Costco Car Rental

[DavidnRobin]

On balance (much discussed here...) - Costco is an excellent car rental site, but does involve re-checking prices. IMO YMMV

 

[gmarine]

I recently made a car rental reservation using Costco.com. The confirmation does say you must have your Costco card when you pick up the car.

 

[DaveNV]

I've rented through Costco dozens of times, and I've never been asked for my membership card when I picked up the car. But I also prepay when possible, to save time at the pick-up location. My vacation time is more important to me than hanging around a car rental lot arguing about a missing membership card.

As has been discussed forever on these forums, if in doubt, JOIN COSTCO. Even if you never use the card, (and even if you do), your membership can be cancelled at ANY TIME throughout the membership year, and 100% of the membership fee will be refunded to you, even if it's on the last day of the year. Chances are the car rental rate will save you more than the annual membership cost anyway, but even so - you have ZERO RISK.

Dave

 

[Luanne]

Hi Luanne,
How do you check whether or not 2nd driver name is covered on the contract with Budget. The print out (in my case) clearly show no additional driver is allowed.

Please advise.

I have no idea. I really didn't worry about it.

Are you saying your print out clearly says "no additional driver" or just that your name isn't listed on the contract.

 

[JudyS]

I rent through Costo often but use my Costco AMEX card to pay in order to take advantage of their great insurance discount program.....

Can you tell us more about this insurance discount program?

 

[Blues]

Can you tell us more about this insurance discount program?

https://www295.americanexpress.com/...al insurance&gclid=CKnS-Pex5cgCFZSBfgod-1kE7g

It's available to any AmEx holder, not just Costco members. It's primary coverage; i.e., you don't have to report the incident to your own insurance company. And it's a flat rate per rental, not per day; a much better deal than the car rental company's insurance.

Bob

 

[csxjohn]

https://www295.americanexpress.com/...al insurance&gclid=CKnS-Pex5cgCFZSBfgod-1kE7g

It's available to any AmEx holder, not just Costco members. It's primary coverage; i.e., you don't have to report the incident to your own insurance company. And it's a flat rate per rental, not per day; a much better deal than the car rental company's insurance.

Bob

I like it, a little over $2 a day for my 11 day rental and I can walk away from the car with no deductible.

 

[JudyS]

Oh yes, I know about Amex's coverage for primary Collision Damage Waiver coverage. In fact, I have used it in the past. But I wouldn't call it a discount program. It costs $19.99 or $24.99 per rental, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card provides primary Collision Damage Waiver coverage for free. (I learned that here on TUG!) So do many business credit cards (but only when the rental is for business purposes) and so does Diner's Club (but Diner's Club is generally unavailable to new applicants from the U.S.)

I was hoping the discounted insurance was liability insurance for people who don't already have coverage through a personal auto policy. But as far as I know, no credit cards offer that.

 

[uop1497]

Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card provides primary Collision Damage Waiver coverage for free. (I learned that here on TUG!)

Is it true? I have never heard of that. DH has Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. if so, I do not have to buy the AMEX insurance for Collision Damage Waiver coverage any more for my car rental in the future.

Does anyone know do we have to pay car rental fee with Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card in order to have it automatically coverage. Can someone please confirm it. Thank you

 

[gmarine]

Yes, its true. I have the card and it provides Primary insurance.

 

[csxjohn]

...
Does anyone know do we have to pay car rental fee with Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card in order to have it automatically coverage. Can someone please confirm it. Thank you

Usually you have to use a card for a purchase to take advantage of the cards bennies. You should be able to go online to see what benefits your card has and what the rules are.

I know that for Discover and AMEX, to get the free CWD coverage the entire cost of the rental must be through the card.

 

[JudyS]

Does anyone know do we have to pay car rental fee with Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card in order to have it automatically coverage. Can someone please confirm it. Thank you

Yes,you must pay for the rental using the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card to get the free coverage. All credit cards require that their card be used, or else they won't provide any sort of free collision damage waiver. Even using a gift certificate, or perhaps even a coupon, towards the price of the rental can invalidate the free coverage.

 

[uop1497]

I have no idea. I really didn't worry about it.

Are you saying your print out clearly says "no additional driver" or just that your name isn't listed on the contract.

Yes. Contract clearly printed " No additional driver is allowed" . My name never asked Budget counter personnel.

I contacted Costco at the airport and Costco said it should have my name listed as second driver.

 

[csxjohn]

Yes. Contract clearly printed " No additional driver is allowed" . My name never asked Budget counter personnel.

I contacted Costco at the airport and Costco said it should have my name listed as second driver.

I believe you need to address this as soon as you present your reservation to the rental agency clerk. If nothing else find out why they refuse to honor what you agreed to pay for.

