Avoiding additional driver fee in UK
Jan 24, 2017 | 11:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
Avoiding additional driver fee in UK
I'm looking to rent for two weeks at EDI in March.
I'm wondering if there are any publicly accessible codes / memberships that might help me avoid the additional driver fee?
I have a reservation for a full-size SUV with enterprise which at under $600 for 15 days is by far the lowest I could find. If I could avoid the second driver fees there or elsewhere I another firm might become more competitive.
Costco don't offer SUVs in the UK through their rental discount scheme. National EE benefits apparently don't offer a second driver in the UK. AAA free second driver at Hertz is US only.
Any thoughts?
I'm wondering if there are any publicly accessible codes / memberships that might help me avoid the additional driver fee?
I have a reservation for a full-size SUV with enterprise which at under $600 for 15 days is by far the lowest I could find. If I could avoid the second driver fees there or elsewhere I another firm might become more competitive.
Costco don't offer SUVs in the UK through their rental discount scheme. National EE benefits apparently don't offer a second driver in the UK. AAA free second driver at Hertz is US only.
Any thoughts?
Jan 24, 2017 | 12:28 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,916
The 2nd driver fee will be minuscule compared to the cost of fuel in UK & the total trip cost. UK fuel cost is about twice that in USA
A "full-size SUV" can be difficult to park & difficult to drive on some narrow UK roads
https://www.petrolprices.com/
http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/
A "full-size SUV" can be difficult to park & difficult to drive on some narrow UK roads
https://www.petrolprices.com/
http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/
Jan 25, 2017 | 8:27 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 6
The gas price is somewhat misleading. With diesel engines, figures of >40mpg are not uncommon, even with SUVs, whereas in the US something like a Ford Explorer will often achieve around half that. Effectively the comparative cost of fuel can be halved or more by an efficient engine.
As for the other comments about size, if you need to move five adults in comfort a bigger car is a necessity. While small cars may still be the norm, larger vehicles are hardly uncommon in the UK.
Regardless, a second driver fee of $200 US for the fifteen days is not minuscule compared to either the cost of the rental or the cost of fuel.
As for the other comments about size, if you need to move five adults in comfort a bigger car is a necessity. While small cars may still be the norm, larger vehicles are hardly uncommon in the UK.
Regardless, a second driver fee of $200 US for the fifteen days is not minuscule compared to either the cost of the rental or the cost of fuel.
Jan 25, 2017 | 8:49 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: GYD
Programs: Azerbaijan Airlines Gold, Turkish Miles and Smiles, IHG Plat
Posts: 662
British Airways Executive Club members get 1 free additional driver with AVIS.
http://www.avisba.com/avisonline/gb/...ms__conditions
http://www.avisba.com/avisonline/gb/...ms__conditions