Yes, you can have someone else drive your rental truck. Here is a photo of a Rented Truck Driver happy client in front of her rental truck.

Can Someone Else Drive My Rental Truck? Everything You Need to Know!

Can Someone Else Drive My Rental Truck?

Quick Answer: Yes, someone else can legally drive your rental truck. U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and Enterprise all allow additional drivers to be added to the rental agreement at no extra charge.

The additional driver must be present at pickup, be at least 18 years old (25 for some companies), and present a valid driver’s license. (This does NOT apply to U-Haul)

Understanding Additional Driver Policies for Rental Trucks

When planning a long-distance move with a rental truck, many people wonder if they can share the driving responsibilities with a friend, family member, or hire a professional driver.

The answer is yes, but there are specific rules and requirements you need to know.

Why This Matters for Your Move

Long-distance moves often involve 8-12 hours of driving. Having the option to add a driver means:

● Sharing driving duties on lengthy trips

● Reducing driver fatigue and improving safety

● Allowing older adults or those uncomfortable with large trucks to have help

● Enabling you to hire a professional driver service

Let’s break down exactly what you need to know about adding additional drivers to your rental truck agreement.

Rental Company Policies: U-Haul, Penske, Budget & Enterprise

U-Haul Additional Driver Policy

Cost: FREE

Requirements:

● Additional driver must be at least 18 years old
● The driver does NOT have to be present at truck pickup
● Must have a valid driver’s license

Important note: The primary renter remains responsible for the truck and any damages, even if the additional driver was operating the vehicle.

Penske Additional Driver Policy:

Cost: (additional charge of $10 per added driver)

Requirements:

The additional driver must be at least 25 years old

● Must be present during rental pickup
● Must provide a valid driver’s license
● Must be added to the rental contract

● Background check applies to additional drivers

Key differences:

Penske requires drivers to be 25+, while U-Haul allows 18+.

Penske requires the driver to be present at truck pickup.

Budget & Enterprise Truck Rental Policies
Cost: FREE

Requirements:

● Age requirement: 21-25 years old (varies by location)
● Valid driver’s license required
● Must be present at pickup
● Must sign rental agreement
● Insurance coverage extends to additional drivers
*Varies by location

How to Add a Driver to Your Rental Agreement

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Before Pickup:

● Inform the rental company when making your reservation that you’ll have an additional
driver

● Confirm the additional driver meets age and license requirements

● Ensure they can be present at pickup time

2. At Pickup (Required):

● Bring the additional driver with you to the rental counter

● Both drivers present valid driver’s licenses

● Additional driver completes paperwork and signs rental agreement

Rental agent adds driver to contract. Both drivers receive a copy of the rental agreement

3. Important Documents:

● Primary renter’s driver’s license

● Additional driver’s driver’s license

● Credit card for primary renter

● Proof of insurance (if using personal coverage)

Common Mistake: You CANNOT add a driver after pickup. They must be presentand added to the agreement at the time you rent the truck.

Insurance Coverage for Additional Drivers

What’s Covered:

When you add driver to the rental agreement:

● They’re covered under the rental truck’s insurance policy
● Liability coverage extends to authorized drivers
● Damage waiver (if purchased) applies to additional drivers
● No separate insurance policy needed for the additional driver

What You Need to Know:

Primary Renter Responsibility: Even with an additional driver listed, the primary renter is ultimately responsible for:
● Any accidents or damage to the truck
● Traffic violations or tickets received
● Full cost of rental and any additional charges
● Insurance deductibles if damage occurs

Personal Auto Insurance: Most personal auto insurance policies have a “permissive use” clause that may cover additional drivers in a rental truck. However:

● Coverage varies significantly by policy

● Many policies exclude trucks over a certain weight (10,000+ lbs)

● Always check with your insurance provider before your move

Strong Recommendation: Purchase the rental company’s supplemental insurance for peace of mind, especially for long-distance moves.

Can You Add a Professional Driver to Your Rental Agreement?

Yes! This is exactly what we specialize in at RentedTruckDriver.com.

How Professional Driver Services Work:

The Process:

1. You rent the truck from U-Haul, Penske, or Budget

2. At pickup, you add our professional driver to the rental agreement

3. Our driver meets you at the pickup location

4. They drive your loaded truck to your destination

5. You maintain full control of your belongings throughout

Benefits Over DIY Driving:

● No stress of driving a large, unfamiliar vehicle

● No 8-12 hour marathon driving sessions

● No hotel costs for overnight stops

● Faster delivery (drivers can cover more miles per day)

● You can fly or drive your own car instead

● Arrive rested and ready to unload

When Does Hiring A Professional Driver Makes Sense:

● Long-distance moves (500+ miles)

● Uncomfortable driving large trucks

● Towing a car behind the truck

● Elderly or health concerns

● Want to fly to the destination

● Time-sensitive moves

[Get a Free Quote for Professional Driver Service →]

Step-by-Step: Adding an Additional Driver to a U-Haul Rental

1. Start with a Valid Rental or Reservation

You make your U-Haul reservation in the app or online using your account.
If you know someone else will be driving, plan ahead and have their info ready.