 

[uop1497]

I believe you need to address this as soon as you present your reservation to the rental agency clerk. If nothing else find out why they refuse to honor what you agreed to pay for.

I did point that out with Budget personal desk . However, I was told 2nd driver (spouse) is automatically cover . I contacted Costco , but they do not do anything. 2 times with Budget car rental at 2 different airport with the same answer. That's why I post it here in hope to get an answer.

 

[Luanne]

I did point that out with Budget personal desk . However, I was told 2nd driver (spouse) is automatically cover . I contacted Costco , but they do not do anything. 2 times with Budget car rental at 2 different airport with the same answer. That's why I post it here in hope to get an answer.

At this point I'm really confused. This is what I think I understand -

- You have a future reservation you made with Budget through Costco? Or is it a past reservation?
- Your name is NOT on the confirmation
- You were told by Budget (when?) that you were automatically covered
- You contacted Costco, but they won't "do" anything. And that's true, they are just the middle man. Your reservation is with Budget.

What exactly is it you are trying to find out? If this is for a past reservation did you have some kind of issue, like an accident and you think you're not covered? Or if it's a future reservation are you concerned that you won't be covered, or authorized, if you drive the car?

I went back and read your earlier postings and it looks like you have had NO issues while renting, even when your name was not on the contract. But you had a question about what would happen if your husband and son were the renters/drivers. That I can't answer. But your posts keep referring to your name not being on the contract, so I am still confused what it is you want to know.

I also went back and looked at current, and previous, bookings I've made through Costco. Nowhere am I asked for the name of the second driver and it does not appear anywhere on the contract (how could it when I was never asked?). As I've said, we've had no issues. This statement has been included in the reservation: "One additional driver fee will be waived for Costco members at locations in the U.S.". This statement was on reservations with Avis, Alamo, Budget and Enterprise. Two of them also extend this benefit to cars rented in Canada. You can see this by clicking the link in the reservation under the Rental Car Details. I was able to find all of this on the Costco travel site, under my account looking at future, and past reservations. I hope this gives you the information you are looking for.

 

[uop1497]

At this point I'm really confused. This is what I think I understand -

- You have a future reservation you made with Budget through Costco? Or is it a past reservation?
- Your name is NOT on the confirmation
- You were told by Budget (when?) that you were automatically covered
- You contacted Costco, but they won't "do" anything. And that's true, they are just the middle man. Your reservation is with Budget.

What exactly is it you are trying to find out? If this is for a past reservation did you have some kind of issue, like an accident and you think you're not covered? Or if it's a future reservation are you concerned that you won't be covered, or authorized, if you drive the car?

I went back and read your earlier postings and it looks like you have had NO issues while renting, even when your name was not on the contract. But you had a question about what would happen if your husband and son were the renters/drivers. That I can't answer. But your posts keep referring to your name not being on the contract, so I am still confused what it is you want to know.

I also went back and looked at current, and previous, bookings I've made through Costco. Nowhere am I asked for the name of the second driver and it does not appear anywhere on the contract (how could it when I was never asked?). As I've said, we've had no issues. This statement has been included in the reservation: "One additional driver fee will be waived for Costco members at locations in the U.S.". This statement was on reservations with Avis, Alamo, Budget and Enterprise. Two of them also extend this benefit to cars rented in Canada. You can see this by clicking the link in the reservation under the Rental Car Details. I was able to find all of this on the Costco travel site, under my account looking at future, and past reservations. I hope this gives you the information you are looking for.

- I am looking for information to apply for future reservation with Budget.

- I am talking about my recent car rental with Budget ( October 2015) and do not know why the name of second driver do not listed on the contract. And why the contract Budget desk counter given me printed " No second driver is allowed" . FYI, On September we rent a car with Avis (Thru Costco), 2nd driver ( my son's name) was asked and put it on the record .

- When I said there is no issue with my car rental trip. I means we did not get in any accident or problem with the car during our trip.

At this point , I do not know if what I was told by the Budget desk counter personnel is correct . And why 2nd name driver was not asked and place in the contract.

 

[Luanne]

- I am looking for information to apply for future reservation with Budget.

- I am talking about my recent car rental with Budget ( October 2015) and do not know why the name of second driver do not listed on the contract.

When you rent through Costco they do NOT ask for the name of the second driver. That is why you aren't seeing it on the contract. You can check it out yourself. Go to the Costco website and see what information you are asked for when you make the reservation.

And why the contract Budget desk counter given me printed " No second driver is allowed" .

With Budget I do see the link that says a second driver is included, as I posted in my last post.

