Rental Car Pick Up and Drop off question
April 23, 2013 8:33 PM Subscribe
If I pick up a rental car at the airport, can another family member then drop it off for me even though they weren't with me at the time of pickup?
Second, can that other family member also be allowed to drive the car even though they weren't with me at the time of pickup?
Best answer: Usually additional drivers have to present a valid driving license to be added to a rental agreement. You should call the various agencies that rent cars at the destination airport and speak to each of their CSRs to see what their terms and limitations are, and if they can make exceptions in your case.
I just checked the Budget rent-a-car website and found this FAQ:
posted by carsonb at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2013
I just checked the Budget rent-a-car website and found this FAQ:
Can someone else drive a car that I rent?So that looks like a big 'no' to your second question from Budget.
Answer: Yes. An additional driver must be at least 25 years of age. Budget will check the additional drivers' license to ensure that it is valid. Budget will be unable to allow an additional driver if the driving history reveals any of the following issues:
invalid, suspended or revoked license
one or more convictions for reckless driving within 36 months
one DUI, DWI or DWAI conviction within 48 months
failure to report an accident/leaving the scene of accident within 36 months
possession of stolen vehicle or use of a vehicle in a crime
expired license
three or more convictions for moving violations within 24 months (including seatbelt violations)
three or more accidents within 36 months
other activities that suggest an unsatisfactory driving record.
Add drivers to your rental at the counter when you pick up your car. Drivers must be present with their required credentials to be added.
posted by carsonb at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2013
Whether or not another person is permitted to drive the car is something you'll have to take up with the rental company when you rent the vehicle: you can chose to agree 'I'll be the only driver' or 'this person and I will both be driving'.
posted by easily confused at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by easily confused at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2013
This will depend on where you are and what rental company you use. My experience (Australia, various companies) is yes to the first and probably not to the second. Anyone can drop off a car, because you can usually do it after hours by putting keys into a drop-off box. But to be registered as a driver, you usually have to show your driver's licence and sign something. And technically you are unlikely to drop off a car and not drive it, so you'd be risking insurance trouble if you do (1) and not (2).
posted by lollusc at 8:45 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by lollusc at 8:45 PM on April 23, 2013
I had success with adding an additional driver to a rental with Avis in the U.S. partway through the rental. We both had to report to the Avis location with DLs in tow.
posted by wnissen at 8:49 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by wnissen at 8:49 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yes, you can usually add a second person to the rental agreement, but you both have to go to the rental place with your driver's license so that the rental company can check the appropriate boxes and charge you the appropriate fees.
You may also be able to do this at a different location than the one you picked up the car from, if it's not convenient to go back to the airport midway through your trip. I'd check with the company on this one, though.
posted by Johnny Assay at 8:58 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
You may also be able to do this at a different location than the one you picked up the car from, if it's not convenient to go back to the airport midway through your trip. I'd check with the company on this one, though.
posted by Johnny Assay at 8:58 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, to be in the clear, the family member would have to come pick it up with you, or stop by at some other point before they drive the car. With that said, if it's a family member, they might be flexible about the fee - I usually rent from Avis or Enterprise, and they've always waived the "extra driver" fee once I explained my relationship to the person (has worked so far with fiance, brother-in-law, sister, and mom). YMMV.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 9:01 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by goodbyewaffles at 9:01 PM on April 23, 2013
My memory of renting cars is that you don't get hassled very much. You turn it in, they give it a once over and you sign the paperwork. As long as you are paying with the credit card that was swiped when you picked up the card, that should be it. I wouldn't guarantee there won't ever be problems, but it's probably going to work out OK as long as there are no incidents. I imagine if there is a hassle, a story like "oh, I'm just dropping it off for $driver because he had an errand to run" would be probably fine.
But the extra driver thing is worrisome- if that driver has an accident with the car, they are likely not going to be covered by whatever insurance you get with the rental.
posted by gjc at 9:30 PM on April 23, 2013
But the extra driver thing is worrisome- if that driver has an accident with the car, they are likely not going to be covered by whatever insurance you get with the rental.
posted by gjc at 9:30 PM on April 23, 2013
Only the rental car company can give you the 100% correct answers.
posted by Jacqueline at 10:30 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Jacqueline at 10:30 PM on April 23, 2013
What Jacqueline said is right...
However. What is "allowed" and what you can likely get away with are two different things.
I rent cars on average of once a week, often with co-workers, and we routinely swap cars or hand them off. We're allowed to when traveling for work because the company insurance policy covers us, but the point is that no one ever, ever, not once, has checked or verified this. Most rental return people do not care that much.
I'm not advising you to break any laws at all. But here's some anec-data, if you want, about car rental.
1) Join something like FastBreak (Budget) or Avis Preferred or Emerald Aisle or whatever the rental car company uses for frequent renters. It's usually free, and the point is that the automated processes make them only dimly "aware" of you. It sort of depends on where you pick up the car. Airport locations are best for this. But it helps you maintain a low profile on rental and return. Interacting with the counter raises that profile.
