Extra driver delimma with Alamo?!

[aimcat]

Ok our reservation is coming up tomorrow night - I am the one with the credit card and alamo insiders club info in my name so that is how I reserved the car was in my name. I had thought I read somewhere that you can add an aditional driver for free - but when I went online to fill out the "save time" feature - it added 99.00 to my reservation!? Is it free or not to add another driver? How should I do that? Advice?!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Is it free or not to add another driver?

Depends on the code you used to book. Some include another driver for free, some do not. It's very inconsistent. Sometimes the agent will waive the fee for a spouse, sometimes not.

If you've done the process online at Alamo and it included this as a charge, then your rate probably does not include another driver. I've checked in before when using my Costco code, and it includes another driver and the system did not add any fees for that additional driver.

 

[aimcat]

ive used the codes in the may car rentals - contract ID 7015820 and the 40 off coupon is there something else I should use to keep my rate the same but also get my husband added for free?? Im also an insiders member.

 

[encinc]

I might be wrong here, so check the terms and conditions of the Alamo insiders club, but I'm pretty sure that Alamo Insiders (like National Emerald Club) allows spouses to drive for free. If that's the case, then you shouldn't have to add anything to the reservation, it's just one of the perks of the club.

 

[kksmom92]

Did you double check to make sure you put your Alamo Insider ID number on the reservation?

 

[DSLRuser]

i wouldnt worry about it. just let drive who ever wants to drive

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

i wouldnt worry about it. just let drive who ever wants to drive

Why would you post such terrible advice? If you have an accident and you are at fault as an unauthorized driver, you are at risk for voiding the car insurance.

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Why would you post such terrible advice? If you have an accident and you are at fault as an unauthorized driver, you are at risk for voiding the car insurance.

Not to mention opening yourself up for big legal issues should someone be injured in the incident.

 

[madaboutMickey]

A a member of Alamo Insiders you do get an additional driver (immediate family member) for free. A valid license and ID needs to be shown at check in. I have read that people just show this at the booth along with their paper work. I don't think you need to add the driver on-line.

 

[helenk]

Ok our reservation is coming up tomorrow night - I am the one with the credit card and alamo insiders club info in my name so that is how I reserved the car was in my name. I had thought I read somewhere that you can add an aditional driver for free - but when I went online to fill out the "save time" feature - it added 99.00 to my reservation!? Is it free or not to add another driver? How should I do that? Advice?!

I had the same problem, I tried to add my son but was charged $9.99 per day. The FAQs clearly indicate that if you are an insider member you can add another family member that resides at your address without an additional fee. I figure I'll just get my son added once we get to MCO.

 

[DSLRuser]

Why would you post such terrible advice? If you have an accident and you are at fault as an unauthorized driver, you are at risk for voiding the car insurance.

It's something I have never thought twice about. Sorry. there is a 1% chance i would be in a car wreck in a rental. I wont let that 1% hamper the other 99% of my vacation time. As long as you as a driver have car insurance on your primary car, you are covered in your rental. regardless of if you tell the rental company or not. It becomes a matter between your insurance company and you.

 

[DCbride]

This happened when we went in April. After we got to the counter I just added the additional driver for free. You can not do it online, I am guessing. And she was my aunt, not living in my house, BTW.

 

[Lewisc]

It's something I have never thought twice about. Sorry. there is a 1% chance i would be in a car wreck in a rental. I wont let that 1% hamper the other 99% of my vacation time. As long as you as a driver have car insurance on your primary car, you are covered in your rental. regardless of if you tell the rental company or not. It becomes a matter between your insurance company and you.

Read your policy. Many of our auto policies and credit card coverage only apply if we are in accordance with the terms of the rental agreement. Most agencies require renters disclose any additional drivers. People who plan on having an additional driver can generally find a rental code/agency or program which waives the fee.

There chance of being in a wreck may only be 1% but I want my insurance company to provide coverage for that 1%. I don't see any advantage to giving my insurance company a valid reason to deny coverage.

 

[dioxide45]

Unless you are actually using the specific Alamo Insiders Contract Code, you can't add the extra driver for free online. That contract ID when entered indicates Additional Driver at no charge. As an insider, you can still add the extra driver for free, you just can't do it online or at the kiosk. I think it requires a human intervention when checking in or going through the exit booth.

 

[LisaS]

Unless you are actually using the specific Alamo Insiders Contract Code, you can't add the extra driver for free online. That contract ID when entered indicates Additional Driver at no charge. As an insider, you can still add the extra driver for free, you just can't do it online or at the kiosk. I think it requires a human intervention when checking in or going through the exit booth.

I just went through this at MCO. DH and I are both "Insiders". I booked the car rental in DH's name and when I tried to add myself as an additional driver the booking system added on $9.99 per day. I went to the booth at the entrance to the garage and the guy there added me to the rental agreement.

 

[Beth921]

If I made my reservations through Hotwire, can I still use the Insiders club to get the extra free driver?
Thanks

 

[Lewisc]

If I made my reservations through Hotwire, can I still use the Insiders club to get the extra free driver?
Thanks

Hotwire and PL let you reserve cars as an "opaque" booking where you won't know the name of the agency until your credit card is charged and as a conventional reservation.

Book an opaque reservation and:

Yes. Anyone who is going to drive the rental car must be present and added to the rental agreement as an additional driver when you pick up the car. There may be a charge for each additional driver. Hotwire Hot Rates cover only one driver. The rate for additional drivers will be determined by the car rental agency.

and

Because of the low rates car rental agencies offer on our site, club rewards, discounts, other promotional programs, frequent-flyer miles or points of any sort offered by the car rental agency cannot be earned or redeemed on Hotwire Hot Rate bookings.

Customers who want to include an extra driver will probably lose most of their savings (and maybe then some) if they use Hotwire or Priceline.

You don't even know in advance if you're reservation is going to be made with Alamo.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

there is a 1% chance i would be in a car wreck in a rental.

Just how are you calculating this percentage? This is ridiculous.

I stand by my post. Suggesting that you let an unauthorized driver drive a rental car is terrible and irresponsible advice.

 

[TiggerificTigger]

An answer to the real question . . .

Per a chat with an Alamo representative:

"You will not need to add your husband to the rental reservation as an additional driver. He will be considered an automatic authorized additional drivers and therefore will not be required to sign onto the rental agreement. There will not be an additional fee applied for him to drive the rental."

Hope this helps!!! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Beth921]

Hotwire and PL let you reserve cars as an "opaque" booking where you won't know the name of the agency until your credit card is charged and as a conventional reservation.

Book an opaque reservation and:


and



Customers who want to include an extra driver will probably lose most of their savings (and maybe then some) if they use Hotwire or Priceline.

You don't even know in advance if you're reservation is going to be made with Alamo.

Thanks, I've already booked and we have confirmation that it's Alamo.
We are prepared for my husband to drive the whole time, if necessary, but it would be nice to not have to do that. It says we may be charged, my question was if the benefits of the club would extend to us even if we didn't book through the club.