Does the person who pays for the car rental have to be one of the drivers?

[HappyHappy]

My DS, DBIL, their DD & her DH are renting a car at MCO. DS/DBIL want to pay with their credit card but their daughter and son-in-law will be the only drivers. DS & DBIL may not always be in the vehicle. Is this doable? I couldn't find this particular issue answered anywhere. Thanks for your help!!

 

[NotUrsula]

No, but for a transaction like that all of the parties involved will need to go to the counter to set it up. The online reservation system assumes that the person who pays is also the driver, so the record will want to see that person's DL as the renter ID. If the driver rolling out of the gate is someone else, the vehicle will not be allowed out unless you have been to the counter and set it up with the proper ID.

We have done it on occasions when we have rented two vehicles at one time, with the second one to be driven by a family member who does not have a CC. We pay for both rentals, but designate someone else as the sole driver for the second vehicle. It is always a hassle to get set up, because it is very seldom done, so the agents tend to need to get help with doing it.

One other note: if your niece is under 25, having her parents pay for the rental will NOT waive the underage driver fee; it will still have to be paid because it is based on the age of the driver, not the CC holder. Also, there will be an add'l driver charge if your niece and her DH both wish to be able to drive; the spousal waiver that frequent renter programs offer only applies to the member and spouse, not children.

 

[Jestocost]

No, but for a transaction like that all of the parties involved will need to go to the counter to set it up. The online reservation system assumes that the person who pays is also the driver, so the record will want to see that person's DL as the renter ID. If the driver rolling out of the gate is someone else, the vehicle will not be allowed out unless you have been to the counter and set it up with the proper ID.

We have done it on occasions when we have rented two vehicles at one time, with the second one to be driven by a family member who does not have a CC. We pay for both rentals, but designate someone else as the sole driver for the second vehicle. It is always a hassle to get set up, because it is very seldom done, so the agents tend to need to get help with doing it.

One other note: if your niece is under 25, having her parents pay for the rental will NOT waive the underage driver fee; it will still have to be paid because it is based on the age of the driver, not the CC holder. Also, there will be an add'l driver charge if your niece and her DH both wish to be able to drive; the spousal waiver that frequent renter programs offer only applies to the member and spouse, not children.

Good info. One other question I would have is if any insurance coverage provided by the credit card company would be valid of a card holder is not the driver. If it is still good regardless, no problem. If not, presumably the driver's own auto insurance would have to cover it or the rental company's CDW/LDW coverage should be purchased.

 

[HappyHappy]

Thank you both so much!!

 

[gmeh1]

My DS, DBIL, their DD & her DH are renting a car at MCO. DS/DBIL want to pay with their credit card but their daughter and son-in-law will be the only drivers. DS & DBIL may not always be in the vehicle. Is this doable? I couldn't find this particular issue answered anywhere. Thanks for your help!!

The contract has to be in the name of the person renting the car and paying for the car. By default, he/she is the main driver. The other drivers can be added as additional drivers.

 

[HappyHappy]

Thank you!!

 

[sam_gordon]

There HAS to be a way to do this. I've traveled for business too many times and had rental cars set up for me. I didn't have to pay, just show up at the counter, show my DL and pick up the keys. I've never made the arrangements, they've been done for me, so I don't know how it's done.

 

[HappyHappy]

Maybe business accounts are handled differently?? Since my DS et al do not want risk complications, DN will use her cc. Thanks all.

 

[Jestocost]

There HAS to be a way to do this. I've traveled for business too many times and had rental cars set up for me. I didn't have to pay, just show up at the counter, show my DL and pick up the keys. I've never made the arrangements, they've been done for me, so I don't know how it's done.

Business rentals typically are handled under contracts with terms negotiated with the rental car companies by the renting employee's company and/or their travel services provider. At my current company, the rental is done through our travel company but tied to my company credit card via information they have on file. However, billing arrangements may vary from company to company based on the terms of their contracts. Certain other things may be included in company rental contracts, such as reduced rates, free additional drivers (provided they also are employees of the company in some cases), free LDW/CDW, etc. that are not part of the deal with individual rentals.

 

[gmeh1]

There HAS to be a way to do this. I've traveled for business too many times and had rental cars set up for me. I didn't have to pay, just show up at the counter, show my DL and pick up the keys. I've never made the arrangements, they've been done for me, so I don't know how it's done.

There is a difference between business rentals and personal rentals.

 

[sam_gordon]

Business rentals typically are handled under contracts with terms negotiated with the rental car companies by the renting employee's company and/or their travel services provider. At my current company, the rental is done through our travel company but tied to my company credit card via information they have on file. However, billing arrangements may vary from company to company based on the terms of their contracts. Certain other things may be included in company rental contracts, such as reduced rates, free additional drivers (provided they also are employees of the company in some cases), free LDW/CDW, etc. that are not part of the deal with individual rentals.

There is a difference between business rentals and personal rentals.

