After we covered whether you can rent a car with a temporary license, or restricted license, and if rental companies check your license you might want to look for other options to rent a car, such as renting a car for someone else. If you have a friend or family member who is planning a trip and will be driving, they may need to rent a car. But is it possible? Let’s explore the ins and outs of renting a car for someone else and what you need to know before doing so.
Hertz
J.D. Power ranks Hertz as the best car rental company in North America, and for good reason. Their focus on customer satisfaction means you’ll have a great time renting from them – from start to finish.
Enterprise
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has locations all over the world, so they’re bound to have one close by. Plus, they offer a wide selection of cars – from economy to luxury – so you can find the perfect ride for your trip.
Fox Rent-A-Car
Fox Rent-A-Car is the perfect solution for budget-minded travelers. They offer low rates on all of our vehicles, so you can hit the open road without breaking the bank.
* With Expedia member prices, you could save 10% or more right now on thousands of cars.
Can You Rent A Car For Someone Else?
No, you cannot rent a car for someone else. But, you can make a reservation in your name and add someone else as an additional driver.
It’s important to note though, that only the person in whose name the rental agreement has been booked can drive away in it at pick-up, and he or she must be present to show valid identification documents for this purpose.
If you want to make a reservation for someone else, how can you rent a car for them?
Well, two things need to be done here: firstly, the person who will drive needs to be an authorized driver as well. In addition to this, they must meet all of the rental company’s other requirements such as age limits and driving experience.
If your friend or family member is an authorized driver, how can you rent a car for them?
If you wish to pay for the rental car, but have someone else drive it and you will be making payments on their behalf then they can rent out your vehicle using an account under yours. To add them as an additional driver all of these requirements must first be met:
- Any additional driver (excluding spouse or domestic partner) will pay a daily fee.
- Any additional authorized drivers must appear at the time of rental and meet age and driver’s license requirements.
- The renter’s spouse or domestic partner who meets the same age and driver’s license requirements as the renter are authorized drivers at no additional charge
- A daily fee of $15 is charged per authorized driver and will be added to the cost of the rental unless other contractual conditions apply.
- In California, there is no additional authorized driver charge.
- In New York state, the additional authorized driver charge is $5 per day.
- A spouse or domestic partner is the only permitted additional driver on a rental secured with a debit card
Fees will be removed for the following:
- Corporate Contracts in the United States are allowed the following additional drivers at no charge:
- Commercial (corporate) rentals
- The renter’s business partner
- Employer or fellow associate
All other additional authorized driver situations are subject to a daily charge.
When can you add an additional driver?
You can add an additional driver to your contract at any time, but they need both the renter and themselves to be present at the rental location in order for it to be added.
How to Rent a Car for Someone Else:
1. Find out if the person has a driver’s license
2. Make sure they have a credit card or debit card to put down as collateral
3. Decide on the type of car you want and call up the rental company to reserve it
4. Fill out an online form with all your information, including your driver’s license number and credit card details
5. Pick up the car at a designated location near where your friend or family is staying
6. Drop off the car back at that same place when you’re done using it (and make sure not to forget any belongings!)
1. Find out if the person has a driver’s license
The first thing you’d need to do, is obviously, to find out if your friend or a family member has all their documentation ready in order to add them as an additional driver.
The second thing you’d need to do is figure out how they’re planning on getting around while in your city. This can be easily done by asking them how many days or hours they plan on using the car each day and if there are any specific transportation routes they want to take at all (by foot, public transport, etc.).
Please note that you should only rent the car to your friend or family member if they have a driver’s license. If not, they should get one before renting the car with their own name and credit card (if needed).
You can always help out by picking them up at the airport in order to avoid any added charges.
2. Make sure they have a credit card or debit card to put down as collateral
Once they have their documentation, make sure they can put down collateral in the form of a credit card or debit card. This will ensure that there is no problem when they return the car, and it minimizes any chance of your friend having to pay for damages or an extra day’s rental fee if their reservation expires before they can get back to you with the information on how to cancel the transaction.
If your friend cannot provide the necessary forms of collateral in the way of a credit card, you can always arrange to have them put down a small deposit on their next utility bill, or at the very least some cash.
Remember that rental car companies are not legally obligated to accept how you rent a car for someone else, so make sure they understand this is your friend and how it will be paid off before agreeing to terms with them over the phone.
3. Decide on the type of car you want and call up the rental company to reserve it
The next step will be to pick the car you’d want to rent. The best way to do it will be to book online. You can read more about it in the article and find a list of good companies which you should try. Then, pick up the phone and give them a call to reserve your car.
Depending on how much notice your friend gives them, this might not be an issue but if they’re looking into last-minute deals, there’s a chance you won’t get the type of car you want.
4. Fill out an online form with all your information, including your driver’s license number and credit card details
Now, on the day of picking up your car, you need to fill out an online form that will include your name, address, and credit card information. This is a standard way of renting the car and you should do it right away as well not wait for later in order not to miss on low prices which might be available only until a certain hour.
After finishing with all the formalities, make sure your driver’s license is valid and you’ll be all set to get behind the wheel of a rental car. Remember, at this point, you’d need to add your friend or family member as an additional driver.
Where Should You Rent A Car?
Now, the last piece of advice is about where exactly you should rent your car. We would recommend you not to use rental agencies near airports as they tend to be more expensive than those available in close proximity of city areas or towns which are located further away from busy airports. So, make sure you check all nearby locations and compare prices for the same car model available there. If you don’t have a particular preference, then go with one that has good reviews online or is located in close proximity to public transportation.
5. Pick up the car at a designated location near where your friend or family is staying
A great piece of advice to follow would be to pick up the car at a designated location near where your friend or family is staying. This allows them to use it without having to drive themselves, which means that they can enjoy their trip in peace and you don’t have to worry about anything.
Make sure to also be on time to pick up the car.
6. Drop off the car back at that same place when you’re done using it (and make sure not to forget any belongings!)
When dropping off the rental car, make sure to return it to the same place where you picked it up. This is important because your friend or family may not be familiar with the area and could easily get lost if they need to go back for some reason.
You should also make sure that there are no belongings left in the car before leaving, as you don’t want them getting into trouble over something you are responsible for.
Wrapping Up
As seen here, it’s not difficult to rent a car for someone else. You can do this by working with some of the best rental car companies in your area and finding out if they offer one-way rentals or other specials that might be beneficial to you and your loved ones.
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