Car Accident
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, Avis CHM, Marriott & SPG & PC Plat., Hyatt & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,547
Car Accident
I've rented a car over the weekend. Today my wife [not a registered driver] took the car to buy some groceries and bumped a car in the back. I didn't buy any Hertz rental car insurance, but have an insurance on my home car and paid with a regular AMEX card.
I haven't called our insurance company yet, but what will happen to the Hertz car since she wasn't a registered driver? Over at AVIS, spouses and colleagues are allowed to drive the car, but I don't think Hertz has this rule, or?
I haven't called our insurance company yet, but what will happen to the Hertz car since she wasn't a registered driver? Over at AVIS, spouses and colleagues are allowed to drive the car, but I don't think Hertz has this rule, or?
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 9
Haven't worked for them in about a year.. but the rule is still in affect there as well.. Spouses are considered additional drivers without the need to be added on..
From the site as well..
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/custo...qsRightNow.jsp
From the site as well..
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/custo...qsRightNow.jsp
#5
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
my reading of the terms and conditions seems to show it depends on your status with them, if you rented through AAA or not, or what state you rented it in. Their terms for normal rentals are:
Authorized Operators
Acceptable Authorized Operators age 25 and older 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 renter's spouse for rentals that originate in California, Iowa, or New York.
- Authorized Operators do not have to be present at time of rental.
- There are no fees for Authorized Operators.
Which seems to indicate that spouses are only automatic in three states.
For status (assume this is for Gold and above):
How would I add an additional driver if I am a Gold Member?
Answer
If the person to be added on is your spouse, domestic partner or coworker, they are considered authorized operators and can operate the Hertz car without being added
I'm not so sure it's a slam dunk that she is considered an authorized driver, you may want to find that out.
Authorized Operators
Acceptable Authorized Operators age 25 and older 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 renter's spouse for rentals that originate in California, Iowa, or New York.
- Authorized Operators do not have to be present at time of rental.
- There are no fees for Authorized Operators.
Which seems to indicate that spouses are only automatic in three states.
For status (assume this is for Gold and above):
How would I add an additional driver if I am a Gold Member?
Answer
If the person to be added on is your spouse, domestic partner or coworker, they are considered authorized operators and can operate the Hertz car without being added
I'm not so sure it's a slam dunk that she is considered an authorized driver, you may want to find that out.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 5
my reading of the terms and conditions seems to show it depends on your status with them, if you rented through AAA or not, or what state you rented it in. Their terms for normal rentals are:
Authorized Operators
Acceptable Authorized Operators age 25 and older 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 renter's spouse for rentals that originate in California, Iowa, or New York.
- Authorized Operators do not have to be present at time of rental.
- There are no fees for Authorized Operators.
Which seems to indicate that spouses are only automatic in three states.
For status (assume this is for Gold and above):
How would I add an additional driver if I am a Gold Member?
Answer
If the person to be added on is your spouse, domestic partner or coworker, they are considered authorized operators and can operate the Hertz car without being added
I'm not so sure it's a slam dunk that she is considered an authorized driver, you may want to find that out.
Authorized Operators
Acceptable Authorized Operators age 25 and older 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 renter's spouse for rentals that originate in California, Iowa, or New York.
- Authorized Operators do not have to be present at time of rental.
- There are no fees for Authorized Operators.
Which seems to indicate that spouses are only automatic in three states.
For status (assume this is for Gold and above):
How would I add an additional driver if I am a Gold Member?
Answer
If the person to be added on is your spouse, domestic partner or coworker, they are considered authorized operators and can operate the Hertz car without being added
I'm not so sure it's a slam dunk that she is considered an authorized driver, you may want to find that out.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,090
AAA members can add their spouse for free but a spouse is not an authorized operator. They are additional authorized operators and the difference is that additional drivers are added and authorized drivers are automatically included. So, in this case, if the OP is an AAA member but not a Gold member, then his wife was not authorized for this rental since he did not add her onto the rental at the counter.
