Car Rental Fees: Second Driver Charge

When some people rent cars, they assume that anyone who has a license can drive it as long as they are insured and responsible. However, many insurance companies now charge for additional drivers, and it pays to know if your rental agency will charge for a second driver, especially if you are going on a long trip and need help with the driving duties.

The rental agencies claim that the chances of having an accident increase with the addition of a driver. Although statistics on this claim are not readily available, they still often charge high rates for extra drivers, sometimes as much as $10 to $12 per day. This adds up over time, and yet has not been proven necessary. If you have a long trip ahead of you, it may be safer to have two driving. When one of you is tired or has been driving a long time, the other one can take over.

An article on budgettravelonline.com makes another point—many of the agencies don’t charge a consistent rate. For instance, they say Payless charges customers $8 per day in Phoenix but only $3 in Newark. Wouldn’t the risk of a second driver be the same everywhere? Some states have already clamped down on this practice, and don’t allow charges for an additional driver, or allow it conditionally (such as if the second driver is a business associate or spouse). The website also says, wisely, that knowing how to avoid them is more important than understanding them.

Although again this varies by location, most rental agencies don’t charge for spouses or business associates—some include domestic partners on that list—although some require proof that the pair lives together. Others don’t charge for additional drivers if they are members of AAA. Sometimes agencies offer free additional drivers as a special promotion for short periods of time or to benefit a partnership with another business.

If you think you would like to use the business associate claim to get a free driver, remember that you will probably be asked for proof of this relationship. Some agencies require a corporate account for your company, while others either just believe you or ask for business cards from both of you.

Regardless of whether you will have a spouse, business associate, or someone else helping you with long distance driving duties, make sure you know the rules with the agencies you’re considering as well as the state where you are renting the car. Some states don’t allow agencies to charge extra for additional drivers. There is no real proof that adding a driver adds to the chances of a claim, so even if your state allows such charges you may be able to find a rental company that doesn’t charge extra or makes it easier for you to avoid the charge.

Make sure you know what to expect when you rent a car with more than one driver. You can even get on the internet and surf to find the companies that won’t charge you for a second driver. Check the policies and be prepared.