Rental Car Additional Driver Fees (2026): Avis, Budget, Enterprise & More

 

Last updated: November 11, 2026

Quick answer: Published U.S. rental car additional-driver fees include $13 per day per driver at Avis and Budget in many states and $15 per day at Alamo and Enterprise’s Dallas–Fort Worth airport location. A qualifying spouse or domestic partner may be exempt. Some rentals also have a maximum fee per driver, and certain Costco Travel bookings waive the charge for one eligible driver. State rules and location-specific rental terms can change the total. These are published examples, not guaranteed nationwide quotes.





Additional Driver Fees by Rental Company

An additional-driver charge generally applies when someone other than the primary renter is authorized to drive under the agreement. It is separate from the vehicle's base price. Check the terms for your pickup branch, dates, rental type, and booking channel.

Published U.S. additional-driver fee examples, before applicable taxes and other charges
Company or locationDaily fee per paid additional driverKey condition
Avis$13 in most statesQualifying spouse or life partner exempt. Its general FAQ and some location terms differ on state rates.
Budget$13 in many statesIts published requirements FAQ cites a $65 maximum per rental for its standard fee, with state and location exceptions.
Alamo$15Qualifying spouse or domestic partner exempt; New York rate differs.
Enterprise — Dallas–Fort Worth Airport$15Specific DFW Airport location example, not a nationwide Enterprise quote.

Why the exact location matters: Even two official pages from the same brand can show different rates or exemptions. A rate quoted on a national FAQ is useful for planning, but your reservation confirmation and pickup location's applicable agreement determine what is charged.

When the Fee May Be Waived

Spouse or partner: Avis states that a spouse or life partner with a valid license who is at least 25 can drive without an extra-driver fee. Alamo and Enterprise's DFW policy exempt a spouse or domestic partner who meets the renter's applicable age and license requirements. A friend does not automatically qualify.

Qualifying business rentals: Some companies waive the charge for specified employees or business partners under eligible corporate arrangements. Verify the booking contract; a personal reservation does not automatically qualify.

Costco Travel reservations: Costco Travel says its U.S. car rental reservations with Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise include one additional driver without that fee, subject to eligibility and pickup rules. The primary renter must be an eligible Costco member. Booking elsewhere with the same rental company does not automatically carry the Costco benefit.

Hertz Gold+: Hertz's Gold+ FAQ advertises a free additional driver for a spouse or domestic partner, subject to conditions including a credit card in the additional driver's own name and standard rental qualifications. It does not promise any friend a free driving privilege.

Seven-Day Rental Cost Examples

Illustrative scenario: One eligible additional driver is authorized for seven billed rental days. These figures cover only the additional-driver fee; vehicle price, taxes, age-related fees, and other charges are excluded.

  • Enterprise DFW: 7 × $15 = $105, assuming the stated location rate applies without a waiver or different contract term.
  • Avis Indianapolis International Airport: Its location page specifies $13 per day up to $65 per additional driver, so seven days produce $65 rather than the uncapped $91.
  • Budget standard-fee example: Under the $13 daily rate and $65 maximum stated in its requirements FAQ, seven days likewise total $65, provided those terms apply to the reservation.
  • Valid waiver: The additional-driver fee is $0, but other rental charges may still apply.

Compare the entire vehicle-rental total, not just the extra-driver line item. A booking with a waived driver fee can still cost more overall than another quote.

State Exceptions and Fee Caps

New York: Avis's general additional-driver FAQ states $3 per day. However, the detailed terms shown on its Indianapolis Airport location page cite $5 per day and $35 per week for New York. These are conflicting statements on official Avis pages, so do not rely on one figure without confirming the terms of the actual New York pickup branch. Alamo's published New York figure is $5 per day.

Nevada: Avis's general FAQ publishes a range of $11 to $19.99 per day. Budget's publicly accessible general requirements FAQ gives a different Nevada example. Verify the branch-specific quote rather than transferring another company's rate.

California: Avis's general FAQ names a parent, sibling, or child of the renter among those exempt from additional-driver fees. Other Avis location terms describe a different family list. Budget's general requirements FAQ describes a broader California fee waiver, while other dedicated policy descriptions may use narrower wording. Do not assume a friend or relative is free without checking the pickup location's current terms and driver eligibility.

Caps: Avis's Indianapolis page specifically lists a $65 maximum per added driver. Budget's general requirements FAQ also states a $65 maximum for its standard rate. Neither is proof that every rental in every state has the same cap.

How to Add a Driver

  1. Check age, valid-license rules, and any required identification or payment credentials for each proposed driver.
  2. For a regular added driver, plan for that person to attend the rental counter with the primary renter. Certain automatically authorized spouse or partner categories may have different attendance rules.
  3. Before leaving the counter, confirm which drivers are authorized, the daily fee or waiver, the dates charged, any cap, and any age-related charges.

Ask the rental company separately about protection and insurance terms. Having a fee waived does not, on its own, answer every coverage question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the additional-driver fee per car or per person?

Published standard fees are generally charged per paid additional driver. If you add two eligible friends, ask whether both incur charges and whether any booking benefit waives only one.

Do I pay only on days when the additional driver actually drives?

Do not assume so. Alamo says its system calculates charges from the dates an additional driver is listed on the contract, not from hours spent behind the wheel.

Can I add a driver after pickup?

Alamo allows a driver to be added or removed at a rental location during the contract. Both the renter and the new additional driver must attend when making the change. Other companies' procedures may differ.

Does a free additional-driver waiver eliminate young-driver fees?

Not necessarily. Driver qualification, minimum age, and any separate under-25 surcharge remain subject to the applicable rental terms. A driver who is too young under the company's policy may not be eligible at all.

Can any Costco member skip the additional-driver fee on any reservation?

No. The published benefit concerns qualifying Costco Travel reservations at participating companies and locations. The main renter and additional driver still must satisfy the booking requirements.

What to Compare Before Booking

Get a rental quote with all intended drivers included. Check the fee per driver per day, any maximum charge, your pickup state's exceptions, and whether a spouse, corporate, or booking-channel waiver applies. Finally, make sure the actual rental agreement authorizes everyone who will drive.

Sources

Official company and booking-provider information reviewed November 11, 2026. Published terms may change; conflicting official wording is identified rather than silently reconciled.

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