I do not know why your contact said second driver NOT allowed. Did you go back and look at the your Costco account online, pull up that past reservation and see if it said an additional driver was included?

FYI, On September we rent a car with Avis (Thru Costco), 2nd driver ( my son's name) was asked and put it on the record.

At this point , I do not know if what I was told by the Budget desk counter personnel is correct . And why 2nd name driver was not asked and place in the contract.

Interesting. I still see no place on the Costco website to enter a second driver's name. I make all of our car reservations and I've never entered the name of the second driver.

I would suggest that with the next reservation you make you check under the rental car information to be sure the link about additional drivers is there and that it contains the statement about the second driver being free.

 

[gmarine]

The second driver is not listed on the rental contract. The line below is from my last Costco rental a few months ago. This clause isnt on rental contracts in CA because California law prohibits charges for additional drivers.

One additional driver fee is waived for Costco members at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada.

 

[uop1497]

When you rent through Costco they do NOT ask for the name of the second driver. That is why you aren't seeing it on the contract. You can check it out yourself. Go to the Costco website and see what information you are asked for when you make the reservation.



With Budget I do see the link that says a second driver is included, as I posted in my last post.

I do not know why your contact said second driver NOT allowed. Did you go back and look at the your Costco account online, pull up that past reservation and see if it said an additional driver was included?



Interesting. I still see no place on the Costco website to enter a second driver's name. I make all of our car reservations and I've never entered the name of the second driver.

I would suggest that with the next reservation you make you check under the rental car information to be sure the link about additional drivers is there and that it contains the statement about the second driver being free.

I did check my reservation (Costco website) and it show 2nd driver included clearly. However, it is odd that the printed contract was given to me by Budget personnel clearly say "No additional driver is allowed". That's reason why I post my questions here in the first place in hope seeking for answer .

Another odd thing I encountered during my recent reservation it when I showed up to receive a car, I was told my reservation is being cancelled ( not sure by whom). Luckily, I did printed out a reservation to take with me to show that to the Budget personnel. They was able to re pull that reservation up in Budget system and I give me the same price .

I contacted Costco immediately and Costco tell me their system still show my reservation. However, Costco did not helping me at all . They only let me deal with Budget myself to resolve the cancellation issue alone .

 

[csxjohn]

Even with all the above info I would think the second driver should be listed on the final paperwork you get from the agency. They just get the DL info for the second driver to make sure all qualification are met such as age.

I don't think I'd let anyone drive my rental car just because my confirmation form Costco says a second driver is free.

 

[Luanne]

I did check my reservation (Costco website) and it show 2nd driver included clearly. However, it is odd that the printed contract was given to me by Budget personnel clearly say "No additional driver is allowed". That's reason why I post my questions here in the first place in hope seeking for answer .

I don't think anyone here can help with this issue as it doesn't seem to have happened to any of us.

Another odd thing I encountered during my recent reservation it when I showed up to receive a car, I was told my reservation is being cancelled ( not sure by whom). Luckily, I did printed out a reservation to take with me to show that to the Budget personnel. They was able to re pull that reservation up in Budget system and I give me the same price .

I contacted Costco immediately and Costco tell me their system still show my reservation. However, Costco did not helping me at all . They only let me deal with Budget myself to resolve the cancellation issue alone .

This does seem to happen from time to time.

And how did Costco NOT help you? You had a copy of your reservation, gave it to Budget and they used that to pull up your reservation and honor the price.

I'm not even sure why you needed to contact Costco at that point. Hadn't the problem already been resolved? What did you expect Costco to do?

 

[uop1497]

Luanne,

I contacted Costco because I had experience a couple weeks prior to our Montana trip ,that my reservation at another airport is just mystery disappear in Costco system . That is another long story which I will tell you at another time.

That's is why I contacted Costco to find out if that is a case again. If I were Costco, as soon as the customer calling to notify them with problem at the car rental counter. I expect, Costco should contact the car rental counter to resolve it on my behalf. Costco did not do so, they let me alone to handle with Budget myself.

A day before our trip, I contacted Budget and confirm my car rental still valid in Budget system. Who could imaging, by the time I arrived to FCA airport, I was told a different story.

Not until I was able to located my printed reservation, then Budget personnel offers some helps. Prior to that, one side ( Budget) told me I do not have any reservation (and my reservation was cancelled) and the other side ( Costco) told me my reservation still shows up their system. I felt stuck between Costco and Budget and did not know who I should believe.

Luckily, at the end, every thing works out for us

 

[Luanne]

It sounds like you've had some unusual situations that no one else who has posted has had. Hard for us to advise you. I just always go in with the idea that it will all work out. But, I do take copies of the reservations with me, just in case.