Costco Car Rentals - Add'l Driver

[RMO87]

I am a current Costco member, but my SIL is not. Is is possible for me to rent the car using Costco Travel (Avis would be the car rental company) and have SIL be the free additional driver? For insurance purposes, if an accident were to occur, should we use SIL's credit card at booking?

SIL would be the main driver (her parents are the passengers). Would she have to be present at the time the car is picked up to provide her license and insurance info?


Thank you and Happy New Year!
Ryan

 

[EACarlson]

You can't do what you want to do here. Yes, SIL can be the additional driver. It will have to be your CC on the reservation and used to pay for the rental. Yes, she will have to be present when the vehicle is picked up to provide her DL. Whose insurance is going to cover the car is going to depend on what your coverages say.

 

[keirabella2012]

You can book the car in her name (ive done this for my daughter) or at the rental counter, you can ask to switch the renter to your SIL. I did this with my sister in September since she was paying for the rental with her credit card.

She would need to be present the way that I described, otherwise you as the renter are taking on all the liability. They have never asked me who the additional driver would be.

 

[EACarlson]

You can book the car in her name (ive done this for my daughter) or at the rental counter, you can ask to switch the renter to your SIL. I did this with my sister in September since she was paying for the rental with her credit card.

She would need to be present the way that I described, otherwise you as the renter are taking on all the liability. They have never asked me who the additional driver would be.

But OP wouldn't be able to use the Costco benefits or the Costco rate if they do this.

 

[keirabella2012]

But OP wouldn't be able to use the Costco benefits or the Costco rate if they do this.

I've done it before, with no issues. They have never asked for my costco card at the rental counter.

 

[EACarlson]

I've done it before, with no issues. They have never asked for my costco card at the rental counter.

That's a violation of both the rental agreement and your Costco membership agreement. Not something I would risk.

 

[keirabella2012]

That's a violation of both the rental agreement and your Costco membership agreement. Not something I would risk.

Rental agreement was changed at the counter. Not sure how that's a violation. I guess we can agree to disagree.

 

[keirabella2012]

I am a current Costco member, but my SIL is not. Is is possible for me to rent the car using Costco Travel (Avis would be the car rental company) and have SIL be the free additional driver? For insurance purposes, if an accident were to occur, should we use SIL's credit card at booking?

SIL would be the main driver (her parents are the passengers). Would she have to be present at the time the car is picked up to provide her license and insurance info?


Thank you and Happy New Year!
Ryan

One last thing, I have noticed that prices for rental cars via their direct website can be very similar to costco pricing but the difference would be that its a prepay option. Either way she would need to be present at time of pick up.

 

[EACarlson]

Rental agreement was changed at the counter. Not sure how that's a violation. I guess we can agree to disagree.

It's section 2.3 of the rental agreement with Avis. If at any time the person named in the contract is not eligible for the rate used it constitutes theft of service. If you booked using a Costco code and change the rental into the name of someone not a Costco member, it would violate that section of the agreement. I don't doubt that it's been done many times with no issue, but there is always the possibility that they reprice the rental to walk up rates or go after the difference in court.

 

[_19disnA]

If I am interpreting your situation correctly, you are basically trying to provide your Costco discount to someone else and it sounds like you won't be there, the car will be used/driven by other people. I wouldn't personally assume that liability in the unlikely case of an accident/theft. The Costco price discount is a separate issue. But sounds to me like you are trying to rent a car for someone else who isn't a Costco member.

 

[georgina]

nevermind

 

[Lewisc]

Why not use auto slash and book using discounts you're eligible to use?

Add SIL to your membership.

A number of years ago Alamo in PHX not only asked to see my COSTCO card but also swiped the card to capture my membership number. I asked what would they have done if I didn't bring my card. I was told they would have called to get my #. It was a one way rental, maybe it was flagged.

The issue could come up if the airport location was short of cars and was looking to cancel some reservations.

 

[katallo]

We were asked for our Costco card at MCO two years ago. They verified the dates.