Can someone else drive my rental car?

Can someone else drive my Rentzy car?

No. Only the hirer named on the booking may drive the car: Rentzy doesn't add second or additional drivers. That includes a partner, housemate or family member, and it includes a short turn at the wheel on a long drive.

• [Clause 2.1](/terms#s2-drivers-and-eligibility) of the rental terms says who may drive the vehicle.
• [Clause 7.2](/terms#s7-use-of-the-vehicle): you must not let an unauthorised person drive.

If two people will need to drive, contact us before you book and we'll tell you what we can do. Don't hand over the keys and ask afterwards.

What does the hirer need?

The hirer meets clause 2.2. Drivers aged 21 to 75 with a full licence held for at least 1 year (no learner or provisional licences).

Overseas licences are accepted, and years held on an overseas licence count towards the minimum; a licence not in English must be carried with an International Driving Permit or an accredited English translation. What the law asks of an overseas driver in Queensland is in driving on an overseas licence.

What happens if someone else drives anyway?

Three things, all from the rental terms at the time of writing:

1. The excess cap stops protecting you. Normally your liability for damage is limited to the A$2,500 excess per incident. Clause 9.3 says that limit doesn't apply where the loss arises from a breach of clause 2 or 7.2. Letting someone else drive is both, so you'd be liable for the full loss and for anything our insurer refuses to pay.
2. We can end the rental. Under clause 11, a breach of clause 2 or 7.2 lets us end the rental and recover the car straight away.
3. You still answer for everything. Clause 10.1 makes you responsible for fines and tolls during the rental, whoever was driving, and lets us name you to the issuing authority.

None of this depends on who was at fault in a crash.

How do I manage a long drive when only I can drive?

Without a second driver to swap with, plan the trip around one driver's limits rather than pushing through. A drive that two people would share in one long day is often better as two shorter days, or as a shorter drive with the rest of the trip by train or coach.

• Plan your stops before you leave. Pick the towns or rest areas where you'll stop, and stop even if you feel fine.
• Start rested and early. Avoid setting off after a full day's work or late at night, when tiredness builds fastest.
• Let passengers help in other ways. They can navigate, watch for the turn-offs, pick the fuel stops and keep you talking, without taking the wheel.

Our guide to long drives and fatigue covers the warning signs and the official advice on breaks.

What if someone else needs to drive too?

If another person needs to drive on their own (a partner commuting to a different job, say), they can rent a car in their own name. Their booking is separate from yours: they meet the same driver rules, sign their own agreement, and pay their own rent and bond. Each car's own minimum rental applies to each booking.

If the reason is unexpected, for example you're unwell and can't drive the car back, don't hand over the keys. Call us on 0413 479 606 and we'll work out what to do with the car. In an emergency, call 000 first.

Do I need my licence with me?

Carry your licence whenever you drive, because Queensland's rules differ by licence type:

Those 48 hours are something police may allow, not a reason to leave the card at home.

What should I ask any rental company about extra drivers?

The ACCC says a car hire contract explains who can drive the vehicle, what happens after a collision or breakdown and whether you're covered for liability, and recommends reading it before you sign. Its pre-hire questions include who is permitted to drive and whether there are gaps in the liability coverage.^[1] Applied to a second driver, that means asking:

• Can a second driver be added at all, and how is it recorded?
• Does the second driver have to meet the same age and licence rules?
• Is there a charge per extra driver, and is it in the quote?
• What happens to my damage liability if an unlisted person drives?

At Rentzy the answers are short: only the hirer drives, and clause 9.3 sets out what happens if anyone else does. The full rental conditions and fees and charges cover the rest.