Adding Driver to Rental Car?

[DebBrown]

Has anyone been able to add a driver who is NOT present at the time of pick up? I could bring copy of driver's license. My son is arriving hours after us and I hate to go through the whole process twice.

Deb

 

[Luanne]

I would contact whoever you are renting through to see if this is possible. Every time we've done this the second driver (if not a spouse) had to present their driver's license.

 

[RX8]

Every time we've done this the second driver has to present their driver's license.

One exception to this is that a spouse is automatically added as an additional driver if rented through Costco travel. No DL or signature required.

 

[zentraveler]

One exception to this is that a spouse is automatically added as an additional driver if rented through Costco travel. No DL or signature required.

Hertz and Avis (at least) automatically add spouses; no DL required. I suspect that for anyone else they will need to see a license but checking with the company will give you the answer.

 

[DebBrown]

Thanks for helping out.

 

[Ski-Dad]

Enterprise will allow a spouse without issue. Others need to be personally present.

 

[Superchief]

I had to add my brother to my Costco Avis rental and couldn't do it when we initially picked up the car at RSW due to no attendant at the Preferred pickup window. I had to go to the Naples airport location for him to show his driver license. You can check to see if there are locations near wear you are staying and you should be able to do it there.

 

[dioxide45]

One exception to this is that a spouse is automatically added as an additional driver if rented through Costco travel. No DL or signature required.

I think the :spouse as extra driver: is either a state thing or based on the rental car agency. These situations always make me nervous as it comes to credit card CDW as the CDW terms always indicate that the driver needs to be included on the contract in order to be covered. Thankfully we haven't had to worry about this situation, though I don't know what would happen if it came up.

 

[Patri]

Hmmm, last summer my sister added me, and I didn’t arrive until the next day.

 

[RX8]

I think the :spouse as extra driver: is either a state thing or based on the rental car agency. These situations always make me nervous as it comes to credit card CDW as the CDW terms always indicate that the driver needs to be included on the contract in order to be covered. Thankfully we haven't had to worry about this situation, though I don't know what would happen if it came up.

You raise some good points, enough to make me want to investigate further.

According to Costco Travel, the additional driver fee is waived for many car rental agencies rented through Costco Travel. It also states that the additional driver must be present at time of rental and provide a DL. My wife has never been asked to provide a DL as she usually waits outside. When I ask they always tell me the spouse is automatically added. This Costco benefit appears to be directed specifically to non-spousal drivers as the rental agencies usually charge a fee.

According to Citi Costco Visa, covered are the renter and any licensed authorized driver “designated or listed on the rental car agreement”.

I looked at Enterprise and Budget to see what their policies are. Enterprise states that the renter’s spouse or domestic partner who meet the same age and DL requirements of the renter are authorized drivers at no additional charge. It goes on to state that any other additional authorized drivers must appear at time of rental and meet age and driver’s license requirements. Budget simply states that spouses are pre-authorized additional drivers and other additional drivers must be present at the time of rental.

I’m summary, at least with Costco Travel, Citi Visa and looking at Enterprise and Budget, it appears spouses are covered by the credit card insurance even if they are not present at time of rental since they are considered “designated” drivers by the rental car companies. Other credit card companies may or may not differ. I just hope I never have to fight it out with them.

 

[dioxide45]

You raise some good points, enough to make me want to investigate further.

According to Costco Travel, the additional driver fee is waived for many car rental agencies rented through Costco Travel. It also states that the additional driver must be present at time of rental and provide a DL. My wife has never been asked to provide a DL as she usually waits outside. When I ask they always tell me the spouse is automatically added. This Costco benefit appears to be directed specifically to non-spousal drivers as the rental agencies usually charge a fee.

According to Citi Costco Visa, covered are the renter and any licensed authorized driver “designated or listed on the rental car agreement”.

I looked at Enterprise and Budget to see what their policies are. Enterprise states that the renter’s spouse or domestic partner who meet the same age and DL requirements of the renter are authorized drivers at no additional charge. It goes on to state that any other additional authorized drivers must appear at time of rental and meet age and driver’s license requirements. Budget simply states that spouses are pre-authorized additional drivers and other additional drivers must be present at the time of rental.

I’m summary, at least with Costco Travel, Citi Visa and looking at Enterprise and Budget, it appears spouses are covered by the credit card insurance even if they are not present at time of rental since they are considered “designated” drivers by the rental car companies. Other credit card companies may or may not differ. I just hope I never have to fight it out with them.

