Can I Add an Additional Driver to My Rental Agreement?

Introduction: Road trips are more fun (and less tiring) when you can share the driving duties. If you’re renting a car, you might want your spouse, friend, or travel companion to take the wheel sometimes. Adding an additional driver to your rental agreement is usually very doable, but there are some procedures, potential fees, and rules to be aware of. In this post, we’ll explain how to add extra drivers, what it costs, and what the requirements are for that person. We’ll also cover why it’s important to list anyone who’ll drive the car.

How to Add an Additional Driver (and How Much It Costs)

Yes, you can almost always add additional drivers to your rental agreement. The process is typically straightforward: when you arrive at the rental counter to pick up the car, you tell the agent you have another driver and provide their name and driver’s license. The agent will include them in the contract as an “Authorized Additional Driver.” The key conditions are:

• Qualifications: The additional driver must meet the same rental requirements as the primary renter. That means they should be of legal rental age (with the same young driver fee policies if under 25), have a valid driver’s license, and in most cases, they should be present at the counter to show their license and sign the rental agreement. You usually cannot add someone who isn’t physically there to present their license (exceptions exist if someone is your spouse, some companies allow spouse inclusion without them present, but it’s case by case).
• Fees: Most rental companies charge a daily fee for each additional driver you add, typically around $10 to $15 per day. Often there is a maximum cap (e.g., $65 per rental), so on longer rentals you don’t get overcharged beyond a point. For instance, Budget states ~$13 per day up to $65 max, and Avis similarly caps around $65. These fees are to cover the increased insurance liability of another driver. However, there are important exceptions:
• Spouse or Domestic Partner: Many major companies allow your spouse or domestic partner to be an additional driver for free. Enterprise, for example, includes a spouse automatically at no charge, and Avis and Budget do the same for spouse or partner (or another family member in some cases) as long as they meet the age/license requirements.

• Corporate/Member Programs: If you’re renting under a corporate account or certain membership (like Hertz Gold Plus, or AAA discounts), additional driver fees might be waived. For example, Hertz waives the fee for a spouse or domestic partner if you’re a Gold member, and Dollar/Thrifty waive it for spouses if you join their free loyalty program.

• Special Cases: In California, state law forbids rental companies from charging for additional drivers (except in certain cases). So if you rent a car in California, you can add extra drivers for free, by law. That’s a nice perk in CA.

So, it’s worth checking the policy or asking: “Is there a fee for an additional driver, and are any free?” You might save money if your situation fits one of the exceptions (like husband/wife, etc.).

• How Many Additional Drivers? Typically you can add multiple, but each may incur a fee. There might be a practical limit (the contract only has space for a couple, but if you needed more for a big group, the company might allow it with all of them present to sign). Just remember, more drivers means more risk = more fees.

Requirements and Rules for Additional Drivers

When adding someone to the rental, consider the following:

• Present at Pickup: Ideally, all additional drivers should be present at the rental pickup counter with their valid driver’s license in hand. They will be asked to sign the rental agreement. By signing, they are agreeing to the contract terms just like you are.
• Age Requirements: Any additional driver has to meet the rental company’s age requirements. If you’re 30 and your additional driver friend is 19, that 19-year-old cannot drive on the rental because they wouldn’t qualify to rent in the first place. If your additional driver is 23, you can add them but the under-25 fee will apply to your rental for that driver as well (unless an exception like spouse in some states). See our Age Restrictions post for details on young driver rules – they do apply to additional drivers too.
• Driving Record: In most cases, rental companies do not check an additional driver’s driving record separately at the counter (they usually don’t even check the primary’s record on the spot, unless you’re using a debit card which can trigger a soft check). As long as the license is valid (not expired or clearly suspended), they will accept it. However, if your additional driver has a license from another country, that’s usually fine too – just ensure you have an International Driving Permit if needed by local law.
• Insurance: Once authorized, an additional driver is covered under the rental company’s insurance/coverage just like the main driver. If you bought a CDW or liability supplement, those apply no matter who’s driving, as long as that person is an authorized driver on the contract.
• Swapping Drivers Mid-Rental: If you didn’t add someone at the start but later want to, you can typically bring the car and the person to a local rental office and have them added. They’ll need to show ID and sign, and you’ll pay any applicable fee from that point on. You can’t add a driver over the phone without them present, generally.

Why You Should Always Add All Potential Drivers

It might be tempting to save money by not listing an extra driver (to avoid fees) and just letting them drive informally. This is a bad idea. If an unauthorized driver (not on the contract) gets into an accident or damage with the rental car, the rental company can consider the rental agreement violated. That can void any coverage you have from them, and potentially from insurance too, leaving you with a huge liability. They could also charge hefty penalties.

For instance, if your buddy drives and crashes, and they weren’t listed, you could be on the hook for the full cost of damage and any claims, possibly not even limited to the CDW (because those waivers and policies apply only when authorized drivers are operating). It’s not worth the risk. Always add anyone who will even possibly drive, even just for an hour. Yes, it might cost a bit more, but it protects you legally and financially.

Rental agreements typically state only the renter and authorized additional drivers can drive the vehicle. So don’t secretly swap drivers without adding them – it’s not like borrowing a friend’s car; the rental contract is strict on this.

Additional Driver Tips

• Plan Ahead: If you know before pickup that you’ll have an extra driver, include it in your booking if possible. Some online reservations let you input additional drivers, or at least you’ll be aware of the fees.
• Bring Required Documents: Make sure additional drivers bring their driver’s license (and any needed IDP). If the last names are different (for spouses), maybe bring proof of partnership if you want to argue a fee waiver, but usually a common address on the license is enough for spouse/domestic partner proof.
• Free Spouse Clause:If you’re married or have a domestic partner, mention it. As noted, most companies won’t charge for that. Some also waive for immediate family (e.g., a parent/child) but that varies.
• Check Local Laws: As mentioned, some states like CA and also NV disallow additional driver fees (except for certain cases). Know your rights; you might challenge a fee if it’s not supposed to be charged.
• Return and Responsibilities: Both drivers should be comfortable with the vehicle. It’s a good practice for each to be listed, even if one will do 90% of the driving, just so they’re covered in a pinch (like if the primary driver feels unwell). When returning the car, it usually doesn’t matter who actually drives it back, as long as one of you does.
• One-way rentals and multiple drivers: If doing a long one-way road trip, having at least two drivers can be almost essential. It might be worth the fee for safety and rest.

Conclusion: Adding an additional driver is easy and common. It’s just about doing the paperwork and paying any needed fee. By taking these steps, you ensure everyone behind the wheel is properly authorized and insured.