California prohibits car rental companies from charging fees for additional authorized drivers, whether or not the additional driver is the spouse of the renter. According to the law, there are no additional driver fees in california, and it doesnt matter if the additional driver is a spouse or. The law requires drivers to carry liability insurance, but the rental car companies are not required to tell you. Below you can find our currently researched laws, regulations, and guidelines, and the general interpretation of them. You still need to list the additional driver on the contract, though. Rental car companies can be found all over the united states. The graves amendment is part of a federal highway bill signed into law in 1995. There are no additional driver fees in california at all by law. Many car rental companies have lowered the minimum age to rent a car to 21, but most charge an extra fee for drivers aged 21 to 24. Children must remain in a rear facing car seat until they weigh 40 pounds or more or are at least 40 inches tall. Additional drivers must sign the rental contract and present a valid drivers license, debit or. If you rent cars only in the state of california, you can probably stop reading now since we have some great news for you. Ab675 rental vehicles california legislative information. Enterprise, national and alamo automatically include a spouse as an additional driver at no extra charge.
Did you know that dollar gives you the option to add additional drivers to your rental. Must meet the renting locations minimum age requirements, have a valid drivers license and show a major credit card in their own name at the rental counter. Car rental under 21 is available in michigan, new york state info below, and for military personnel and government employees. With national car rental at mammoth yosemite airport. Do not smoke at any time when a minor is in the vehicle. Any additional authorized drivers must appear at time of rental and meet age and drivers license requirements. Jan 16, 2020 complying with california s law on rental car insurance is the responsibility of the renter. For certain vehicles, 25 year old age restrictions might be in effect. With a oneway car rental, you can pick up a sixt rental car in one city and return it to a different office. In which states are spouses automatic authorized drivers when. California insurance companies are required to offer you a good drivers discount if you have a clean driving record. Share the wheel without paying for additional drivers fox news.
Rental companies usually offer drivers additional coverage options for a price. This goes for all companies, regardless of whether the additional driver is a spouse or someone unrelated to you. The aaa website states that the car rental industry is not regulated and so renters must be aware of each companys policies. This means that adding additional drivers to your rental contract is free for rentals originating in california.
Hertz rentacar that the rental car company must comply with the states elliottlarsen civil rights act, which prohibits discrimination based on age, religion, national origin, sex, etc. At the time of rental you must present your home countrys valid drivers license and, if you have one, an idp to assist us in translating it. The graves amendment and rental car liability findlaw. But here is more car rental additional driver fees depend on location renting a car in california, there are no additional driver fees, regardless of whether the additional driver is a spouse or someone unrelated to you. Insurance companies, agents and brokers are required to comply with these insurance laws. Car rental additional driver info alamo rent a car. Ive heard rumours that there are no charges for additional drivers on car rentals in california by law but cant seem to find out if the number of. Most articles ive read say an additonal driver singular involves no extra fee, and some say the other persons name must be on the rental agreement at least if they are not your spouse.
State law in california, illinois, missouri, nevada, oregon and. Rent a car one way and enjoy some of california s top road trips. By law, there are no additional driver fees in california. If you are at least 19 years old, with proper driving credentials, you can rent a car from a fox. Renting a car the office of attorney general keith ellison. Does that driver have to be explicitly registered with the rental company. In 2015, auto rental news reported that there were over 2 million rental cars in service across the nation, with california ranking among the top states for annual car rentals. Read more to learn about california car insurance rates, laws, and programs.
The minimum age for rental was the same for all states except new york. This page was established with our ongoing goal of providing excellent,fair and responsive services to california consumers. However, young drivers may be subject to a limited car selection and an underage driver surcharge. According to california state law, children must be seated in the rear seat of a vehicle in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 49 tall. If the other driver did, their auto insurance company is on the hook for rental car repair charges. Coverage for collision damage to the rental car under your personal automobile policy depends upon the policy language. One of the joys of renting a car is that it enables you to travel, explore and experience new locations. National car rental additional driver policy all drivers. If youre in the market for a great deal on car rentals in california, expedia knows how to fit your travel needs. Ive only rented for two people, so never faced that question. Hi all, im looking at car rentals in san diego and palm springs. California law requires that you have a way to cover costs related to damages or injuries you may have caused in a car.
I understand that california law allows any rental to. Laws and regulations california insurance commissioner. Car rental additional driver fees the flight expert. For an additional fee, the rental company will waive all or a portion of the customers obligation to pay repair costs for damage to the vehicle caused by collision. Some rental companies charge fees for additional authorized drivers even spouses.
However, keep in mind fees and restrictions vary by locationfrom state. California insurance code select ins california insurance regulations title 10. Less on the state rental companies allow spouses automatically, more on the company. The minimum age also varies based on your situation. With all of these rental vehicles on the road the chances of accidents occurring are high. California driver handbook master table of contents. Select your rental destination to view specific car rental policies by location, including policy information for. California car laws california car laws, rules and.