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If you're Gold and your spouse is under 25 then I believe they are covered as long as they are 21. Again, I believe so if this applies to you then call Hertz.
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How bad was the damage?
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If you're Gold and your spouse is under 25 then I believe they are covered as long as they are 21. Again, I believe so if this applies to you then call Hertz.
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How bad was the damage?
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, Avis CHM, Marriott & SPG & PC Plat., Hyatt & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,547
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, Avis CHM, Marriott & SPG & PC Plat., Hyatt & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,547
How would I add an additional driver if I am a Gold Member?
Answer
If the person to be added on is your spouse, domestic partner or coworker, they are considered authorized operators and can operate the Hertz car without being added
I'm not so sure it's a slam dunk that she is considered an authorized driver, you may want to find that out.
Answer
If the person to be added on is your spouse, domestic partner or coworker, they are considered authorized operators and can operate the Hertz car without being added
I'm not so sure it's a slam dunk that she is considered an authorized driver, you may want to find that out.
I can only find this link which states No additional driver charge for spouse or domestic partner. However, that doesn't mention if one needs to add the spouse beforehand, or not.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, Avis CHM, Marriott & SPG & PC Plat., Hyatt & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,547
#12
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,068
You should;
1 - Find out (probably by calling the branch for a definative answer) if your spouse is classed as registered based on your status/rental etc
2 - Depending on this you may have to very seriously consider your story, and whether you should pay the guy you bumped outside of your insurance.
The damage may be negligible but;
1 - Hertz can charge you for 'loss of use' on the damaged car, which could add money to the amount, plus their fees can be high, as can the cost of the other injured party (especially if they discover whiplash!).
If your wife isn't an authorised driver....
2 - By letting someone drive a car when they may not be insured both you and your wife could theoretically have committed the criminal (I believe its criminal in the US, may be wrong) offence of driving without insurance. From your perspective you may have invalidated all insurance by letting someone else drive the car and so even your credit card insurance may be invalid.
I'd recommend this recent discussion;
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...ental-car.html
Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you need to be careful with a hire car and who you allow to drive... Though by the sounds if it being a spouse and a #1 member you should be ok.
1 - Find out (probably by calling the branch for a definative answer) if your spouse is classed as registered based on your status/rental etc
2 - Depending on this you may have to very seriously consider your story, and whether you should pay the guy you bumped outside of your insurance.
The damage may be negligible but;
1 - Hertz can charge you for 'loss of use' on the damaged car, which could add money to the amount, plus their fees can be high, as can the cost of the other injured party (especially if they discover whiplash!).
If your wife isn't an authorised driver....
2 - By letting someone drive a car when they may not be insured both you and your wife could theoretically have committed the criminal (I believe its criminal in the US, may be wrong) offence of driving without insurance. From your perspective you may have invalidated all insurance by letting someone else drive the car and so even your credit card insurance may be invalid.
I'd recommend this recent discussion;
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...ental-car.html
Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes you need to be careful with a hire car and who you allow to drive... Though by the sounds if it being a spouse and a #1 member you should be ok.
#13
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
2 - By letting someone drive a car when they may not be insured both you and your wife could theoretically have committed the criminal (I believe its criminal in the US, may be wrong) offence of driving without insurance. From your perspective you may have invalidated all insurance by letting someone else drive the car and so even your credit card insurance may be invalid.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,090
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To the OP: It is hard to determine what kind of damage you have based on just a monetary amount. Is the damage only to the bumper? Is the bumper cracked?
#15
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
https://hertz.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/h...i=&p_topview=1
Which may or may not work. Click on reservations, then policies and when the search window comes up type in spouse (upper right of the screen) and it's one of the suggested questions.
Which may or may not work. Click on reservations, then policies and when the search window comes up type in spouse (upper right of the screen) and it's one of the suggested questions.