Renting a car in Halifax - Which companies offer free second driver?

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Jun 30th, 2018 12:36 pm

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Jun 25th, 2018 1:33 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 1:33 pm

Renting a car in Halifax - Which companies offer free second driver?

I'm going to rent a car in Halifax for about a week this summer. It seems the best bang for the buck will be for me to either rent downtown and drop off at the same place, or else rent downtown and drop it off at the airport. If I pick up at the airport and drop off at airport, it's horrendously expensive. Doing the latter is literally 75% more expensive.

However, I might want to add my wife as a second driver. Anyone know off hand which companies offer this for free? This page says it's free for spouses at enterprise. It seems to be free at Avis too. For Hertz there appears to be a fee but I can't find how much online.

BTW, it seems it's cheaper for me to rent through Expedia (eg. Hertz or Budget) than it is to use my 10% discount code from TD for Avis.

12 replies

Jun 25th, 2018 1:49 pm

diabolical7: Deal Addict; Sep 25, 2005; 2341 posts; 142 upvotes

Jun 25th, 2018 1:49 pm

Enterprise is free second driver just do it with Costco travel. If your visiting the east coast and an oil worker from Alberta (since most Alberta workers from East and central coast) there's company codes from iol, suncor, syncrude, cnrl, etc. But I've found Costco travel to be most useful.

+3

Jun 25th, 2018 1:51 pm

b0ne: Deal Fanatic; Aug 14, 2001; 5150 posts; 3851 upvotes; Yesva Scotia

Jun 25th, 2018 1:51 pm

Costco, lets you compare different companies.

😱

+1

Jun 25th, 2018 2:11 pm

Swerny: Deal Expert; Oct 5, 2008; 17813 posts; 13581 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 2:11 pm

book through Costco, 2nd driver is free.

+1

Jun 25th, 2018 2:25 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 2:25 pm

Excellent. I’ll check out Costco. Online right?

Jun 25th, 2018 5:45 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 5:45 pm

OK. Booked at Costco, and no need for pre-payment either. Furthermore, the rental spot is just a block from the hotel. Perfect! Thanks.

It turns out booking on the Hertz website still yielded the absolute cheapest price, but that was for a single driver. Costco was the cheapest (Budget in this case) for two drivers.

Jun 25th, 2018 6:21 pm

RandomCDN: Deal Addict; May 14, 2010; 1062 posts; 111 upvotes; Halifax

Jun 25th, 2018 6:21 pm

I thought most rentals in Canada would add a spouse at no charge, did you clarify that it was a your wife during your research?

+1

Jun 25th, 2018 10:45 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 10:45 pm

RandomCDN wrote: ↑ I thought most rentals in Canada would add a spouse at no charge, did you clarify that it was a your wife during your research?

I had a hard time figuring this out online for Hertz, because most of the available info was for the US but it seemed that spouses were only free in some jurisdictions and free with their loyalty program. Otherwise there is a charge. I believe there are also spousal charges for Thrifty.

I liked the clear wording on the Costco website, which specifically states a second driver is free.

Last edited by EugW on Jun 25th, 2018 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Jun 25th, 2018 10:48 pm

EP32k2: Deal Expert; Jan 15, 2006; 21121 posts; 23088 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jun 25th, 2018 10:48 pm

RandomCDN wrote: ↑ I thought most rentals in Canada would add a spouse at no charge, did you clarify that it was a your wife during your research?

This. Every car rental company includes the spouse as the second driver without extra charge.

Jun 25th, 2018 10:49 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 10:49 pm

EP32k2 wrote: ↑ This. Every car rental company includes the spouse as the second driver without extra charge.

This is not true. When I rented last time, they specifically indicated it was an extra charge for my wife. It was something like $13 a day.

For example, Thrifty Canada states:

Is there an Additional Driver Fee?
Yes, all additional operators, including spouses, are required to qualify to drive the vehicle and must pay an Additional Driver Fee.

Last edited by EugW on Jun 25th, 2018 10:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Jun 25th, 2018 10:52 pm

EP32k2: Deal Expert; Jan 15, 2006; 21121 posts; 23088 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Jun 25th, 2018 10:52 pm

EugW wrote: ↑ This is not true. When I rented last time, they specifically indicated it was an extra charge for my wife. It was something like $13 a day.

With which company?

I have rented with Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo and Discount without this issue. I think one of them did ask to me to show that she was indeed on my insurance by showing the pink slip.

Jun 25th, 2018 10:55 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 25th, 2018 10:55 pm

EP32k2 wrote: ↑ With which company?

I have rented with Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo and Discount without this issue. I think one of them did ask to me to show that she was indeed on my insurance by showing the pink slip.

See above, I edited my post, but here is the link again:

https://www.thriftycanada.ca/faqs/is-th ... e/1773/cms

Is there an Additional Driver Fee?
Yes, all additional operators, including spouses, are required to qualify to drive the vehicle and must pay an Additional Driver Fee.

---

As for Hertz, are you a member of their loyalty program or a member of CAA? Cuz it says here on this Canadian car rental website that Hertz charges a spousal driver fee unless you're part of their loyalty program or a member of CAA.

https://www.vroomvroomvroom.ca/terms-an ... ada/hertz/

Authorized Operators

Acceptable Authorized Operators are automatically covered on the Rental Agreement.
Authorized Operators are:

The employer, employee or fellow employee of renter on company business, (when booking includes company Corporate Discount Number).
The spouse or domestic partner of Hertz Number One Club Gold or Platinum members.
Authorized Operators do not have to be present at time of rental.
There are no fees for Authorized Operators.
Additional Drivers

- Individuals not automatically covered on the Rental Agreement as Authorized Operators noted above may be signed on as an "Additional Authorized Operator" (AAO). AAO's must be present and may be signed on to the rental agreement at the time of rental or during the rental at any US corporate location.

- Renter and each AAO must be present to sign Rental Agreement, present an acceptable credit card or debit card (if renting city accepts debit cards) in their own name, or a current round-trip ticket (air, train or bus), show valid driver's license, and must be a minimum of 20 years of age. For those 20 through 24 the location's age differential will apply.

Additional Authorized Operators Fees

Costs can vary per location and is around $13.50 per day, maximum $189.00 per rental, for each Additional Authorized Operator.

Exceptions

No fee if both renter and Additional Authorized Operator are AAA/CAA members.

No fee for drivers of physically impaired renters & not Costs can vary per location and is around $13.00 per day, maximum $91.00 per rental, for each Additional Authorized Operator.

Jun 30th, 2018 12:36 pm

EugW [OP]: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2009; 22069 posts; 8462 upvotes; Toronto

Jun 30th, 2018 12:36 pm

EugW wrote: ↑ See above, I edited my post, but here is the link again:

https://www.thriftycanada.ca/faqs/is-th ... e/1773/cms

Is there an Additional Driver Fee?
Yes, all additional operators, including spouses, are required to qualify to drive the vehicle and must pay an Additional Driver Fee.

I found my old invoice from the company that required a fee for a spousal driver.

Yep, it was Thrifty.

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