2. Trigger the Additional Driver Process

There are two common ways this gets started:

A. U-Haul Sends a Text/Link:

U-Haul (or the location) can send your additional driver a text with a secure link to upload their driver’s license and ID info.
This is often done ahead of pickup or during the check-in process.

B. Through the U-Haul App:

You (as the renter) can also go into your reservation in the app or on the U-Haul website, find the “Manage Reservation” or “Add Driver” option, and enter the other driver’s details yourself.
That will generate an upload screen for the additional driver to submit their license.
Important: Every driver must be authorized and listed on the rental agreement before they operate the vehicle. Otherwise insurance and coverage can be invalidated.

3. Driver Uploads Their License

The additional driver opens the link or app screen and uses their phone camera to take photos of their driver’s license (front and back if required).
In many systems, they also take a selfie to verify identity, similar to the Truck Share 24/7 verification process.

4. Verification

Once uploaded, U-Haul’s system verifies the license and identity.
If everything checks out, the additional driver is added to the rental agreement as an authorized driver.

5. Confirmation

You and the additional driver will usually receive confirmation that the license was accepted and they’re now listed on the contract.
U-Haul doesn’t typically charge an extra fee for additional drivers, but they must be properly added.

6. At Pickup (If Not Already Completed)

If the process wasn’t finished before arrival, the additional driver may be asked to show up with their license so it can be uploaded/verified on-site before the truck is released.

Tips for a Smooth Process

Make sure the additional driver’s license is current and valid at pickup.
Use the U-Haul app rather than a browser when possible — it’s usually smoother for photos and verification.
If you hit a snag with the app or link (photo upload problems, etc.), calling the center or using the browser as a backup often helps.

If you want, I can outline exactly what fields U-Haul asks for in the app link (license, selfie, address, etc.) or walk you through adding someone step-by-step on their specific interface.

Step-by-Step: Adding an Additional Driver to a Penske Rental

1. Check Penske’s Additional Driver Policy

Penske lets you add up to three additional drivers to a rental, usually with a small fee (often around $10 per driver, waived for family members in some cases).

2. Prepare for Verification

Penske requires physical verification of licenses for all drivers. Typically this is done at pickup, either in person or via their verification process:

They’ll ask the driver for a physical U.S. or Canadian driver’s license.
Penske verifies the license and identity using your smartphone to upload a photo of the license and sometimes a selfie.

Important: Penske doesn’t accept digital/mobile copies of a license. A physical license must be presented (or photographed as required).

3. Adding the Driver via the App or Link (If Available)

Unlike some car rental processes that let you add someone remotely with just a link, Penske usually requires the additional driver be added and verified at pickup:

The primary renter can sometimes pre-add a driver when managing the reservation online or in the app, but Penske still generally wants the additional driver present to upload their physical license info before the truck can be released.
If Penske does send a link to upload a license, that’s typically part of a verification workflow at pickup rather than a fully remote process, the driver still must be physically present or available with their license in hand.

4. On-Site Verification at Pickup

When you arrive at the Penske location:

Each additional driver must present their valid driver’s license and often show a second ID (e.g., passport, state ID, credit card).
The rental agent will use Penske’s phone/upload process to verify the license and add them to the rental contract.
Sometimes they’ll use the app or a digital link right at the counter to take photos of the license and confirm identity.

5. Signing the Rental Contract

Once the license is verified:

The additional driver will be officially added to the agreement and listed as an authorized driver on the contract.
They may be asked to sign the contract or acknowledge terms digitally or in person.

6. Confirmation

You should get confirmation that the additional driver is added and covered under the rental agreement (and any insurance you select).
Make sure all named drivers are listed before you leave the lot — otherwise insurance and liability may not apply if they drive.

Key Things to Keep in Mind

Physical license required: Digital/mobile licenses usually aren’t accepted by Penske.
Presence at pickup: In most cases, Penske will want the additional driver present when you pick up the truck so they can verify their license and add them officially.
Fees: There’s typically a fee per additional driver, unless waived by specific location policies.
Insurance coverage: Make sure the additional driver meets Penske’s eligibility requirements (age, license status) and that any coverage you choose includes them.

Key Takeaways

✓ Yes, you can add additional drivers to your rental truck agreement at no charge
✓ Driver must be present at pickup, you cannot add them later
✓ Age requirements vary: U-Haul (18+), Penske (25+), Budget/Enterprise (21-25)
✓ Primary renter remains responsible for all charges and damages
✓ Insurance covers authorized drivers listed on the rental agreement
✓ Professional driver services are a stress-free alternative to DIY driving

Can Someone Else Drive My Rental Truck? Everything You Need to Know!