2) Examine the car THOROUGHLY before you drive it away. Note every scratch, blemish, crack, stain...EVERYTHING. Make them acknowledge/sign off on it. Make sure whomever returns it has that document. If they have it, much less likely to be a fuss. This raises the profile slightly, but it's a necessary evil.
2a) Take the newest model you can find without being...prissy about it. Newer cars are less likely to have damage and problems. Trouble-free = low profile.
3) Be careful with the car so as not to damage it and/or raise an eyebrow when its returned.
4) Verify that the other driver's insurance will cover them driving a rental car. That's usually a yes, but not always. If you buy the LDW insurance, it may only cover the car if YOU are driving, so I'd not buy that if I were you.
5) When the car is dropped off, the return agent will say, "Leave it on the same credit card?" Just have the returner say yes, and nothing else. Makes their life easier. If the car is undamaged, once that receipt prints out, you and your other driver will fade from memory instantly.
posted by Thistledown at 3:55 AM on April 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
However. What is "allowed" and what you can likely get away with are two different things.
I rent cars on average of once a week, often with co-workers, and we routinely swap cars or hand them off. We're allowed to when traveling for work because the company insurance policy covers us, but the point is that no one ever, ever, not once, has checked or verified this. Most rental return people do not care that much.
I'm not advising you to break any laws at all. But here's some anec-data, if you want, about car rental.
1) Join something like FastBreak (Budget) or Avis Preferred or Emerald Aisle or whatever the rental car company uses for frequent renters. It's usually free, and the point is that the automated processes make them only dimly "aware" of you. It sort of depends on where you pick up the car. Airport locations are best for this. But it helps you maintain a low profile on rental and return. Interacting with the counter raises that profile.
2) Examine the car THOROUGHLY before you drive it away. Note every scratch, blemish, crack, stain...EVERYTHING. Make them acknowledge/sign off on it. Make sure whomever returns it has that document. If they have it, much less likely to be a fuss. This raises the profile slightly, but it's a necessary evil.
2a) Take the newest model you can find without being...prissy about it. Newer cars are less likely to have damage and problems. Trouble-free = low profile.
3) Be careful with the car so as not to damage it and/or raise an eyebrow when its returned.
4) Verify that the other driver's insurance will cover them driving a rental car. That's usually a yes, but not always. If you buy the LDW insurance, it may only cover the car if YOU are driving, so I'd not buy that if I were you.
5) When the car is dropped off, the return agent will say, "Leave it on the same credit card?" Just have the returner say yes, and nothing else. Makes their life easier. If the car is undamaged, once that receipt prints out, you and your other driver will fade from memory instantly.
posted by Thistledown at 3:55 AM on April 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
If the two of you have rented there before, you may have better luck. My former company used to add people to rentals all the time. If the second driver was in their database, we just had to fax a copy of their driver's license - they did not have to be present at pick-up. I think this was Enterprise, fwiw.
posted by JannaK at 3:57 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by JannaK at 3:57 AM on April 24, 2013
Enterprise (in most states) will let your spouse (and only your spouse) drive any car you rent for free, and without needing to be there or present id. Other than that, as others have noted, this would probably be a violation of your contract.
posted by Phredward at 5:59 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by Phredward at 5:59 AM on April 24, 2013
If you're dropping off at an airport, they won't even look the person in the face. There's a guy and he/she has a handheld device, they scan the car in, there's a printout and they say, "Want to leave the charges on the card on file?" Person says yes and that's pretty much the end of it.
You rent from the counter and that transaction will take 10-15 minutes. Dropping off is done at the return lot and it's a whole different set of folks and a fast process (like less than a minute.)
That's it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:21 AM on April 24, 2013
You rent from the counter and that transaction will take 10-15 minutes. Dropping off is done at the return lot and it's a whole different set of folks and a fast process (like less than a minute.)
That's it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:21 AM on April 24, 2013
If you're dropping off at an airport, they won't even look the person in the face. There's a guy and he/she has a handheld device, they scan the car in, there's a printout and they say, "Want to leave the charges on the card on file?" Person says yes and that's pretty much the end of it.
This is my experience recently dropping off a rental car at the airport.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:47 AM on April 24, 2013
This is my experience recently dropping off a rental car at the airport.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:47 AM on April 24, 2013
If you're dropping off at an airport, they won't even look the person in the face. There's a guy and he/she has a handheld device, they scan the car in, there's a printout and they say, "Want to leave the charges on the card on file?" Person says yes and that's pretty much the end of it.
And my experience at a downtown hotel with a car rental branch, dropping off a car my manager had rented (from a different location).
posted by Lexica at 8:16 PM on April 24, 2013
And my experience at a downtown hotel with a car rental branch, dropping off a car my manager had rented (from a different location).
posted by Lexica at 8:16 PM on April 24, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by skewed at 8:43 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]