Hertz gold plus rewards free additional drivers in california. Both the amount of the fee and the language of the waiver vary. We have numerous protection packages and other optional features such as gps, child seats or an additional driver to help you have an optimal car rental experience. An owner of a motor vehicle that rents or leases the vehicle to a. See reference 1 each rental car company enforces its own rules regarding rental car use and situations like extra drivers. Read your insurance policies for specifics, and call your insurers if youre. It is implied and you do not have to alert them they wil. Waiving additional driver fees for a disabled renters companion note. Some aggressive car rental agencies may automatically add. California, illinois, missouri, nevada, oregon, and. At the time of rental an additional driver must be at least 21 years of age, present a valid driver s license, present a california rentacar honored charge card, and complete an additional driver form. State law in california, illinois, missouri, nevada, oregon and wisconsin allows a spouse to be anautomatic authorized driver as long as renter qualifications are met.
Car rental policy information for additional drivers, insurance, under 25 drivers, spousal policies, cancellation policy, equipment and fuel policies. Demystifying car rentals in the us insurance, additional. Here are the policies for additional drivers for the major car rental companies. There are no additional driver fees in california at all. Any additional authorized drivers must appear at time of rental and meet age and driver s license requirements. Additional drivers must meet the same requirements as primary drivers. This inclusion came after a 2000 lawsuit, in which a state court said in bickham v.
In which states are spouses automatic authorized drivers. The best case scenario is that the other driver is at fault for the accident and they have insurance coverage. For california, rental car companies do not automatically provide any liability protection to the renter as part of the standard rental agreement. California dmv home page is available for customers to check out publications. California dmv home page is available for customers to check out publications, download forms, brochures, faqs, vehicle information, boats, vessel, and field offices. Additional driver or drivers in california have no extra fee. Hertz may provide the minimum primary liability protection to international customers drivers license indicates an address outside the usa. Existing law authorizes a company that rents passenger vehicles to the public to collect a customer facility charge, which means a fee that is required by an airport to be collected to finance, design, and construct airport car rental facilities, transportation systems, and terminal modifications, if specified. Get to know our car rental requirements, terms and conditions, and general policies from age restrictions, payment and insurance options, additional driver policies, optional services, and more. An international driving permit idp is a translation of your home countrys other than english language drivers license. Apr 25, 2014 no charges shall be levied for additional drivers on car rentals originating in the state of california. The agency verifies the drivers license and insurance for the second driver as well. Drivers 21 and olderdui programs and restricted driver licenses. Again, some rental car agencies in the us automatically allow for a spouse to be authorized based on state law, they are california.
Vehicles in the states or provinces in which they intend to travel to ensure compliance with their various licensing laws. So youre about to hit the road on your big vacation and youre at the rental car counter trying to figure out who is going to drive. At the time of rental an additional driver must be at least 21 years of age, present a valid drivers license, present a california rentacar honored charge card, and complete an additional driver form. There is no additional driver fee in the us or canada for authorized drivers. Its a hard cost to factor in though, since the rules change, not only from car rental company to car rental company, but even from state to state. An additional daily fee may apply for any additional drivers. Spouses of renters in california, illinois, missouri, nevada, oregon, and wisconsin do not have to pay the additional driver fee. If you buy their coverage, they say you can minimize your liability while driving their rental car. There are also additional fees if you require a child safety seat or gps. Existing law governs contracts between rental car companies and their customers. There are also some statespecific fees to consider, such as the california tourism tax and airport concession fees. Beware of this california car rental insurance gotcha autoslash. Thanks to a rental car you can sightsee in california on your desired timetable.
What this means is that most states have laws that say. Renting a car unleashes the full potential of your trip. An owner of a motor vehicle that rents or leases the vehicle to a person. When i attempt to make a booking, i get the information below with regards to additional drivers.
State antidiscrimination laws may have additional requirements. This means a driver can leave the rental car companys lot without legally required liability insurance. A spouse or domestic partner is the only permitted additional driver on a rental secured with a debit card fees are also waived for the following. Ask your dollar representative about adding an additional driver to your rental at the dollar counter. Dec 14, 2011 there are no additional driver fees in california at all by law. Car rental age restrictions, negligence and the law legal. Dollar car rental additional driver policy according to. Pdf version of the california driver handbook message new 2020 laws. Have you rented a vehicle with dollar rent a car, or are you planning to in the future. How to avoid car rental additional driver fees autoslash. In deciding who pays for the rental car after an accident, the most important inquiry here is who caused the accident. Ive heard rumours that there are no charges for additional drivers on car rentals in california by law but cant seem to find out if the number of drivers is capped.
Sixt allows you to share the driving responsibilities with friends and family members in your topquality rental car. Share the wheel without paying for additional drivers. Oct 26, 2019 the following car rental companies charge additional driver fees. The insurance pitfalls of california car rental vititoe law.
