Do You Pay an Additional Driver Fee on a Rental Car in 2026?

Do you have to pay an additional driver fee to let someone else drive?

Usually yes, unless a waiver applies. An additional driver fee is the daily charge a rental company levies for each person authorized to drive the car besides the primary renter, the person who signed the contract. At the major US suppliers it is typically $10 to $15 per day, and some brands cap the total per rental. A spouse or domestic partner is often free, but at some brands that only applies with a free loyalty membership. State law and some memberships can also remove the fee.

The rules below are as reported in the sources used for this article. One source was checked in June 2026 and the other is undated, so confirm the terms for your pickup location before you travel.

Which suppliers let a spouse drive free?

Most of the large US suppliers waive the fee for a spouse or domestic partner without any membership. The main exceptions are Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty, which require a loyalty membership, and Sixt, which has no spouse waiver.

Avis is the most flexible for couples. A spouse or life partner does not have to be at the counter when the car is picked up, and the sources describe Avis as having the broadest policy among major US suppliers. Enterprise and National also let a spouse skip the counter, although for National the sources differ on detail, so check the contract.

How do the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty programs work?

All three loyalty programs are free to join. The membership number needs to be on the reservation before pickup. The sources say that enrolling at the counter does not reliably trigger the waiver.

• Hertz: Gold Plus Rewards waives the fee for the primary renter's spouse. The $189 cap is reached after 14 days at $13.50 a day, so a two-week rental costs the same whether you add a day or a week more.
• Dollar: Express Rewards members can add free drivers. The sources differ on scope. One says the waiver covers any reservation for members and spouses. The other says it covers spouses and partners. Check your own confirmation.
• Thrifty: Blue Chip Rewards covers the spouse or partner of a member. One source adds that another Blue Chip member can also be added free.

One source notes that Dollar and Thrifty programs were paused and then reinstated in August 2024. If you have an older account, log in before you travel to confirm it is still active.

Sixt is different. Its fee applies to a spouse at every level. One driver can be added free only for members at the top loyalty tiers. The sources disagree on which tiers qualify. One lists Gold, Platinum and Diamond, the other lists Gold and Platinum.

Which memberships waive the fee for other drivers?

If the extra driver is a friend, adult child or colleague rather than a spouse, the fee usually applies. These memberships can change that when the code is on the booking:

• AAA: The sources disagree on scope. One says AAA waives the fee for any additional driver at Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty. The other says Hertz waives it for a spouse or partner of an AAA member. Check the Hertz terms if your driver is not a spouse.
• AARP: Gives one free additional driver at Avis, and at Budget according to one source.
• Costco: Waives the fee at Alamo, Avis, Budget and Enterprise. The extra driver does not need to be a Costco member, but must show a license and a credit card in their name at the counter.
• USAA: Gives one free additional driver at Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz. USAA members and their USAA-covered family members can be authorized drivers without the fee.
• Government and military: Employees and military members on official business can add free drivers with all major agencies, according to one source. The minimum driver age on these rentals is 18.

For a discount code to count, it generally has to be on the reservation at booking, not added later at the counter.

Which states waive or cap the fee?

State law can override supplier policy. The sources describe three states in detail.

• New York: Caps the additional driver fee at $5 per day for all suppliers. Spouses and business associates cannot be charged.
• California: Forbids fees for the renter's spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, legal ward, employer and co-worker. The sources also say a driver not named on the contract can lead to a charge of twice the normal fee, so list everyone who will drive.
• Nevada: Caps the fee, which the sources put at about $11 to $15 per day depending on the supplier, and allows charges for a spouse. Do not count on state law to waive the fee in Nevada. One source says the cap is about $15, the other gives a range, so check the current figure.

One source also lists Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin as states where certain authorized drivers, including a spouse, are automatically exempt. That list comes from a single source, so verify it before you rely on it. In these states, the source says you should not list a spouse on the contract, or the company may try to charge you.

What happens if an unlisted person drives?

On a trip with no accident, the supplier has no way of knowing who was driving. The risk appears after a claim. The sources say that if an unlisted driver has an accident, the rental company can void the agreement and cancel the insurance. The primary renter may then be responsible for damage to the rental car, the other vehicle, property and any medical costs.

Adding a driver is therefore the safer choice, even when the fee is waived. Waivers still usually require the driver to be listed on the contract.

What should you check before you book and at the counter?

• Decide whether the driver is a spouse, a member-eligible person or someone who needs a standard fee.
• Enter any membership or discount code when you book. Do not expect it to be added at the counter.
• Check that the membership is active, especially for Dollar and Thrifty.
• Bring the extra driver's license and a credit card in their name, unless you are with Avis and the driver is a spouse or life partner, or you are renting in New York or California.
• Remember that young driver surcharges are separate. One source says a driver under 25 can face both a young driver fee and an additional driver fee.

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