Adding a second driver to a rental car: what does it cost, and what if someone unlisted drives?

On a road trip it feels natural to take turns at the wheel. But a rental car is not like your own car. Only the drivers named on the rental agreement are allowed to drive, and if someone else does, the damage waiver may not protect you. This article explains what an additional driver costs, why it matters and how to add one properly.

What is an additional driver?

An additional driver is a second (or third) person who is named on the rental agreement and allowed to drive the car. The main driver signs the contract and usually pays the deposit. Every other driver has to be registered with their name and licence details, and has to meet the same age and licence rules as the main driver.

The ECC-Net page on car rental rights lists an additional driver among the optional extras that can raise the total price. The Code of Best Practice of Leaseurope, the European rental and leasing trade body, says companies should tell you about charges for additional drivers and young drivers, including the basis on which they are calculated.

What does an additional driver cost?

Companies set their own fees, so there is no standard price. Common models are:

If a second driver is under 25 or older than the company's upper limit, both the additional driver fee and an age fee can apply. Read more in our article on young and senior driver surcharges.

What happens if an unlisted person drives?

This is where it can get expensive. The French European Consumer Centre notes that an additional driver is charged extra, but that without one, damage caused by the extra driver may not be covered by the insurance.

In practice, a rental contract usually makes the cover depend on the car being driven by an authorised driver. If someone who is not on the contract has an accident, the company may say the damage waiver does not apply. You could then face the full repair cost instead of only the excess. The BVRLA Rental Broker Code of Conduct, a UK industry code, requires brokers to tell customers about their liability for damage, theft or loss of the vehicle or its keys.

Liability insurance for damage to others is a separate question and depends on the insurance and the law of the country. The point for you is simple: the cover you paid for is built around the names on the contract.

1Decide before you book who will drive

Make a list of everyone who may drive, including people who will only drive for a short stretch. Check that each of them meets the minimum age, the licence period and any upper age limit in the terms. Our terms check highlights driver clauses worth reading.

2Compare the price with the extra driver included

The cheapest offer for one driver is not always the cheapest for two. Add the additional driver fee to the total. Some booking sites let you pre-book the extra driver, others leave it for the desk. If you pre-book it, keep the confirmation.

3Bring every driver to the desk

Most companies want to see every driver in person, with their own licence and ID. If the second driver is not there at pick-up, ask how they can be added later and what it costs. Our article on what the desk asks for your driving licence covers the documents.

4Check the contract before you sign

Make sure every driver's name is on the rental agreement, and that the fee matches what you agreed. If the desk adds the driver but the contract only shows your name, ask for a corrected copy.

Use our pick-up checklist to go through the contract and the car before you drive away.

What if there is damage while the additional driver was driving?

If the additional driver was properly registered, the damage is handled like any other damage under your contract: the excess applies, or the cover you bought. Report the damage straight away. Konsumentverket, the Swedish consumer agency, advises contacting the company quickly, following its instructions and contacting the police even for minor damage, and keeping copies of the reports.

If the company later claims that the driver was not authorised, ask for the clause it relies on and send a copy of the contract that names the driver. For a dispute about the amount, see our guide on how to dispute a damage claim and use the letter templates.

Common situations, and what to do

If the desk charges more for the extra driver than your booking showed, ask for the difference to be removed or pay under protest and complain afterwards. Keep the booking page as proof.

What about your own insurance?

Some travellers count on their credit card or a separate excess insurance. These policies usually have their own rules about who may drive, and often only cover drivers named on the rental agreement. Check the policy wording for each driver. Our guide on claiming your excess back explains how such a claim works.