National: Bypass counter but add extra free driver?

[Anya22]

I am holding out hope that we will end up with National for a minivan for our trip in a few weeks. I am an Emerald Club member but I will not be using the Emerald Aisle and instead we are reserving a minivan. I know that I can bypass the counter and go straight to the minivan aisle. But I want to add my husband as an extra driver for free, can I do that without going to the counter? Can I just have them add him and his driver's license number at the exit after we pick up the car?

 

[tcneal]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if you are an Emerald Club member, your spouse is automatically an Authorized driver and you do not have add him.

 

[Chumster]

Anya22, I had the same question yesterday about the additional driver on my National car rental. I thought I'd read somewhere that even though my husband could be a driver without paying an extra fee (since I am an Emerald Club member), we would need to show his license at the counter and couldn't go directly to the garage. When I asked this question of a National representative on the phone yesterday, I was told that my husband would indeed be able to drive with no additional driver fee and we could still go straight to the garage (bypass the counter). The only stipulation was that we both had to be present when we signed the rental paperwork (ie one of us couldn't be collecting the luggage)- I guess they'd look at his license then?? I hope the advice they gave me is correct!

 

[tkldisney]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if you are an Emerald Club member, your spouse is automatically an Authorized driver and you do not have add him.

Yes you are correct. You both also do not need to be present. One can get the car while other retrieves luggage, but we usually wait for luggage together and then go pick out car together. When you exit the gate you only need to give one driver's license and cc.

 

[gmeh1]

I am holding out hope that we will end up with National for a minivan for our trip in a few weeks. I am an Emerald Club member but I will not be using the Emerald Aisle and instead we are reserving a minivan. I know that I can bypass the counter and go straight to the minivan aisle. But I want to add my husband as an extra driver for free, can I do that without going to the counter? Can I just have them add him and his driver's license number at the exit after we pick up the car?

You can add your spouse at the exit, however, he needs to be present. And, to answer another posters question, while it is free, it is not automatic and the spouse's (or additional driver's) name HAS to be on the contract. The contract is your registration for the vehicle and if stopped the police are not going to give a hoot if you are and EC member or not. Just an aside, leave the contract in the glove box of the vehicle. It does you absolutely NO good in your hotel room. It should remain with the vehicle at all times.

 

[gmeh1]

Anya22, I had the same question yesterday about the additional driver on my National car rental. I thought I'd read somewhere that even though my husband could be a driver without paying an extra fee (since I am an Emerald Club member), we would need to show his license at the counter and couldn't go directly to the garage. When I asked this question of a National representative on the phone yesterday, I was told that my husband would indeed be able to drive with no additional driver fee and we could still go straight to the garage (bypass the counter). The only stipulation was that we both had to be present when we signed the rental paperwork (ie one of us couldn't be collecting the luggage)- I guess they'd look at his license then?? I hope the advice they gave me is correct!

They gave you the correct info. The spouse's name has to be on the contract. Yes, they do look at the license and they do add him/her to the contract.

 

[gmeh1]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if you are an Emerald Club member, your spouse is automatically an Authorized driver and you do not have add him.

Sorry, but I do need to correct you. The spouse is free as long as you have the same address (don't laugh, people try to say the other person is their spouse, but have different addresses) and the spouse needs to be present and added to the contract. The license has to be shown and has to be valid.
The free driver is not limited to a spouse for EC members.
Additional driver policies for EC members:

Emerald Club Members in the United States and Canada are allowed to have the following Additional drivers without a fee:

•Emerald Club member's spouse, common law spouse, or domestic partner who has the same address on the driver's license as the Emerald Club member and meet normal renter requirements.
•Immediate family member, Mother/Father, Son/Daughter, or Brother/Sister who has the same address on the driver's license as the Emerald Club member and meets normal renter requirements.