Most car rental companies would place you on several charges if you fail to follow the route of the additional driver policy, common among most companies.
With this, you must have to pay a daily fee, the additional driver fee, before you can give your rental car to someone else.
On second thought, is it possible to waive this fee? This article is dedicated to this query.
How does Hertz’s Additional Driver fee work?
While the flexibility of renting a car from a total stranger is totally awesome, there are some strict policies you should do well to follow, to avoid being fined or placed on a DNR list.
One of them is the Additional driver policy, common in several rental companies.
For instance, at Hertz, you can’t give someone your rental car, unless such a person is authorized by Hertz. That’s the company’s additional driver policy.
In addition to that, you also have to pay a fee, known as the additional driver fee, for every single driver added to your rental contract.
This fee cost $13.5 per day, with a limit of $189 per rental contract.
While this could seem expensive, it’s comparable to the additional driver fees of other car rental companies:
| Car Rental Company | Cost Per day | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | $15 | No Limit |
| Hertz | $13.5 | $189 per rental contract |
| Avis | $13 | $65 per rental contract |
| Budget | $13 | $65 per rental contract |
| Thrifty | $13.5 | No Limit |
| Alamo | $15 | No Limit |
Aside from all this, it’s worth mentioning that there are also some risks to take note of while you rent a car for someone.
How to get Hertz Additional Driver fee Waived
Unlike some other car rental companies, for instance, Enterprise which would waive a driver fee if the additional driver is a spouse, Hertz is a bit tricky towards how they approach their additional driver policy.
Regardless, below is how you can get Hertz Additional driver fee waived:
Join Hertz Loyalty Program
The easiest way to get your additional driver fee on Hertz waived is when you sign up for their loyalty program, considering the fact that it doesn’t cost money.
Generally, Hertz’s loyalty program is a program aimed at rewarding consistent renters, who frequently rent from the company. Depending on how much you rent, you could even be given a free rental contract following the points system.
Alongside a list of these benefits, you don’t get charged for second or additional drivers added to your rental contract.
To benefit from this, all you have to do is to sign up for the program at the rental counter. No strict restrictions; however, you must have a bit of a history renting with Hertz.
It’s also worth mentioning that it doesn’t cost money to get started.
Rent from locations which decline or limit additional driver fees
There are a couple of locations that limit or cap the charges expected of car rental companies to charge renters when they allow an additional driver to drive their rental car.
However, this only works for spouses, or domestic partners, in some cases.
Some states that operate with this policy include:
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Utah
- Missouri
- Oregon
- Indiana
- Texas
- New York
- Illinois
If you’re about renting in a state that legally authorizes additional drivers automatically, you don’t have to notify Hertz for an additional driver service.
If you do, they would want to pressure you into paying the fee, obviously. However, it isn’t required, as you can legally get around any charges they put on you.
Of course, you’re authorised by the state law.
Become an AAA member
When it comes to renting cars, there are so many added advantages and perks you gain when you sign up for an AAA membership.
Some of these include; getting an under-25 fee waived, getting hertz’s additional driver fee and of course, being insured.
It’s a good investment if I should say.
If you’re on the AAA membership already, all you have to do is to contact Hertz about your state with AAA and they would immediately get the additional driver fee waived. In the case of any policy or change in policy, you’d also get to know.
Think of other car rental companies
In many ways, Hertz is a little bit too strict in its additional driver policy
For instance, a spouse can’t drive their partner’s rental car, unless they have an AAA or gold membership.
Whereas in a car rental company like Enterprise, your spouse or domestic partner can drive your rental car without having the fear of legal issues from the company.
On the same Enterprise, Corporate Contracts in the United States are allowed to add additional drivers at their pace without getting charged. The same goes for rental contracts by Employers or fellow associates.
Also, while Hertz charges an additional fee of $13.5 per day with a $189 limit, Avis and Budget charge $13 with a $65 limit per rental contract.
If you’re a member of AARP, you could also get the Hertz additional fee waived when you rent from Avis or Budget.
These are all good alternatives you can look out for in the place of Hertz.
Final Thoughts
Even though Hertz’s additional drivers’ policies can be intimidating, there are still a few ways to get around it.
Our best pick? Join the Hertz Loyalty Program, since it is in-expensive, money-wise and time-wise.