It basically bars vicarious liability claims against car rental companies for injuries caused by their customers, unless it can be proven that the companys negligence or actions contributed to those injuries. If you rent cars only in the state of california, you can probably stop reading now. A rental car company has no responsibility to check that a driver has liability insurance, nor can a rental car company mandate that a driver purchase insurance. No car rental additional driver fees for spouses in these states in addition to california, where all additional drivers are free, some states allow the main drivers spouse to be an automatic authorized additional driver without a fee. Companies often charge an additional fee for young drivers. In california, rental companies cant charge you for adding an additional driver, and your spouse is automatically considered an additional driver with no extra paperwork. The safe rental car act was signed into law in december 2015. Car rental tip sheet new york state attorney general. The additional driver fee will be waived for any of the following types of rentals. Also, rentals in california will be subject to both tourism and sales tax, which will increase your total rental costs. Car rental companies must allow your spouse to drive the vehicle if he or she is licensed and at least eighteen years of age. Jan 02, 2008 i worked for a rental car agency budget last year. How to avoid car rental additional driver fees ratehub.
Existing law limits how a rental car company is authorized to charge a. Rentals in states that allow a renters spouse to be an automatic authorized driver. The minimum age requirement to rent a vehicle with alamo is 21 years of age, but there is a young driver surcharge for all customers renting a car under age 25. Choose from one of our popular airport locations or find the perfect car at a neighborhood branch. Beware of this california car rental insurance gotcha. California driver handbook additional driving laws rules. Other licensed drivers can be authorized to drive the rental vehicle if expressly listed on the rental agreement. Car rental agencies in arizona also have the right to charge additional fees for drivers based on their own regulations. State law in california, illinois, missouri, nevada, oregon and wisconsin allows a spouse to be an automatic authorized driver as long as renter qualifications are met. In california, there is no additional authorized driver charge. At the time of rental an additional driver must be at least 21 years of age, present a valid driver s license, present a california rent a car honored charge card, and complete an additional driver form. California car laws california car laws, rules and regulations. I understand that california law allows any rental to have an additional driver for no charge.
California car rental low rates enterprise rentacar. Essential information about renting a car with an additional driver. Jan 16, 2019 the graves amendment is part of a federal highway bill signed into law in 1995. Additionally, members of alamo insiders do not have to pay for an additional driver. The additional driver must meet all renter requirements, appear at the rental counter with the primary renter, present a valid driver s license and present a major credit card in their name at the time of rental they do not need a valid membership card. Car rental california huge savings sixt rent a car.
Sep 28, 2015 2 existing law, until january 1, 2020, requires a rental car company or its registered agent to accept service of a summons and complaint and any other required documents against a renter who resides out of this country for an accident or collision resulting from the operation of the rental vehicle in this state, if the rental car company provides liability insurance coverage as part of, or associated with, the rental agreement. Car rental in mammoth yosemite airport mmh national. Additional drivers, whether free or not, must meet the car rental companys rental requirements, including minimum age, credit card, and other qualifications if you fail to pay a required additional driver fee and there is an accident, it could cost you a lot of money. Alamo charges a fee for all additional drivers, including spouses, except if the car is being rented under a corporate contract. I am gold plus rewards five star and i am using the amex platinum cdp. However, you may be covered already through your own auto or homeowners policies. What rental car companies allow spouses to drive for free. A spouse or domestic partner is the only permitted additional driver on a rental secured with a debit card. Oct 17, 2016 the state laws effectively make your spouse an additional authorized driver even if heshe is not listed on the rental agreement, so in the view of any policy providing coverage, that person is an authorized driver and thus will be covered to the same extent as any additional driver would be. The car rental agency charges you extra fees for adding a second driver to your contract. Mar 05, 2012 in california, the legislature has spoken based on civil code 1936 that rental car companies can have restrictions on younger drivers because of the statistics frankly but there is nothing in there that permits them to have restrictions against older drivers, bendavid says. In california, there is no statemandated minimum or maximum age required for primary or additional rental car drivers. Airport rental stations add an airport recovery feearizonas airport recovery fees are very high, so you might want to forgo convenience and pick up your rental. California driver handbook additional driving lawsrules.
Authorized drivers would be a spouse or domestic partner either same or opposite sex, or for one surrogate driver for a mobility impaired renter who meets the locations rental requirements. Alamo any additional driver excluding a spouse or domestic partner will pay a daily fee. Car rental age restrictions, negligence and the law. Hertz may provide the minimum primary liability protection to international customers drivers license indicates an address outside the usa renting in california. The rental car companies do not require liability insurance, yet liability insurance is required in order to legally operate a vehicle in california. Apr 18, 2020 the additional driver still needs to present a valid drivers license and be listed on the contract.
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