The definitive guide to car rental additional driver fees

At $10 per day or more, car rental additional driver fees can add up quickly. Luckily, there are some strategies you can use to avoid paying a charge for adding an extra driver.

Some states have laws governing additional driver fees, and most car rental companies will waive the fees for certain extra drivers. This guide explains what you need to know about state law and how to use it to your advantage to avoid additional driver fees. We also highlight important details of rental company additional driver policies – including a major rental company that waives the extra driver fee for your friends and extended family members.

9 ways to avoid additional driver fees

Here are some proven ways to get car rental additional driver fees waived. Bear in mind that all additional drivers, including spouses, must have a valid driver’s license and meet the rental agency’s minimum age requirement.

1. Rent from the company where the renter’s friends and family are free.

Whether or not you like their cars and customer service (and a lot of people do), you have to appreciate Avis‘ additional driver policy as one of the most, if not the most, generous in the industry. Avis waives additional driver fees not only for renters’ spouses, employers, and employees, but for extended family members and friends as well. You can find more details about this in the company policy section below.

2. Rent from a company with no fee for spouses.

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Fox, and National don’t charge an additional driver fee for a spouse or domestic partner of the renter. Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty waive additional driver fees for spouses of their loyalty program members.

3. Rent from a company with no fee for business associates.

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National all waive additional driver fees for the renter’s employers, employees or co-workers when the car is rented under a business account or contract.

4. Rent from a company that waives the fee for loyalty members.

Both Dollar and Thrifty waive fees for additional drivers who are also loyalty program members – so if your additional driver isn’t a member, you should encourage them to join.

National’s Emerald Club won’t waive the fee for other loyalty members, but does waive it for immediate family members who reside at the same address as the renter member.

5. Rent in a state that bans fees for spouses and business associates.

Two states currently prohibit additional driver fees for certain classes of drivers. All extra drivers must meet the rental company’s minimum age and rental requirements (see individual company policies below).

California

Before 2022, car rental companies in California were prohibited from charging fees for additional drivers. Since then, California revised statutes have changed, allowing car rental companies to charge additional driver fees for all drivers except the renter’s spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or person for whom the renter is a legal guardian. Rental companies also can’t charge additional driver fees for the renter’s employer or co-worker.

Unless the rental company’s policy states otherwise, make sure that all additional drivers in California are listed on the rental contract, including spouses and other relatives. California state law allows rental companies to charge twice the normal additional driver fee if they learn that someone not authorized in the rental agreement has driven the vehicle.

Iowa

Iowa state law explicitly prohibits the assessment of additional driver fees for renters’ spouses or business associates who meet the rental company’s minimum age requirement. Additional driver fees don’t apply to the renter’s spouse and certain business associates in Iowa because they are authorized drivers under state law.

6. Rent in a state where spouses and business associates are authorized drivers.

Some states mandate that a renter’s spouse, or the renter’s employer, employee, or co-worker if on a business trip, are automatically considered to be an authorized driver of a rental vehicle. While these drivers must meet the rental agency’s minimum age and driver’s license qualifications, they’re not required to appear at the rental counter or be listed on the rental agreement in order to be covered by its terms. Hence, you don’t have to pay an additional driver fee for them.

• States where spouses and associates on business are authorized drivers:
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Missouri
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin

Most of these states also designate anyone driving the vehicle due to an emergency situation or providing services like valet parking as an authorized driver.

7. Rent in a state that limits fee amounts.

Nevada

Before 2007, car rental companies in Nevada could not charge fees for additional drivers. In 2008, the Nevada state legislature passed a law limiting the amount that car rental companies can charge for an additional driver fee to $10 per day. The limit is adjusted for inflation annually and is currently $14.45 per day. According to Nevada law, car rental companies may charge this fee for any additional driver, including spouses.

New York

New York state law limits additional driver fees on car rentals to $5 per day. Additional driver fees don’t apply to the renter’s spouse and certain business associates in New York because they are considered authorized drivers under state law.

