Guide to Renting a Luxury Car for Someone Else

When you rent a car you enter into a legally binding contract with the company which means you have to follow some basic rules. Renting a car for someone other than yourself is not quite as straightforward.

When you rent a car for yourself, you have to provide necessary information such as your name, address, driver’s license, etc. at the time of booking. This information is used by the company to identify you in case of damage to the car or any other issue. Additionally, you have to provide a credit card at the time of collecting the car for a security deposit which is refunded after the car is returned.

Technically speaking, you cannot rent a car for someone else, as the credit card used for the deposit has to be in the driver’s name. But if you have to book a car for someone else, perhaps a friend who is visiting, or your employee, there are a few options you can go for:  

Adding ‘Additional Drivers’:

The simplest way to rent a car for someone else is by booking it in your own name and then add the other person as an ‘additional driver’. This way you can use your credentials during the booking process and the other person can drive the car as well without having to pay for it. If you are related to the other person, such as a spouse or a sibling, you can include them as authorized drivers as well.

The additional driver should match the criteria of the renter as set by the car rental company. However, you will remain the primary driver and will be liable for any damage to the car or in case of theft. Another thing to keep in mind is that the car rental companies charge extra for additional drivers, so be prepared for that.

Gift Card or Certificate:

Some major companies offer gift certificates that can be used for the payment of the car rental. You can offer these to someone but they will have to use their own credit card for the security deposit at the time of picking up the car. The gift card recipient will also be liable for any issues concerning the car while you will be exempt from any legal complications in relation to those issues.

Contact the Company:

Every car rental company has slightly different policies. The best thing to do in this situation would be to contact the company directly. They will probably be able to guide you in a much better way and might have a solution that works in your situation.

If you are looking to rent in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines and other areas of Florida, Orange Rent a Car offers the right to add one additional driver for free as long as they meet the same qualifications as the primary driver. You can also contact us at any time for any other queries you might have!