Car rental additional Driver policies

[JandD Mom]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone would care to share anything they know about the additional driver policies of the car rental agencies at MCO. Last night I happened to read policies of 3 rental companies and this is what I found out:

1. National - no charge for spouse to drive, other emerald club drivers who are business associates (like how would they enforce this one anyway - how would they know if my father, an Emerald Club member, is not a business associate) do not pay the fee.

2. Alamo - it says spouses do not have to provide a separate credit card. Does this mean they do pay a fee or not?

3. Dollar (the worst) - says you may or may not have to pay the fee, depending on what the local agency says, and that information is not available online.

4. Avis - I know from past experience (as of 1 year ago) Avis did not charge for a spouse to drive the car. Does anyone else have any information on this?

I would appreciate anyone's input, particularly about Dollar, who I may rent from in November.

Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Alamo charges for additional drivers, spouses or not, unless you use a discount code from places that have negotiated a free additional driver, like BJs. They still have to produce a license and a credit card in their name.
National, they know the difference and if it is a business associate, you pay the business rental, which can be higher than the leisure rate. They exempt spouses only.

Avis, in Florida, they charge for spouses.

Dollar, the best way, make a "mock" reservation and add a driver, the total will tell you. Or....calll the Florida location.

 

[JandD Mom]

I looked at my Dollar confirmation email and this is what it said at the bottom:

Additional Authorized Drivers: The cost is $5.00 per day for an additional authorized driver, including life
partner

As for Avis, my husband is a Wizard member and last year when we rented in Miami I was permitted to drive the car without an additional fee.

 

[JandD Mom]

Gail,

Thanks for the heads up! I just tried my BJs code in alamo and the pricing page indicates that you get 1 free additional driver -- it does not require that driver to be a spouse.

Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by JandD Mom
I looked at my Dollar confirmation email and this is what it said at the bottom:



As for Avis, my husband is a Wizard member and last year when we rented in Miami I was permitted to drive the car without an additional fee.

I am not sure what the deal is in Orlando for this. That is why I mentioned checking. As you know, you make a mock reservation and they will let you know.

 

[off2disney]

On my Alamo reservation (booked with Sam's Club discounts) it shows 1 additional driver included in the price

 

[YesDear]

I know I probably do not have to say this here, but better said than not.

PLEASE make sure you know if your addl diver is added to the contract and do you have to list them. Most all rental contracts exclude coverage for an unlisted driver.

I am an insurance agent and had a client that purchased full coverage once and did not list DW as addl driver. She took car one day for short trip to store and had fender bender that was her fault. Rental company said it voided the contract and all coverage!!!!

Also be careful about not buying CDW. Collision Damage Waiver. Most of your own policies will cover you for damage to the rental car if you carry full coveragea on your cars.

There are two holes, however. One is the loss of use of the damaged vehicle. That means that if you have an accident and the rental has to be repaired, you agree to pay the daily rental of the vehicle while it is being repaired. Many contracts say you will pay regardless of fault. Some auto policies offer that coverage. Some do not.

The latest wrinkle is diminished value. Rental companies today, now have deals with automakers to buy back vehicles at a set price. I had a client that rented a luxury vehicle, a lincoln. He had a fenderbender. NOT HIS FAULT. Two months later he got a bill from the rental company for $2500 for the diminished value of the car since it had been damaged. I know of no insurance coverage you can purchase to cover that loss.

Do not mean to preach, but I get these calls all the time!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by off2disney
On my Alamo reservation (booked with Sam's Club discounts) it shows 1 additional driver included in the price

I have the same using the BJ's code. But, Dollar, Avis, National etc. all have different rules.

One thing I learned, any you may already know this, is that you need to check off the place where it asks if there is an additional driver even though it says it is included in the price. The amount will stay at zero, but, you need to check it off.