8. Use a membership that includes a fee waiver.

A few organizations have agreements with one or more car rental companies that allow members to rent a vehicle without paying additional driver fees.

AAA

Hertz waives the additional driver fee for other drivers who are also AAA members, and for spouses or domestic partners of AAA members (a separate AAA membership is not required for spouses or partners).

AARP

Avis allows AARP members to add one additional driver for free.

Costco

Costco members get the additional driver fee waived on Avis and Budget rentals in the US, and on Alamo and Enterprise rentals in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Ireland and Spain.

Additional drivers don’t have to be Costco members, but they must present a valid driver’s license and major credit card in their name at the rental counter.

USAA

USAA has discount codes for one free additional driver on rentals from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz. This is in addition to USAA members’ spouses and USAA-covered family members, who are considered authorized drivers.

• Avis USAA rentals: use AWD number A177232.
• Budget USAA rentals: use BCD number Y126501.
• Enterprise USAA rentals: book from this page and use promo code USAA Member Program.
• Hertz USAA rentals: use CDP number 77694.

US Government and Military

Government employees and members of the military traveling on official business can add free additional drivers to car rentals with all major rental companies.

9. Check for a fee waiver with your company.

Car rental companies waive additional driver fees for many corporate and business clients. If you’re renting a car for work, check with your HR department (or whoever administers travel benefits) to see if this perk applies to your rental and how to access it (usually by using a corporate discount code).

Car rental company additional driver policies

The summaries below highlight important points about each car rental company’s general additional driver policy. Be aware that policies can differ by location. We recommend checking the policy at your pickup location, which you can do online when you make the reservation or by calling the branch directly.

Alamo

According to Alamo’s additional driver policy, fees are waived for a renter’s spouse, domestic partner, employer, business partner, or co-worker who meet minimum age and driver’s license requirements. Spouses and domestic partners are automatically covered by the rental agreement and don’t have to appear in person at the time of the rental. All other additional drivers must show their driver’s license at the rental counter and be listed on the rental contract.

Alamo charges $15 per day for additional drivers not listed above. For a rental secured with a debit card, the only permitted additional driver is the renter’s spouse or domestic partner.

Avis

In our opinion, Avis offers the best and most generous additional driver policy: Avis doesn’t charge additional driver fees for renter’s spouses, life partners, extended family members, or friends. The fee is also waived for employers and employees. All additional drivers must be 25 or older and possess a valid driver’s license.

Spouses and life partners don’t have to fill out the additional driver form, nor do employers or employees when using an Avis discount code. These drivers don’t have to be present at the time of rental to be authorized to drive the vehicle.

Extended family members and friends must present a valid driver’s license at the rental counter. They can print and complete the additional driver form ahead of time or fill one out at the rental office.

Renters with a disability don’t have to pay an additional driver fee for their companion driver. The renter must fill out a non-licensed renter form but the companion driver isn’t required to fill out an additional driver form.

Avis charges $13 per day for all other additional drivers, with a maximum of $65 per rental. You can add up to two additional drivers with each rental.

Budget

A renter’s spouse or domestic partner is always a free additional driver when you rent from Budget. The additional driver fee is also waived for employers and employees when the car is rented under a business account. It’s not necessary for these pre-authorized drivers to present themselves at the rental counter as long as they meet minimum age and driver’s license requirements.

Budget also waives the fee for companion drivers of renters with disabilities. The renter has to fill out a non-licensed renter form but the companion driver isn’t required to fill out an additional driver form.

Budget assesses all other additional drivers not listed above a charge of $13 per day, capped at $65 per rental. Additional drivers must be at least 25, have a clean driving record, and present identification at the rental counter. A maximum of two additional drivers can be added to a Budget car rental.

Dollar

Dollar waives the fee for additional drivers who are members of its Express Rewards loyalty program – so it’s definitely worth it for any additional driver to join, which is free. Spouses or domestic partners of Express Rewards members are also free when added to the rental contract as additional drivers.