That's good to know. I had never read into the fine print. Thank you for looking into it. The "listed on the car rental agreement" was always worrisome because the rental agencies would never add a spouse. I have asked. But since a spouse is designated, that should cover the "automatic spouse as extra driver".

 

[Brett]

I think the :spouse as extra driver: is either a state thing or based on the rental car agency. These situations always make me nervous as it comes to credit card CDW as the CDW terms always indicate that the driver needs to be included on the contract in order to be covered. Thankfully we haven't had to worry about this situation, though I don't know what would happen if it came up.

We've always done the "automatic spouse as extra driver"

 

[klpca]

I think the :spouse as extra driver: is either a state thing or based on the rental car agency. These situations always make me nervous as it comes to credit card CDW as the CDW terms always indicate that the driver needs to be included on the contract in order to be covered. Thankfully we haven't had to worry about this situation, though I don't know what would happen if it came up.

We used Avis on Kauai in Oct on a Costco booking. Our experience mirrors what you posted.

We were adding our daughter as the second driver. My husband forgot to have her added when he picked up the car and we had to drive back to the airport to have her added. I called Costco to see if there was a workaround but nope. It had to be in person at the counter.

During the call I asked about the spouse as an additional driver. The Costco rep told me that I wasn't automatically added. I also needed to be added at the counter. I was surprised about this and asked if she was sure and she said yes. So for future rentals, we will be clarifying at the counter. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Superchief]

We used Avis on Kauai in Oct on a Costco booking. Our experience mirrors what you posted.

We were adding our daughter as the second driver. My husband forgot to have her added when he picked up the car and we had to drive back to the airport to have her added. I called Costco to see if there was a workaround but nope. It had to be in person at the counter.

During the call I asked about the spouse as an additional driver. The Costco rep told me that I wasn't automatically added. I also needed to be added at the counter. I was surprised about this and asked if she was sure and she said yes. So for future rentals, we will be clarifying at the counter. Better to be safe than sorry.

Costco rentals only include one complimentary additional driver, so we have always had to specify who it is and show their license. This may be why they don't automatically add the spouse.

 

[dioxide45]

Costco rentals only include one complimentary additional driver, so we have always had to specify who it is and show their license. This may be why they don't automatically add the spouse.

When we say we have an extra driver on a Costco rental and they ask if it is my wife they say they don't need to do anything. They are automatically added as an extra driver. Though the spouse's name is never added to the contract.

 

[DebBrown]

Everyone's experience mirror my own. There's never an issue with a spouse. I wanted to add my son who would be arriving 6 hours later in Kauai with small children in tow. It would be very convenient to NOT have to go back to rental counter. Maybe I can take a copy of his license with me and see of that will suffice.

Patri, your experience with your sister is interesting. Maybe you got lucky.

Thanks

 

[klpca]

When we say we have an extra driver on a Costco rental and they ask if it is my wife they say they don't need to do anything. They are automatically added as an extra driver. Though the spouse's name is never added to the contract.

I would be curious to see what Costco says if someone calls again. I was very surprised when the woman told me what she did as I have never added myself to the contract, assuming exactly what you have. She said something along the lines of you have to be added to be an "authorized driver".

Everyone's experience mirror my own. There's never an issue with a spouse. I wanted to add my son who would be arriving 6 hours later in Kauai with small children in tow. It would be very convenient to NOT have to go back to rental counter. Maybe I can take a copy of his license with me and see of that will suffice.

Patri, your experience with your sister is interesting. Maybe you got lucky.

Thanks

We had a similar situation and we just drove back to the airport (a 1 hour drive!) a few days later when it was convenient for us. It took 5 minutes and we did it on a day when we could do some activities nearby. We were also in Kauai, up in Hanalei. Are you driving back to pick them up anyway? Maybe you can still add a loyalty number to the reservation so you can skip the line to add him. It should go really fast since everything else will have already been done.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Has anyone been able to add a driver who is NOT present at the time of pick up? I could bring copy of driver's license. My son is arriving hours after us and I hate to go through the whole process twice.

Deb

I'd suggest bringing a copy of your son's DL. That may work. Alternatively, pre-arrange with your son to do a live video call via cell phone. You have nothing to lose and something to gain.

 

[DebBrown]

I'd suggest bringing a copy of your son's DL. That may work. Alternatively, pre-arrange with your son to do a live video call via cell phone. You have nothing to lose and something to gain.

I will bring the DL but it's unlikely we can do live video. He will be on a long flight from the mainland!