Nervous - Renting car from Dollar in Las Vegas

[mieuxmew]

I know this is off topic, but hopefully some of our Dis members who have been to Las Vegas can help.

Going to Vegas for business next weekend then taking my kids to Phoenix for a week to see Grand Canyon, Sedona, etc. Total rental is 9 days.

My best rate is with Dollar (by A LOT!). Premium pick up at LAS and drop off in PHX. I signed up and made reservation with Dollar Express, as I heard horror stories about the lines and insurance upsells at the Las Vegas Airport Dollar. I also heard cars are older and dirty. I just go straight to the garage and a car will be assigned and paperwork ready to go? If I do not like the car, I can choose another one in the same class? Looks like the premium cars listed are Crown Victorias/Mercury Grand Marquis, which neither are made anymore. Does Dollar have these cars being made for them?

I have a fear I will be hit with extra charges. Will I be hit with any other charges other than that listed on reservation? Reservation lists unlimited miles and clearly states pick up LAS and drop off PHX. Nothing about drop off fees mentioned. The reservation lists $11 per day for additional drivers. Nevada law clearly states a spouse is a legal authorized driver (my husband is a lawyer and looked it up). Does he have to be listed on the rental agreement? Our insurance company says he is covered regardless.

For some reason, I am nervous about this rental. I do not have a lot of experience with Dollar since I have mostly rented from Alamo and National.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well, you were dong fine until "my husband is an attorney". That is good, because when he wrecks the car it us going to be ugly since you are trying to avoid that $11 fee, (and what happens if the car is wrecked in Arizona?)

And your insurance and possibly the law don't even matter As your husband should know, you will be signing a contract. If the contract terms are violated you have agreed to pay what the contract says you owe. So the contract says only you drive the car and someone else does whom Dollar did not authorize ro drive their cars. They can charge you

I am not saying your husband is wrong, but I am not sure I would try this trick

Good Luck.

 

[jsilvers]

The reservation lists $11 per day for additional drivers. Nevada law clearly states a spouse is a legal authorized driver (my husband is a lawyer and looked it up).

Sorry, but that isn't correct. It used to be that Nevada prohibited a fee for an additional driver, but the law was changed in 2007. Now there is simply a cap on the maximum fee for an additional driver:

The short-term lessor of a passenger car may impose an additional charge … For any authorized driver in addition to the short-term lessee but shall not, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, charge more than $10 per full or partial 24-hour period for such an additional authorized driver. The monetary amount set forth in this paragraph must be adjusted for each fiscal year that begins on or after July 1, 2008, by adding to that amount the product of that amount multiplied by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index West Urban for All Urban Consumers (All Items) between the calendar year ending on December 31, 2005, and the calendar year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the adjustment is made. The Department shall, on or before March 1 of each year, publish the adjusted amount for the next fiscal year on its website or otherwise make that information available to short-term lessors.
​

See N.R.S. 482.3158(1))(f) (http://leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-482.html#NRS482Sec3158).

Also, the Nevada Department of Taxation published a notice on March 8, 2013 announcing that effective July 1, 2013 the maximum fee for an additional driver would be adjusted for inflation to $11.68. See http://tax.state.nv.us/documents/Index Page/CPI Adjustments for STL.pdf.

 

[SamSam]

How funny, that DH and I were having a conversation about this very thing yesterday. Since Dollar does charge for the extra driver (even the spouse), I asked DH, why does it matter which of us is driving since we don't buy their (Dollar's) insurance? We are covered by our own auto policy and by a credit card. If we were buying Dollar's insurance, I could see it making a difference but when we don't, why would it matter?

OP, we have had very good luck with Dollar out of Vegas, we often rent at the airport, then drive to Southern, Caifornia to visit relatives and then back to Vegas for a few days of 'R&R'. Never had a problem with Dollar.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It matters because when the non listed driver wrecks the car the contract terns were violated. That actually gives everyone an 'out ' not to pay and will allow dollar to charge you big bucks


You are signing a contract. Playing Russian roulette can be very costly.

 

[mieuxmew]

Thank you everyone for the replies! It is so much appreciated! I do not have a problem paying the $135 extra driver fee. It would be a drop in the bucket if anything were to happen. We just don't want to pay for something unless it is necessary. The travel industry loves to charge extra fees these days.

I showed the attachments to my husband. The law he read stated authorized drivers included a spouse, a co-worker (provided they meet the age requirements) and anyone listed on the rental agreement. He is asking if the fee cap is being applied to everyone or just a non-spouse/non-coworker. He seems to think the spouse is automatic according to the law he read and different from someone else who would need to be named on the rental agreement (i.e. non-spouse or non-coworker). AGHH Budget, Alamo and Fox state on their website that rentals in NV include a spouse without the extra driver fee.

Does anyone know who I can refer my husband to that can give him a definitive answer? I don't really want to take a risk to save a few dollars. Not worth it!

 

[Lewisc]

Companies who want to display rock bottom rates have to make it up in fees. You need an extra driver. Include the extra driver fee, if any, when you make your comparisons. Part of the fee is needed to offset low rates. A, small, part of the fee is needed to check the driving record of the additional driver.

Dollar gave you a great one way rate because they want to move one or more cars from LAS to PHX. You don't like the assigned car. You can ask for another car but they're likely to limit your choice to another car they want moved. They may want a car with Arizona plates moved from LAS to PHX. I did the same one way rental with Alamo. The car I was assigned reeked of cigarette smoke. They gave me another car but I had to wait for them to research what car they wanted moved.

 

[jsilvers]

The law he read stated authorized drivers included a spouse, a co-worker (provided they meet the age requirements) and anyone listed on the rental agreement.

That would be N.R.S. 482.31515 (http://leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-482.html#NRS482Sec31515), which provides a general definition of "authorized driver" - a term that is used in several different Nevada laws related to rental cars.

He is asking if the fee cap is being applied to everyone or just a non-spouse/non-coworker. He seems to think the spouse is automatic according to the law he read and different from someone else who would need to be named on the rental agreement (i.e. non-spouse or non-coworker).

IMHO, your husband needs to look at how the definition is applied in N.R.S. 482.3158(f) (http://leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-482.html#NRS482Sec3158). It authorizes additional driver fees for "any authorized driver in addition to the short-term lessee". It's pretty clear to me that allows additional driver fees to be charged for spouses/coworkers/etc. - even if they are listed in the general definition of "authorized driver" in N.R.S. 482.31515.

Also, note that until 2007 N.R.S. 482.3158(f) allowed additional driver fees for "any authorized driver in addition to the short-term lessee and one other authorized driver" (http://leg.state.nv.us/Statutes/74th/Stats200714.html#Stats200714page1597). The deletion of the underlined language in 2007 certainly suggests to me that since then additional driver fees have been allowed for spouses/coworkers/etc.