What do they mean by "life partner" when renting a car?

[pajamommy]

What do they exactly mean by that, is that your spouse, or does this mean boyfriend/girlfriend or what? Dollar charges $5.00 a day for an additional driver, including "life partner" so I was wondering if that meant I have to pay for my dh to be an additional driver?

 

[GoldenOldie]

Life partner is another one of those politically correct terms that appear everywhere these days.

Life partner = the person of the same or opposite sex that you live and eat with and sleep next to every night but are not married to.

From Dollar's general procedures and policies:

1.2 Additional Authorized Drivers: An additional authorized driver must satisfy the age requirements of
DOLLAR, have a valid driver's license and must meet other rental requirements, which vary by DOLLAR
location. This may include the requirement that the additional authorized driver present a major credit card
at the time of rental. At most DOLLAR locations, an additional authorized driver will be required to pay an
additional fee; however, spouses, employers, co-workers and others may not be required to pay this fee. An
additional authorized driver for a disabled renter is not required to pay any additional fee.

 

[pajamommy]

Thanks, GoldenOldie, for the answer! I thought that's what they meant, but wanted to be sure!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

If it is in ORlando you WILL be charged for a spouse. I had signed up for the Dollar Fastlane program, but had no intention of driving! Unfortunately the cost would go up even further (our $219 minivan for a week was over $300 with all the fees, insurance etc.) so we didn't sign him on. I drove to the Poly, but he drove all the rest of the week. We were taking a chance, though.
Robin M.

 

[pajamommy]

Thanks for the heads up, I cancelled our ressie with them. I really liked National the last trip, so I'm going to try to get a good rate w/them. Thanks!

 

[TravelSheryl]

I'm not aware of any rental car company anywhere that doesn't have an additional driver fee. If you are a AAA member, that fee is waived at certain rental car agencies.

 

[Lewisc]

Sheryl--I've always been able to get an additional driver fee waived (for spouse) by checking with various discounts. Usually COSTCO or AAA includes the additional driver as part of the contracted discount.
For example you can use http://www.psvacations.com/ for Alamo and get the spouse fee waived.

 

[Kaelyn]

FYI, the Life Partner title generally only belongs to someone of the same sex, not opposite. It's compensation for not being able to get married, and it is only a valid title in states that choose to recognize it or with companies that choose to. I believe that Disney does honor that title. I have never heard of an opposite sex partner that you live with that can receive the benefits that a life partner does. If it is opposite sex, you have to be legally married. Not that it would make much difference when renting am car, I am sure. I am talking about health insurance and stuff.

 

[caitycaity]

I don't know about health insurance, but with renting a car, life partner does apply to opposite sex too. It has actually applied to me and my fiance on many things (parking at our workplace, various discounts, etc.). We've lived together for quite some time.