A Few Alamo Questions

[goodferry]

So I found a decent deal on a minivan with Alamo through Undercover Tourist. Here are my questions
1. Does Alamo still allow an additional driver if it's a spouse?
2. I did pull up my reservation on the Alamo site with the confirmation # from UT. If I need to add my husband can I check in online or should I wait until we arrive.
TIA For your help!

 

[dioxide45]

So I found a decent deal on a minivan with Alamo through Undercover Tourist. Here are my questions
1. Does Alamo still allow an additional driver if it's a spouse?
2. I did pull up my reservation on the Alamo site with the confirmation # from UT. If I need to add my husband can I check in online or should I wait until we arrive.
TIA For your help!

The addition of a spouse as a free driver is a state regulated issue and I don't think this is required by the state of Florida (it is in Hawaii). So I don't think they will allow your spouse to be added for free as an additional driver. You may or may not have success adding your spouse as a free driver if you are an Alamo Insider. Though Alamo recently changed rules related to the free driver and Insiders program.

 

[nacho113]

If your reservation does not specifically state "additional driver included" then you will have to pay, yes even for your spouse.
This is what you should see if it is included:

Rates & Charges
1 Week(s) @109.00 $ 109.00
Additional Driver INCLUDED
UNLIMITED MILEAGE INCLUDED
Fttxrsu $ 0.52
Customer Facility Charge 2.50/day $ 12.50
Priv Fee Recov Chg 10 Pct (10.0%) $ 9.89
Tire/battery Fee .02/day $ 0.14
Florida Surcharge 2.00/day $ 14.00
Vehicle License Fee .78/day $ 5.46
Sales Tax (6.5%) $ 8.80
Total Savings - $ 15.57


Estimated Total: $ 144.74

If you absolutely need a second driver, look for a company or program that offers the additional driver for free. Otherwise you will need to factor in $10-$12 per day (+tax) with most companies. You will find sometimes that the best price isn't the best when you have to add $150 + taxes for your extra driver on a 2 week rental.

If you are a Costco member and book using their discount code (7014627), free additional driver is still offered on the Alamo site for Costco members.
And the Costco code usually gives a great rate.

(Even if you aren't a Costco member, may be a good time to join to save these additional driver fees)

 

[jgraney106]

What if you already have a reservation? Can I join Costco and have it added to my current reservation? If so, do I call Alamo or do I have to wait to check in? I don't want to cancel my present reservation because the rates have went up in December since I made it. Thanks for the info!

 

[goodferry]

Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, even with the extra driver fee, the Costco rate is still hundreds more than the UT rate for a minivan. I am continuing to watch for drops, or for availability with a provider that allows for an extra driver for free. I was thinking when I made the reservation that the free extra driver was included with the Alamo membership, but apparently that perk was eliminated.

 

[nacho113]

Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, even with the extra driver fee, the Costco rate is still hundreds more than the UT rate for a minivan. I am continuing to watch for drops, or for availability with a provider that allows for an extra driver for free. I was thinking when I made the reservation that the free extra driver was included with the Alamo membership, but apparently that perk was eliminated.

Give Budget a try, they are one of the very few that give second driver free and there are some good Costco discount codes for them.

 

[nacho113]

What if you already have a reservation? Can I join Costco and have it added to my current reservation? If so, do I call Alamo or do I have to wait to check in? I don't want to cancel my present reservation because the rates have went up in December since I made it. Thanks for the info!

Probably worth a try to give them a call and inquire, give them the discount code found in this thread and see how it impacts your reservation. Tell them you don't want to change if it makes the rate increase.
If it works, you may want to get a Costco membership in case they ask at the counter, although I have never been asked to show my card in the 5 or 6 years we have been using the code with Alamo. Once or twice the attendant had noted that "looks like we got a great rate for being a Costco member" . I just said yes but was never asked to show the card. YMMV.

 

[dioxide45]

What if you already have a reservation? Can I join Costco and have it added to my current reservation? If so, do I call Alamo or do I have to wait to check in? I don't want to cancel my present reservation because the rates have went up in December since I made it. Thanks for the info!

Unfortunately it won't work. Adding the code requires rebooking under the new rates. You can't add the Costco discount now unless you are willing to accept the new higher rates.

 

[madaboutMickey]

I may be wrong about this but I recently saw a post that indicated that the additional driver was still free with Alamo depending on when you joined the Insider program. Sounded as if you were a member before the change that the additional driver was still free. I think they dropped the free driver back in May. You might want to go to their website and read the terms and conditions.

 

[goodferry]

I did read that and I have been a member for some time, I was hoping that someone with some experience since the change might ring in. The terms and conditions are about as clear as mud lol. It does say that it changes with NEW Insider memberships, but then Insider memberships are renewed annually, so it's hard to tell...

 

[emilymad]

I may be wrong about this but I recently saw a post that indicated that the additional driver was still free with Alamo depending on when you joined the Insider program. Sounded as if you were a member before the change that the additional driver was still free. I think they dropped the free driver back in May. You might want to go to their website and read the terms and conditions.

This is true but you need to use the Alamo Insider discount code. If you use other discount codes than it can take away the free additional driver. I believe you still need it listed in the confirmation as posted above.

 

[Tropics]

From what I can find about the change to additional drivers fees, if you were an Insider member before May 2014 AND you have a reservation that started June 14, 2014 then you wouldn't pay the additional driver fee. If your reservation started after June 14, 2014 then you pay the additional driver fee regardless of when you joined the insider program.