Additional Driver Fee In The USA – All You Have To Know

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.

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. 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. If a driver is extra, then he  MUST:

• meet age requirements
• have valid driver’s license
• appear before the rental manager on pick up
• must have at least 1 year (sometimes 2 years) of driving experience

How to add additional drivers?

It depends on the company you are dealing with. It is possible to add the drivers when booking online or at the rental counter. But the additional fee is taken only during pick-up.

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:

• who is a validly licensed driver;
• who is at least 21 years of age (Young Driver Surcharge may apply for under 25 drivers).

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:

• for the additional driver; 
• for adding the overage additional driver (Senior Driver Fee).

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.

In addition, you can get the lowest rates and discounts if you join in local memberships. Read more about them below!

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.

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 fees when dealing with Alamo.

How much is Car Rental Extra Driver Fee?

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; There is no additional driver charge for spouses and other members of the family in the USA and Canada.
Hertz	$13 per extra driver a day, maximum $189; No fee is required from Hertz Gold Rewards members.
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. To sum it up, you should always check the privacy policy of car rental companies!