Understanding Hertz's Additional Driver Policy
When you rent a car from Hertz, you're typically the only person listed on the rental agreement as authorized to drive the vehicle. However, Hertz recognizes that many rental situations involve multiple people who need to share driving responsibilities. This is why the company allows you to add extra drivers to your reservation, though this comes with specific rules and potential cost implications.
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The additional driver policy exists for both practical and legal reasons. From Hertz's perspective, they need to know who is operating their vehicle at any given time, which affects insurance coverage and liability. From your perspective as the renter, knowing the rules about adding drivers helps you avoid surprises at the rental counter or, worse, discovering you don't have proper coverage if an additional driver gets into an accident.
At its core, Hertz's policy allows you to list other drivers on your contract before you pick up the vehicle or, in some cases, at the rental location itself. These drivers must meet certain age and licensing requirements. The company distinguishes between different types of additional drivers—some may be spouses or family members, while others might be colleagues or friends. Depending on your relationship to them and other factors, the fees and requirements may vary.
One important distinction: adding a driver to your Hertz rental is different from simply letting someone else drive occasionally. If someone drives the vehicle without being on the rental agreement, you could face serious consequences, including voided insurance coverage or claims that you violated the rental contract. This distinction matters significantly if you're in an accident or if damage occurs to the vehicle.
Practical takeaway: Before you book a Hertz rental, think through who will actually be driving during your rental period. This planning step will shape what you need to do when you make your reservation and what costs to expect.
Age Requirements and Driver Qualifications for Additional Drivers
Hertz has specific age minimums for anyone listed as an additional driver on a rental agreement. Generally, additional drivers must be at least 18 years old, though some locations may have slightly different policies. More importantly, if an additional driver is under 25 years old, Hertz typically charges an underage driver fee—this is a daily surcharge that can significantly increase your rental cost.
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The underage driver fee varies depending on location and rental class, but it commonly ranges from $15 to $30 per day for drivers between 18 and 24. If you're renting for a week with multiple young drivers added to the agreement, these fees can easily add $100 to $200 to your total rental cost. Some rental locations or during certain promotions may waive or reduce this fee, but you shouldn't count on it.
Beyond age, all additional drivers must present a valid driver's license. This is non-negotiable—Hertz will ask to see the license, and it must be current and legitimate. The license doesn't need to be from the same state or country where you're renting, but it does need to be recognized as valid in the location where you're renting. International drivers may face additional requirements, particularly if their license is not in English or uses an unfamiliar format.
Some situations can complicate adding a driver. If someone has had their license suspended or revoked, they cannot be added to a Hertz rental, even if their suspension occurred in a different state. Hertz doesn't always catch this immediately at the counter, but if discovered later, it could result in contract violations. Similarly, if an additional driver has major violations or an extensive accident history, Hertz may refuse to add them, though the company's threshold for this isn't always transparent.
There's also the question of insurance coverage for additional drivers. Your own car insurance may or may not cover a rental vehicle, and the rental agreement's insurance provisions will specify what coverage applies to additional drivers. This is a critical detail that many renters overlook.
Practical takeaway: Before arriving at the Hertz counter, confirm that everyone who will drive has a valid, current license and calculate what underage driver fees might cost if anyone is under 25. This prevents last-minute surprises and helps you budget accurately.
How to Add a Driver When Making Your Reservation
The easiest time to add a driver is during the initial reservation process, whether you book online, by phone, or in person at a Hertz location. When you go to Hertz.com and search for a rental, you'll typically see an option to add drivers before you complete your booking. This online option is straightforward—you enter the additional driver's name, date of birth, and driver's license information.
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Adding a driver during the booking process has several advantages. First, Hertz can calculate the total cost upfront, including any additional driver fees, so you'll know the exact price before you commit. Second, the system can flag any issues with the driver before you arrive at the rental location. Third, it streamlines the check-in process—when you arrive, Hertz already has the information and won't need to spend time adding the driver at that moment.
If you book by phone with a Hertz representative, you can also add drivers during that call. A representative will ask for the same information—the driver's name, date of birth, and license details. They'll calculate fees and confirm everything before your reservation is finalized. This method works well if you have questions about costs or policies that you want to discuss directly with someone.
The online process typically requires you to enter the driver's information in a dedicated section of the booking form. You'll need the driver's full name as it appears on their license, their date of birth, their driver's license number, the state or country that issued the license, and the license expiration date. Some booking systems also ask for the driver's relationship to the primary renter—spouse, family member, colleague, or friend. This information helps Hertz assess insurance and liability questions.
If you're unsure whether you'll need an additional driver when you first book, you have options. You can add a driver later by logging into your Hertz reservation online, calling the reservations line, or waiting until you arrive at the rental counter. However, if you wait until arrival, you might face different pricing or availability issues, and the addition process will take longer during check-in.
Practical takeaway: Add any additional drivers when you make your reservation online or by phone, not at the rental counter. This ensures accurate pricing, faster check-in, and eliminates the risk of last-minute complications.
Adding a Driver at the Rental Counter
Sometimes you can't add a driver until you arrive at the Hertz location—perhaps circumstances changed after you booked, or you didn't realize someone else would be driving. Hertz does allow you to add drivers at the rental counter, though this approach comes with trade-offs compared to adding them during the reservation process.
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When you arrive at the counter and request to add a driver, the Hertz agent will ask for the same information they would need if you'd added them online: full name, date of birth, driver's license number, license issuing state or country, and expiration date. The agent will input this information into Hertz's system, verify the driver's identity by looking at the actual license, and calculate any additional fees.
One advantage of adding a driver at the counter is flexibility. If someone unexpectedly needs to drive or if your original plan changed, you can adjust without needing to call Hertz in advance. However, there are downsides. First, it slows down your check-in process. If there's a line behind you or if the agent needs to resolve system issues, you might experience a significant delay. Second, the agent may offer you different insurance or protection options at the counter that weren't discussed during your initial booking, potentially complicating your decision-making.
At the counter, you should ask the agent to confirm the additional driver fee amount before finalizing the addition. Pricing can vary based on the driver's age, the rental duration, the vehicle class, and current promotions. Some Hertz locations might offer better rates than others, though you typically can't shop around once you're there.
If you want to add a driver after you've already checked out and picked up the vehicle, that becomes much more complicated. While it's technically possible in some circumstances, Hertz would need to amend your contract, which requires returning to the location. This is rarely practical unless you're staying nearby. The best approach is to anticipate who will drive and add them before pickup whenever possible.
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