Updated 01/11/2023
If you are going to rent a car and get a maximum of comfort, you may have a necessity to share the wheel with someone else. Only one of you can be the main driver. In most cases, you are obliged to pay fees for adding additional drivers. However, you may find car rental companies which don’t require an additional driver fee in the USA.
Table of content:
What is the additional driver fee?
This is a daily fee you have to pay for adding an extra driver who will be able to drive the rental car along with the main driver. You can add one or even more drivers. Companies take extra money for young drivers and senior drivers. Before renting a car – keep in mind the policies of different car rental companies since not all of them have the same rules and requirements.
Who is the main driver?
You signed the contract and legally responsible for the car you have just rented. Your name is on the credit/debit card you paid for the reservation. The insurance for that car is on your name. You are the MAIN DRIVER.
Who can be an extra driver?
This information should be checked individually. A second driver must correspond the same criteria as the main driver:
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- meet age requirements;
- have valid driver’s license;
- appear before the rental manager at the rental counter during the pick-up time;
- must have at least 1 year (sometimes 2 years) of driving experience.
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This means that the answer to a popular question “Can an 18-year old drive a rental car as an additional driver in the US?” becomes yes only in case 18 years is a legal minimum age to rent a car in the pick-up location.
How to add someone else as a second driver?
It depends on the company you are dealing with. With Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Budget, National, Enterprise and other international agencies, it is possible to add an extra driver when booking online – just click on suggested extras and among child seats or GPS availability, you will find an option called “additional driver” . In case you decided to add a driver at the rental counter, the additional fee is taken only at the time of pick-up.
Can you add a driver to a rental car without them being there?
A pretty popular question among renters is whether a second driver should present at the rental counter during the pick-up, and a short answer is yes, but not always. Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Alamo second driver spouses and domestic partners are already included in the rental agreement and don’t have to appear in the flesh to meet a company’s staff.
How much is car rental extra driver fee in America?
Additional drivers, whether free or paid, should meet all the requirements of a car rental company. They must have the minimum driver’s age and a valid driving license. Your extra payment varies by country, city, and supplier.
It is important to check the company’s policy:
| Suppliers | Additional Driver Fee |
 Alamo |
$12 per additional driver a day;
The fee is charged for any additional driver, be it spouses or members of your family. |
 Avis |
$13 per additional driver a day, maximum charge of $65;
The fee is additionally required for all USA states, except California, Nevada, and New York. |
 Budget |
$13 per extra driver a day, maximum charge of $65;
The extra fee is not required in California. |
 Dollar |
$10-$15 per extra driver a day;
The company takes an extra fee for additional drivers, including spouses. |
 Enterprise |
$12 per second driver a day; |
 Hertz |
$13 per extra driver a day, maximum $189; |
 National |
$12 per additional driver a day;
There is no extra payment for family members in California, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, and Wisconsin. |
 Thrifty |
$10-$15 per second driver a day;
Thrifty waive additional driver fees for rentals made under their corporate and small business programs. |
ADF is taken if you need additional help with the driving from your family members or other people. The cheapest extra fee starts from $10 per day. It varies from state to state depending on the local law. Note, you should always check the privacy policy of car rental companies!
Should I pay California additional driver fee now?
For a long period of time, it was prohibited for car rental companies to ask for an additional driver fee in California state. But since 2022, all main drivers have been obliged to pay this charge (the amount which is claimed in the company’s T&Cs), provided that the additional driver isn’t a parent, spouse or domestic partner, co-worker, or sibling.
How to avoid additional driver fee in the USA?
It is possible to avoid an extra fee for adding drivers, young drivers, drivers over 70 with a bit of planning. It is recommended to check the terms and conditions of the car rental agency you decided to go with before renting a car.
How to waive additional driver fee for under 25 drivers in the USA?
If the main driver is over 25 years of age and holds a full driving license, you can add additional drivers to your rental contract if it is an individual:
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- who is a validly licensed driver;
- who is at least 21 years of age (Young Driver Surcharge may apply for under 25 drivers).
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The only way to avoid paying additional money for young drivers is to join the loyalty program of your car rental company. This strategy will not work in all cases, but it may help you to avoid extra payments for underage drivers.
How to avoid an extra fee for senior additional drivers?
Sometimes, it is absolutely impossible to waive the senior additional driver fees and you have to pay twice:
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- for the additional driver;
- for adding the overage additional driver (Senior Driver Fee).
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But you can always find some car rental companies in the USA that don’t charge either an additional or Senior Driver Fee. The list of this rent a car companies depends on the location you are booking from and company’s rental conditions.
Memberships that cover additional driver fees in the USA
There are special organizations that protect drivers from the ADF only if you got a membership.
AAA
You can take coupons from major AAA magazines or join the AAA club. You are offered a lot of exclusive savings and benefits, such as free child seats, navigation system. NO FEE for AAA members for car rental from Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty.
AARP
Booking a vehicle from Avis and Budget, you can use AARP discount code to protect your trip from the ADF.
USAA
This is a kind of financial service that gives exclusive benefits and discounts for U.S. citizens. Conditions differ. There is no extra payment for members, their spouses, adult kids when dealing with Enterprise and Hertz. There is no additional driver charge for company members, their families, and other USAA members at Avis and Budget.
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- Hertz USAA CDP code – 77694;
- Avis USAA rentals number – A177232;
- Budget BCD USAA code – Y126501.
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Costco
Costco membership gives free additional drivers when dealing with Alamo and Enterprise in the territory of the USA, Canada, France, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. Reservations with Costco discount at Avis and Budget are available only in the United States.
BJ’s
BJ’s members enjoy their club benefits. They are free from charges when dealing with Alamo.
Which car rental companies allow a second driver for free in the United States?
So, based on the info presented in all those companies’ policies and memberships, let’s take a look at the agencies which allow free additional driver car rental under certain conditions:
- Avis additional driver – one AARP member for free, as well as the renters’ spouses, or extended family members;
- Budget additional driver – spouse or domestic partner for free;
- Sixt additional driver – one Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status loyalty programs member for free in the US;
- Dollar car rental extra driver – Express Rewards loyalty program members for free, as well as the drivers on official government business and companion drivers for the main renter with disabilities;
- Enterprise additional driver – spouse or domestic partner, co-worker or employer for free;
- Fox extra driver – spouse or domestic partner, as well as a companion for the main driver with disabilities;
- Alamo additional driver – one BJ’s member is for free;
- National rental car additional driver – spouse or domestic partner for free;
- Thrifty additional driver – official government business renter for free.
- Hertz additional driver – spouse or domestic partner is for free if you pick up a car in California or Iowa, or, in other states, if the main driver is a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards member.
Also this charge is waived significantly in such cases:
- Budget car rental additional driver with disabilities will get a discount;
- Avis extra driver fee is waived for employers and employees, and companion drivers for the main driver with disabilities;
- National will waive an extra driver fee if it will be the renter’s business partner, employer or a companion for the main renter with disabilities. Also, it will be done if a second driver is an immediate family member who live together with a National’s Emerald Club loyalty program member being the main driver;
- Thrifty additional driver fee is waived for spouses or domestic partners of its Blue Chip Rewards loyalty program members.
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