Dollar Car Rental - good deal was ultimately not that great of a deal

[toesmom]

I found good rate after following prices for months, and booked the prepaid rate as we were just two weeks out. With dollar car rental.

Keep in mind we have been renting cars for 15 years. Get to the counter and agent says if you need additional driver it is $15 per day.

So in all our years of renting cars, as married spouses, we have never paid additional driver fee. So our great rate, was ultimely not a great rate because my spouse wants to only golf so he has to be able to drive and my name was on the rental.

Costco includes additional driver, but most companies include married spouse as additional driver at no cost.

just a warning about Dollar car rental and the additional driver fee, because I had no idea and our added cost was $175 usd.

 

[tinydancer312]

I just pulled up their website out of curiosity. Are you a dollar express rewards member? If you are, according to their terms and conditions, there would be no additional fee.

 

[Lewisc]

Some states prohibit charging an additional driver fee for spouses.

Florida is NOT such a state

 

[toesmom]

I just pulled up their website out of curiosity. Are you a dollar express rewards member? If you are, according to their terms and conditions, there would be no additional fee.

You are right. And no I was not member but counter person mentioned this. Didn’t help me once I was at counter because she said we could not add to our existing reservation. First time in 20 years we have paid for additional driver

 

[leebee]

Also with Dollar, even though it's illegal and the state Attorney General's office straightened it out for me, at MCO they tell you you HAVE to get their insurance because you have to be insured up to $2 million dollars and personal car insurance won't do that... and it's several hundred dollars to add the insurance at the counter. It's a LIE but I've heard them telling this to renters on numerous trips to MCO. I argued and argued, but what are you going to do after standing in line for an hour, it's 10pm, everyone's exhausted, and the other agencies have long lines, too? The FL attorney general (well, the representative) got Dollar to credit my money back, but carrentalsavers.com told me if I couldn't get the situation resolved, they'd refund me.

TLDR: DON'T book at Dollar!

 

[seashoreCM]

Also with Dollar, ... they tell you you HAVE to get their insurance because you have to be insured up to $2 million dollars and personal car insurance won't do that... and it's several hundred dollars to add the insurance at the counter. It's a LIE but I've heard them telling this to renters on numerous trips to MCO. ...

I have heard that lie (you have to buy all that insurance) several times in the past and always said I am declining that insurance.
What are they going to do? Cancel your reservatiion? They never canceled on me before. Or is this something new?

Another alternative, call their corporate 800 number or nationwide reservation number to complain, on the spot.