Understanding Additional Drivers at Hertz
When you rent a vehicle from Hertz, you have the option to add other drivers to your rental agreement. An additional driver is someone other than the primary renter who will operate the vehicle during the rental period. This is an important feature to understand because it affects insurance coverage, liability responsibilities, and the overall rental agreement terms.
Learn How to Clean a Wound at Home →
Hertz allows customers to designate additional drivers for most rental categories, though policies may vary based on the specific location and vehicle type. The primary renter remains responsible for the rental agreement, but additional drivers share responsibility for how the vehicle is used and maintained. When you add a driver, that person's information becomes part of your rental contract, and they are bound by the same terms and conditions as the primary renter.
Adding drivers to a Hertz rental serves practical purposes. If you're taking a long road trip, having another licensed driver reduces fatigue and allows for safer travel. If you're renting for business purposes, you may need multiple employees to drive the vehicle during your rental period. Family vacations often benefit from having a spouse or adult family member authorized to drive the rental car.
It's important to note that not everyone can be added as an additional driver. Hertz has specific requirements that drivers must meet before they can be authorized to operate a rental vehicle. These requirements exist to protect Hertz, other drivers on the road, and the renters themselves. Understanding these requirements upfront prevents complications at the rental counter and ensures a smoother rental experience.
Practical Takeaway: Before your rental, determine who will need to drive the vehicle and plan to add those drivers during the booking process or at the rental location. Having this information ready speeds up the rental transaction.
Age Requirements and Driver Licensing Rules
Hertz maintains specific age requirements for additional drivers. In most cases, additional drivers must be at least 18 years old to operate a Hertz rental vehicle. However, some vehicle categories have higher age minimums. For certain luxury vehicles or larger rental classes, Hertz requires additional drivers to be at least 25 years old. This age requirement applies equally to all additional drivers, regardless of their relationship to the primary renter.
Learn How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce Quick →
The reasoning behind age requirements relates to insurance and liability considerations. Insurance companies typically charge higher premiums for younger drivers, and statistics show that drivers under 25 have higher accident rates than older drivers. By setting these minimums, Hertz manages its insurance costs and risk exposure. When you add a younger driver to your rental, Hertz may apply an additional young driver fee to your agreement.
All additional drivers must possess a valid driver's license. The license must be current and not expired at the time of the rental. International drivers may use their valid driver's license from their home country, though some Hertz locations prefer or require an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to the foreign license. Hertz staff will verify the license information for all additional drivers before finalizing the rental agreement.
The driver's license must be a full license, not a provisional, restricted, or learner's permit. Provisional licenses are typically issued to new drivers and come with restrictions on who can be in the vehicle and when driving is permitted. These restrictions conflict with rental car use, so Hertz does not accept provisional licenses for any drivers on a rental agreement. The license must authorize the driver to operate a vehicle in their state or country of residence.
Some locations may have additional requirements or exceptions. For example, certain states have specific rules about how rental companies can verify licenses, and some international locations have different standards. When adding drivers from different states or countries, it's worth confirming with Hertz that their licenses meet the requirements for your specific rental location.
Practical Takeaway: Gather current, valid driver's licenses for all additional drivers before arriving at the rental counter. Ensure licenses are not expired and are full licenses rather than learner's permits or provisional licenses.
How to Add Drivers During the Booking Process
Adding drivers to your Hertz rental can begin during the online booking process. When you access the Hertz website or mobile app to reserve a vehicle, you'll find an option to add additional drivers after entering your basic rental information. Most booking platforms ask for the primary renter's details first, then provide a section where you can add information about other drivers who will use the vehicle.
Free Guide to Kindle Home Screen Navigation →
During online booking, you'll typically need to enter each additional driver's full name, date of birth, and driver's license information. Some booking systems also request the driver's license state or country of issue and the license number. Having this information ready before you start the booking process makes the addition process faster. If you're adding multiple drivers, you may see a limit on how many additional drivers can be added during online booking—often between two and four additional drivers, depending on Hertz's system and your rental location.
The booking website will show you any additional fees associated with adding drivers. Young driver fees typically apply if an additional driver is under 25 years old. Some Hertz locations charge a flat fee per additional driver, while others may charge different amounts based on the driver's age or the rental duration. These fees appear in your rental quote before you complete the booking, so you can see the total cost before committing to the reservation.
If you prefer to add drivers in person rather than online, you can do so at the rental counter when you pick up your vehicle. The Hertz agent will ask if anyone else will be driving the rental car and can add them to your agreement at that time. However, adding drivers at the counter may delay your rental pickup and could result in longer wait times, especially during busy periods. Adding drivers during the booking phase is generally more efficient.
You can also modify your driver information after booking but before your rental date. If you need to add or remove drivers, you can contact Hertz directly through their website, phone line, or mobile app. When you make changes to your reservation, the rental agreement and associated fees will be updated accordingly. It's wise to make these changes as soon as you know them, rather than waiting until pickup day.
Practical Takeaway: Add all known drivers during your online booking to see the complete rental cost and avoid delays at the pickup location. Keep driver's license information readily available when making your reservation.
What Information Hertz Requires for Additional Drivers
To add a driver to a Hertz rental agreement, Hertz collects specific personal and license information. The primary pieces of information include the driver's full legal name, date of birth, and driver's license details. The driver's license information typically includes the license number, the state or country of issue, and the expiration date. Hertz uses this information to verify that the driver meets their requirements and to update their rental records.
Learn About Moving to Portugal as a U.S. Citizen →
Some Hertz locations may request the driver's home address and phone number. This information helps Hertz maintain accurate records and provides contact information if there are questions about the rental after pickup. For international drivers, Hertz may ask for passport information or visa details, particularly for very long rentals or if the driver's license is from a country outside the United States.
When you provide driver information, Hertz typically runs a background check or verification process. This may include checking the driver's license status to confirm it's valid and not suspended or revoked. Hertz does not perform credit checks on additional drivers, but they may check for any history of accidents or violations associated with previous Hertz rentals. If an additional driver has had significant issues with a prior Hertz rental, they may not be permitted to be added to future rentals.
Hertz requires that all information provided be accurate and current. If you provide incorrect information about an additional driver—intentionally or unintentionally—this could void insurance coverage or create liability issues if an accident occurs. For this reason, it's essential to carefully verify all details before submitting them. If you're uncertain about any information, confirm it with the driver before entering it into the system.
The information you provide for additional drivers becomes part of your rental agreement and insurance documentation. If you need to make changes to driver information after booking, you should contact Hertz as soon as possible. Last-minute changes at the rental counter may not be possible, depending on Hertz's verification processes and system availability at that specific location.
Practical Takeaway: Collect accurate driver's license information from each additional driver before booking, including their full legal name, date of birth, license number, and license expiration date. Double-check this information for accuracy before submitting it to Hertz.