Dollar also doesn’t charge additional driver fees for renters on official government business, corporate account customers, or driver companions of physically impaired customers.

All additional drivers must meet minimum age, driver’s license, and driving record requirements. Drivers 20-24 years of age are subject to an underage driver fee. You can have as many additional drivers as there are passenger seats in the vehicle.

Enterprise

Enterprise doesn’t charge an additional driver fee for a renter’s spouse, domestic partner, employer, business partner, or co-worker who meet minimum age and driver’s license requirements. Spouses and domestic partners are automatically covered by the rental agreement and don’t have to appear in person at the time of the rental. All other additional drivers must show their driver’s license at the rental counter and be listed on the rental contract.

For all other drivers not listed above, Enterprise charges an additional driver fee of $15 per day. For a rental secured with a debit card, the only permitted additional driver is the renter’s spouse or domestic partner.

Fox Rent-A-Car

Fox doesn’t charge an additional driver fee for a renter’s spouse, domestic partner, or for the companion driver of a renter with a disability who cannot operate the vehicle. For other additional drivers, Fox charges a fee of $12.99 per day at most locations.

Additional drivers must meet Fox’s minimum age and rental requirements and must show a valid driver’s license at the rental counter. Fox doesn’t allow additional drivers on cash rentals.

Hertz

There are 3 ways to get the additional driver fee waived on a Hertz car rental: be an “authorized operator”, belong to AAA, or belong to USAA. We’ve included details about each as well as about Hertz’s additional driver policy.

1. Hertz doesn’t charge an additional driver fee for a driver it considers an “authorized operator” of the vehicle. Authorized operators who are 25 or older and have a valid driver’s license are automatically covered by the rental agreement and don’t have to be present at the time of rental.

• Authorized operators (no additional driver fee) include:
  • Renter’s spouse or domestic partner if renter is a member of Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
  • Renter’s spouse in California or Iowa
  • Employer, employee or fellow employee of renter on company business (must use Corporate Discount Number)

2. Hertz waives the additional driver fee for spouses of AAA members, as well as other additional drivers who are also AAA members.

3. Hertz doesn’t charge a fee for additional drivers who are USAA members.

For all other additional drivers not listed above, Hertz assesses a fee of $13.50 per day with a maximum of $189 per rental. Hertz terms these drivers “additional authorized operators”, or AAOs. To be covered under the rental agreement, AAOs must be present at pickup and show a valid debit card, credit card, or round-trip ticket (air, train, bus, boat). An AAO must also have a valid driver’s license and pay a young renter fee if they’re between the ages of 20 and 24.

National

National doesn’t charge an additional driver fee for the renter’s spouse or domestic partner, and they don’t have to appear at the rental counter or be listed on the rental contract to be covered by its terms. The fee is also waived for the renter’s business partner, employer or fellow associate when the car is rented under a corporate contract. And National will waive one additional driver fee for companion drivers of renters with a disability that prevents them from driving.

In addition to spouses and domestic partners, members of National’s Emerald Club loyalty program can get the additional driver fee waived for immediate family members (mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister) who reside at the same address as the member.

For all other drivers not listed above, National charges an additional driver fee of $15 per day. All additional drivers must meet age and driver’s license requirements. On rentals secured with a debit card, a spouse or domestic partner is the only permitted additional driver.

Sixt

Sixt allows loyalty members with Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status to add one additional driver for free in the US. Fees are charged for all other additional drivers. You can add up to 9 additional driver per rental.

Thrifty

Thrifty waives the additional driver fee for spouses or domestic partners of members of its Blue Chip Rewards loyalty program. What’s more, the fee is waived for any additional driver who is a Blue Chip member.

Thrifty also doesn’t charge additional driver fees for renters on official government business, corporate account customers, or driver companions of physically impaired customers.

Thrifty charges a fee for all other additional drivers not listed above. All additional drivers must meet minimum age, driver’s license, and driving record requirements. Drivers 20-24 years of age are subject to an underage driver fee. You can have as many additional drivers as there are passenger seats in the vehicle.

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