BUT, you're still ending up with the "driver" not being the one paying.

 

[gmeh1]

BUT, you're still ending up with the "driver" not being the one paying.

It has been explained to you, if you don't understand it, I am sorry. Again, there is a difference between a personal rental and a business rental. And, yes, with a business rental the person driving is different from the one paying, but, that comparison here is not applicable.

 

[sam_gordon]

It has been explained to you, if you don't understand it, I am sorry. Again, there is a difference between a personal rental and a business rental. And, yes, with a business rental the person driving is different from the one paying, but, that comparison here is not applicable.

Yes, I get they are different, thanks for pointing out that you mentioned they were different. I never would have thought that. And that was SUCH a great explanation, I mean who can have any questions after reading "business and personal reservations are different".

But assuming all four adults are standing at the counter and they ask for payment, couldn't the person wanting to pay simply hand over their CC?

 

[gmeh1]

Yes, I get they are different, thanks for pointing out that you mentioned they were different. I never would have thought that. And that was SUCH a great explanation, I mean who can have any questions after reading "business and personal reservations are different".

But assuming all four adults are standing at the counter and they ask for payment, couldn't the person wanting to pay simply hand over their CC?

I was speaking about the explaination given to you by Jestacoast (I hope I have the name right).

No, the person paying has to be the one reserving the car. Those are the rules for personal rentals. The exception is if the renter/person paying is unable to drive because of a handicap, then the driver can be the person accompanying him/her.

Your sarcasm is not even appreciated, you quoted both Jest and I in your post, I pointed out that you received an explaination.

Now, if you don't like the explaination, call the rental companies and ask what the difference is. It seems if you don't like an explaination, IE: your passport problem, you drag on endlessly about stuff you cannot change. You don't seem to like procedures that don't fit into your idea of what things should be.
So, Sam, I am done......enjoy your day.

 

[sam_gordon]

It seems if you don't like an explaination, IE: your passport problem, you drag on endlessly about stuff you cannot change. You don't seem to like procedures that don't fit into your idea of what things should be.
So, Sam, I am done......enjoy your day.

And it seems like some accept ANY explanation given to them. My sarcasm only came out when I read your condescending replay back...

if you don't understand it, I'm sorry

. If you didn't mean it the way I read it, I apologize.
Enjoy YOUR day.

 

[cjnix29]

I have done this. I NEVER drive whenever I rent a car, and have paid for it with my credit card. I have put the car in my sister's name, my husband's name (we don't have the same last name, no flags), and my friend's name. I have always put my billing information in, and put in the driver's name as something else. Done it with Avis, Alamo, Budget, hotwire, priceline...

 

[gmeh1]

And it seems like some accept ANY explanation given to them. My sarcasm only came out when I read your condescending replay back...
. If you didn't mean it the way I read it, I apologize.
Enjoy YOUR day.

I work for a rental company, I accept the explaination and the rules. I like my job.

 

[gmeh1]

I have done this. I NEVER drive whenever I rent a car, and have paid for it with my credit card. I have put the car in my sister's name, my husband's name (we don't have the same last name, no flags), and my friend's name. I have always put my billing information in, and put in the driver's name as something else. Done it with Avis, Alamo, Budget, hotwire, priceline...

I can only speak about the company I work for and to that I respond with: someone was not paying attention or following the set procedures.

 

[LBIJim]

It can be done, at least it worked one time with Budget at MCO. My wife, daughter, and I flew to Orlando. Daughter wanted to visit a friend in Tampa for a few days before joining us at Disney. Reservation was in her name. Apparently her CC was close to being maxed out and the "hold" was declined. They accepted my CC even though I wasn't on the reservation and had no intention of ever driving the car. They entered my DL number and there was no hassle or even any major delay. Maybe they listed me as an additional driver. Don't really remember. Or perhaps they changed the rental to me as primary and her as additional driver.

Wife and I used ME bus to reach Disney.

Oh, yeah, DD paid me back maybe six months later.

Jim

 

[SuzanneSLO]

It can be done, at least it worked one time with Budget at MCO. My wife, daughter, and I flew to Orlando. Daughter wanted to visit a friend in Tampa for a few days before joining us at Disney. Reservation was in her name. Apparently her CC was close to being maxed out and the "hold" was declined. They accepted my CC even though I wasn't on the reservation and had no intention of ever driving the car. They entered my DL number and there was no hassle or even any major delay. Maybe they listed me as an additional driver. Don't really remember. Or perhaps they changed the rental to me as primary and her as additional driver.

Wife and I used ME bus to reach Disney.

Oh, yeah, DD paid me back maybe six months later.

Jim

I have done it but only if I am listed as an additional driver. The OP's issue is going to be having 2 additional drivers listed. It can be done, but it almost always involves a cost. Sometimes that cost is just using a less favorable code that allows multiple additional drivers for free, such as AAA with Hertz or USAA with Avis or Budget. -- Suzanne