me it sounded like the $5 is just another way to earn $$$, not really anything having to do with liability, etc.

I ended up cancelling the rental car and using a town car service instead, but it was interesting to check the rental car rates and policies at MCO.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

I'm glad I found this thread, because I had a question about this fee as well ...

Ever since moving in with my DF a year ago, he has done nearly all of the driving (we share my car, but I prefer to have him drive). Since it's been a while since I've been behind the wheel, I know that when we rent our car in Orlando, DF will definitely be doing all the driving. But since I'm a licensed driver, will the rental company make us pay the additional driver fee, even if I never plan to drive the car?

Thanks for the info!
Jess

 

[Mjasp]

No, you only have to pay the fee if when asked you tell them there will be more than the driver on the contract.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

Thanks for the info! That's what I was hoping to hear.

 

[JVL1018]

I just booked with Alamo-in terminal with an AP rate and their is noe fee for an extra driver(spouse).