It appears that Budget has listened to our protests about its unpopular restriction on the ‘free additional driver’ included in the standard package of car hire in the US.  The rule allowed only the main driver’s spouse or domestic partner to drive for free, any other family member had to pay additional driver charges.  The alternative was for renters to choose only the Diamond package of Budget car hire, which on a rental longer than 3 weeks is not always the economical choice.  Of course, this was never the case in California, which has a state law allowing  two drivers on all rental cars which superseded any supplier restrictions.

For collections from April, 1st, 2012, onwards, Budget has lifted the restriction and travellers can choose who they like as their ‘free, additional driver’.  This new rule is also noted on the voucher for your convenience.