Why do car rentals companies have to make it difficult? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Why do car rentals companies have to make it difficult?
Some of you may know about my "problems" for our arrival day at Disney. Based on some responses I've gotten from people and despite Lenny not liking the idea, I was seriously considering splitting up to get things done that day. Lenny is an Alamo Insider so I figured since he can have a free additional driver, I would just put myself in, then I would be able to go pick up the car and leave him at the hotel. Good idea, right? No, not so good because when I called Alamo, I was told all drivers have to be present to pick up the car because the primary renter has to confirm the additional driver is allowed to drive the car. Since I'm the one who's doing all the work for the reservations, I'm pretty sure that it's okay for me to drive the car
What do you guys do in this situation? Do you have the person who will be driving all week pick up the car? Do you do the additional driver and have that person (not the primary renter) get the car and have you been allowed to? Do you make yourself the primary to get the car, have an additional driver just listed and let the other person drive even though they weren't present to pick up the car? This is driving me crazy but since I refuse to use busses all week, it's something that has to be done. TIA for any advice/experiences/slaps upside the head to stop me from going any crazier than I already am .
I can't speak for your company as I have never rented with them. I usually use Enterprise and my DH has never been required to be there. I do the rental completely in my name and the policy always allows the spouse as an automatic driver at no additional charge. I also used Avis once for a rental and I don't believe they needed him there either since it was a spouse situation, but I was again the renter and just listed him as a driver. I don't believe there was additional cost in that situation either.
We always use Alamo through Virgin Holidays and we pick our car up at MCO. We have to both be there as well and show our driving licenses to get the car.
Can't you just sign up for your own Insiders acct? Unless it's changed since I signed up, it doesn't cost anything. That way, you can list yourself as the primary driver. I list my sister as an additional driver when we use them, and she doesn't have to be there, but I do ahve to ahve her driver's license to show them.
Can't you just sign up for your own Insiders acct? Unless it's changed since I signed up, it doesn't cost anything. That way, you can list yourself as the primary driver. I list my sister as an additional driver when we use them, and she doesn't have to be there, but I do ahve to ahve her driver's license to show them
I could do that - it is still free - but the person I talked to said both of us would have to be there. Maybe because it's the CCC (which I called, not just a general Alamo number) and not the airport they're more strict about having to actually see both people?
Alamo at the airport also requires you to present both licenses. We rent at the airport every time we go (usually twice a year.) You could show each license, get the paperwork completed and leave Lenny and your daughter at the door. You could then go across to the parking garage, pick up the car, and swing around and pick them up. It does not have to be the renter who picks up the car, the additional driver can do it. They just check your paperwork on the way out to make sure you have paid for the car you are taking.
I was just thinking - I read this on the Alamo website earlier
Quote:
An additional driver may only be added to the contract at a rental location and may be added or removed in the middle of the contract. When adding an additional driver in the middle of the contract both the renter and the additional driver must be present at the location.
It didn't sink in until now but does this means I could reserve the car in my name, go and pick it up on our arrival day and then later, when it's convenient for us, show up with Lenny and add him as an additional driver? I would become an Insiders member so it would be free to add him instead of the $10 bucks a day but even though it won't be in the "middle" of our rental, I could still add him, right?
It didn't sink in until now but does this means I could reserve the car in my name, go and pick it up on our arrival day and then later, when it's convenient for us, show up with Lenny and add him as an additional driver? I would become an Insiders member so it would be free to add him instead of the $10 bucks a day but even though it won't be in the "middle" of our rental, I could still add him, right?
Yup. Sounds like it to me, Darlene. I bet they'd regard any time after you first get the car as "the middle" of your rental.
I bet they have that option in case people realize after they've gotten it that they need someone else in the group to be able to drive the car. Or, it being Disney, for the very reason you have--easier for one person to pop in and set up the rental then return later to add the additional driver instead of having to mess with all that when you've just gotten in.
For instance, a family with small kids might prefer to get to their resort so the kids could swim while the other parent goes to get the rental car. Then, sometime after that, both parents go back in to add on the other parent as an authorized driver.
Makes sense to me.
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I was just thinking - I read this on the Alamo website earlier
It didn't sink in until now but does this means I could reserve the car in my name, go and pick it up on our arrival day and then later, when it's convenient for us, show up with Lenny and add him as an additional driver? I would become an Insiders member so it would be free to add him instead of the $10 bucks a day but even though it won't be in the "middle" of our rental, I could still add him, right?
That is how I read it.
I have had to do that when renting (sorry, do not recall which company, but it was either Alamo, National, hertz, Avis or Enterprise, since that is who I have rented from ). I was sthe renter and primary driver. Midway through my trip I had an unexpected need to have a friend be allowed to drive the car. We had to go together to a local office of the rental company (or, could have gone back to the airport rental location, but there was a local one closer) so they could see friend's DL and add him.
BUT
Contact National and ask them their policy, especially if you are an Emerald Club member (see my reply to you about that in another thread). Under their Master Agreement, your spouse residing at the same address is automatically an authorized driver. What I am not clear on is if he has to be specifically listed on the rental and also on whether he has to appear in person at any time, or is being >21, having a current licence and being your spouse residing at same address enough :-)
(I also note that Alamo, National, and Enterprise all are owned by the same parent company, but they do have differences in policies).
You could go alone to pick up the rental at CCC, while Lenny and Abby occupy themselves at the resort (food, rest, pool, receiving the scooter (you could change the receiving time to noon, when you are off to the CCC)).
Come back to the resort, pick them up. Then head off to WalMart, but drive via the CCC and add Lenny, then off to WalMart.
Then you are set for the rest of the trip with transportation worked out.
I was just thinking - I read this on the Alamo website earlier
It didn't sink in until now but does this means I could reserve the car in my name, go and pick it up on our arrival day and then later, when it's convenient for us, show up with Lenny and add him as an additional driver? I would become an Insiders member so it would be free to add him instead of the $10 bucks a day but even though it won't be in the "middle" of our rental, I could still add him, right?
I would call them directly at the CCC and tell them your situation and ask them if it would be ok for you to bring Lenny's drivers license with you when you pick up the car. Tell them you do not want to have to bring your child with you and would prefer if just you could go get the car.
Our plan is…DH coming with me to the rental counter. (This has worked) Explain that he is the extra driver. He shows his ID and then he is on his way to DME with the girls. While I finish paper work. Only problem is the wait time till you see the counter agent. I am no fan of the split up either. But in the end we get more done, in a shorter amount of time.
We've had to rent cars when ours have been out of commission, and have had rentals from both Hertz and Enterprise. I can say that in order for both my husband and I to be listed as eligible drivers, we both had to be present and we both had to show our valid DL and Insurance Cards. The one time we couldn't both be there, he picked the car up then had to drive me back to the office later so I could be added.
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