Planning to rent a car with your spouse or domestic partner? Chances are you may want to take turns driving. While many rental car companies charge a fee for additional drivers, there are many tricks to make sure your spouse can drive free.
Sign Up for Car Rental Loyalty Programs
For those rental car brands that require an additional driver fee for spouses, the easiest way out is to sign up for that company’s loyalty or rewards program. Just be sure to add your reservation number when shopping around to ensure the additional driver fees will be waived.
The following brands usually charge an additional fee for spouses or domestic partners who want to drive, but will waive the charge if you sign up for their rewards program.
Dollar
Dollar Car Rental will waive the additional driver fee for the spouse or domestic partner of anyone who has signed up for its free Dollar Express Rewards program.
Thrifty
Members of Thrifty’s Blue Chip Rewards program can add a spouse or domestic partner for free in addition to other perks like skipping the counter.
Hertz
By joining Hertz’s Gold Plus Rewards Program you can add your spouse or domestic partner as an authorized driver for no extra charge.
Sixt
For U.S. residents, Sixt will waive one additional driver fee for Gold, Platinum or Diamond status loyalty program members.[1]
Use Membership Programs to Add Additional Drivers
Of the rental car brands that do charge additional driver fees for spouses or domestic partners, there’s another way to avoid the fee: organization memberships. While we recommend signing up for car rental loyalty programs for their host of benefits, using membership benefits is another option to avoid paying a spouse or domestic partner fee.
AAA: Your AAA membership will waive the fees at Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty for additional drivers. Use your AAA code when booking to get the deal.
USAA: Members of USAA can use their Hertz discount code to avoid getting charged for having a spouse as an additional driver.
Brands That Will Let Your Spouse Drive Free
Another way to make sure your spouse can drive free is to choose the right rental company. Some brands don’t charge any additional driver fees for spouses or domestic partners, even if they do charge for additional drivers in general. These include:
- Enterprise
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Fox
- National
- Silvercar
States Without Extra Charges for Spouses
Another factor that will determine whether you have to pay an additional driver fee is where you are renting the vehicle. In certain states, you’ll be off the hook for paying an added charge for your spouse as long as they meet the rental company’s requirements and have a valid driver’s license.
These states automatically consider spouses as authorized drivers under rental agreements. This means that even those companies that would usually charge an extra fee for spouses driving need to waive the fee when renting in these states. They include:
- California
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Missouri
- New York
- Oregon
- Texas
- Utah
- Wisconsin
It is important to keep in mind that when a spouse is legally authorized as an additional driver by state law, it is not necessary to explicitly list them on the rental contract. In fact, by doing so, the rental company may pressure you to pay an additional driver fee when it is unnecessary to do so because state law automatically authorizes your spouse to drive for free without needing to explicitly name them on the rental contract.
So, there are several ways to avoid the extra renter fee for spouses or domestic partners. But if all of these different factors seem overwhelming, don’t worry. Ask AutoSlash for a free quote on your next car rental, and we’ll be sure to include all possible discounts.
Just be sure to include your frequent renter program member number on the checkout page when reserving with Hertz, Dollar, or Thrifty if you plan on taking advantage of the benefit to waive the additional driver fee for spouses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it necessary to have separate car insurance in order to drive in Europe
You may want to consider adding coverage for other drivers if you drive abroad.
This is because the rules for who is responsible in an accident involving two vehicles from different countries may be different.
If you do decide to purchase this additional coverage, make sure that you carefully read the small print.
Also, make sure to check if your existing policy covers overseas trip. This is usually called ‘extended warranty, and you might find it cheaper to buy it separately.
Which rental car company has the most locations?
Hertz would be the correct answer, however they are not listed under location-based service providers.
How should I document pre-existing damage on the rental car?
Take all necessary documentation with you, including photos. If you don’t know the damage, ask for help from the agent when you are getting the vehicle inspected. You may need to pay extra for an inspection if there is any damage.
With a US driving license, can you rent a car anywhere in Europe?
It depends on what country you are visiting. For instance, if you go to France, you may be able to rent cars there. However, you cannot rent cars to Italy if the country doesn’t accept US driver licenses.
Can you rent a car from one European country to return it to another?
Renting cars in multiple locations is one way you can make your travels easier. But, it’s important to return the cars where they were rented.
This is not practical, however, as many people aren’t willing to pay more for additional mileage. Rental agencies often charge more to return a car to an area other than the one it was originally rented.
If you don’t plan to travel often, it might be better not to choose one country.
Statistics
- In 2019, the most crucial factor is the cost and fees of the rental (accounting for 28% of overall satisfaction with the rental experience), followed by the rental car itself at 25% and the pick-up process at 23%. (cnet.com)
- Automatics are more expensive (usually about 50 percent more) and may only be available if you upgrade to a bigger, pricier car. (ricksteves.com)
- If you’re a member of AAA, you might also be able to snag discounts of 10 percent at Thrifty, and 8 percent at Dollar. (afar.com)
- For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day’s trip cost. (insider.com)
- For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 3 percent cash back on purchases at U.S. gas stations (terms apply), and the Citi Premier® Card earns three points per dollar at gas stations, too. (afar.com)
External Links
enterprise.com
jdpower.com
alamo.com
avis.com
How To
12 Things You Need to Know About Renting A Car in Europe
What are the basics of renting a car abroad?
You should be aware of several things before renting a car abroad. A lot depends on what type of rental car you choose. These are some must-know tips that will ensure your trip is smooth.
- Your insurance policy. Check your auto insurance coverage before you take to the roads. If not, check out our guide to finding cheap car insurance abroad.
- You need the right documents. You will need your driver’s license from the country you are in, as well as multiple identification cards (passports or visas). to prove where you’re going. You should have these documents in hand so that you don’t miss deadlines.
- Road Rules. Follow local traffic laws and pay attention to signs indicating speed limits, one-way streets, and pedestrian crossings. Driving in an unfamiliar country could result is fines or even accidents.
- Parking rules. Many cities require drivers only to park in designated areas. Make sure to read up on parking regulations before arriving in town.
- Gasoline. Gasoline. While gas prices may vary by country and location, the average price of gasoline is three times that back home.
- Insurance requirements. Some countries require additional liability insurance for rentals over 3 years old. Get more information from your rental company.
- GPS navigation systems. Travelers are increasingly using GPS navigation systems. You should bring a map along and ask for directions if you aren’t familiar with the use of these GPS navigation systems.
- Radio stations. Radio stations may play music you don’t recognize. Do not worry, just press “0” and the frequency will change to English.
- Seatbelts. Most European countries require seatbelts.
- Road tolls. All over Europe, there are many road tolls. Most are payable at meters located at major intersections.
- Speeding tickets. Large areas of Europe prohibit speeding, including Germany and Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France.
- Tipping. Tipping is not the same thing in Europe as in North America. Tipping is not a common practice in any part of the world. Try giving a round number, such as 10% or 15%.
