Only the people named on the contract may drive
The contract names a main driver and, if you wish, one or more additional drivers. Only those people are authorised to drive. Anyone not on the document is not an authorised driver, however valid their licence and however long their experience.
This is not a formality. If damage occurs while an unregistered person is at the wheel, the cover you bought can lapse and the amount claimed is no longer limited by the excess.
What an additional driver costs
A second driver is normally charged per day, sometimes with a cap per rental. That amount is added to the daily rate and can noticeably shift the comparison between two offers on a longer trip.
In some rates a spouse or partner is included at no charge, in others not. It is a detail found in the terms of each offer and worth checking before booking rather than at the counter.
Requirements each driver has to meet
Every registered driver presents their licence at the counter, usually together with proof of identity. A minimum licence age and a minimum driver age are generally required as well, and both are checked person by person.
If a licence was issued outside the area where you are renting, an international driving permit accompanying the original may be needed. That requirement is worth checking early, because it cannot be sorted out on the day.
Age-related surcharges
Many companies apply a surcharge to young drivers below a certain age, and some also above an advanced age. The surcharge applies per driver, so registering two affected people doubles it.
These amounts are usually collected at the counter and do not always appear in the advertised price. If you are travelling with a young driver, look for them specifically in the terms before deciding.
Adding a driver later on
An additional driver can often be registered later as well, but only at a branch, with that person present and their licence to hand. A phone call or a message is generally not enough.
Plan for it if you intend to share the driving on a long route. Improvising a registration mid-trip means a detour to an open branch and is not always possible.
Does the cover extend to the second driver
Registering a driver on the contract does not automatically include them in every layer of cover. Under some terms an excess reduction applies to the main driver only and has to be bought separately for an additional driver.
Ask about this detail as you register them, and check the answer against the contract document. If you are sharing the wheel, knowing that the cover works for both names matters more than the daily fee itself.
One way: returning at a different location
In a one-way rental you collect the car in one place and return it in another. It suits a linear route and usually carries a fee, because the company has to reposition the vehicle.
That fee depends on the distance between the two points and on whether both belong to the same network. Within one city it can be modest; between countries it can comfortably exceed the price of the rental itself.
Crossing borders and reaching islands
Taking the car out of the country generally requires express permission and sometimes additional paperwork. Some destinations are excluded entirely, and driving in a country that was not authorised can leave the vehicle without cover.
The same applies to sea crossings. Taking the car onto a ferry to another island may be prohibited by the contract. Clarify both points before booking if your intended route requires them.
Fines and tolls after the rental ends
Penalties and road tolls incurred during the rental are the driver’s responsibility. When a notice reaches the company it passes your details to the authority, and most contracts charge an administration fee for doing so.
That fee is separate from the penalty itself and can be applied weeks after the rental has ended. It is worth seeing the amount in the contract beforehand and keeping your return receipt for a while afterwards.
Mileage limits shape the route
Some rates include unlimited mileage, others cap it per day or per rental. On a long linear route that cap can be reached quickly, and every mile beyond it is charged separately.
Work out the approximate length of your route before booking and compare it with the cap in the rate. A slightly dearer offer with unlimited mileage can be cheaper overall on a long trip.
Compare the total cost of the route
For a linear route, add the daily rate, the one-way fee and the cost of the second driver, then compare the result with returning the car to where you started. Sometimes the drive back costs less than the fee.
The planned comparison intends to show these surcharges next to the price from the end of 2026. Until then they have to be found in the terms of each offer and added up by hand.
Checklist
- Register everyone who will drive on the contract
- Check the daily cost of an additional driver and any cap
- Check whether a partner is included at no charge in that rate
- Bring the licence and proof of identity for every driver
- Check the minimum licence age and the required driver age
- Clarify whether an international driving permit is needed
- Look for young driver and senior driver surcharges
- Confirm the excess reduction applies to the additional driver too
- Check the one-way fee before booking
- Request express permission for any border crossing
- Clarify whether taking the car on a ferry is allowed
- Compare the mileage cap with the length of your route
- Check the return location’s hours and out-of-hours return
Frequently asked questions
Can my partner drive if they are not on the contract?
No. Only registered people are authorised. If damage occurs with an unregistered person at the wheel, the cover you bought can lapse and the claim is no longer limited by the excess.
How much does an additional driver cost?
Normally charged per day, sometimes with a cap per rental, and it varies between offers. In some rates a partner is included at no charge. The applicable amount appears in the terms of the specific offer.
Can I register someone once the rental has started?
Often yes, but only at a branch with that person present and their licence to hand. A phone call is usually not enough, so it is worth planning ahead if you intend to share the driving.
What is a one-way rental?
One where the car is collected in one place and returned in another. It usually carries a repositioning fee, which depends on the distance and on whether both points belong to the same network.
Can I take the car into another country?
Only with express permission, and some destinations remain excluded. Driving in an unauthorised country can leave the vehicle without cover, so it is worth clarifying before booking.
Can the car be taken on a ferry?
Not always. A good number of contracts prohibit sea transport. If your route touches an island, check that clause specifically before booking rather than assuming it.
Do I get a refund if I return the car early?
As a rule no. An early return does not normally generate a refund, while a late one can be charged as a full extra day. Both rules appear in the rental terms.
Is an international driving permit required?
It depends on where the licence was issued and where you are renting. Where required, it accompanies the original licence rather than replacing it. It is worth checking early, because it cannot be obtained on the day.
Does the young driver surcharge apply per person?
Yes, it is normally calculated per driver and per day. Registering two people below the stated age means it is charged twice. Worth checking before booking, as it is usually settled at the counter.
Who pays a fine issued during the rental?
The driver does. When the notice reaches the company it passes your details to the authority, and most contracts add an administration fee for that step. It can arrive weeks after the rental has ended.