Free additional driver for Hertz Five Star in Europe?

[Ken1]

We will be renting cars in Germany, Austria and Slovenia later this year. I usually use Hertz as I am Gold Plus Five Star from my Amex Platinum card and one of the benefits is no additional driver charge for a spouse.

The Hertz Australia website lists "Free Additional Driver - Applicable for only spouse or domestic partner in the U.S and participating countries/regions. Terms apply."

Hertz US website listing Hertz Gold Plus Rewards FAQs.
"What are the benefits of Hertz Five Star® status? Add a spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver for free"

I phoned the Australian Hertz office and asked if it includes the countries in Europe we are visiting since the online info says "participating countries/regions" and she didn't know. She said it does apply to Australia and New Zealand and she said sometimes in the USA and I told her I rented in Hawaii last year and the additional for my spouse was free. She told me that if we are charged an additional driver fee in Europe that a few years ago you could claim from Hertz customer service in Australia but she didn't know if that still applies.

I usually rent with Hertz as I get the Platinum Amex discount as well as the free additional driver but sometimes another company can still be cheaper. Has anyone with Hertz Five Star status rented in Europe and received the free additional driver?

 

[tdimdad]

What a timely question as I have a closely related one: adding another family member (than your spouse) as an additional driver? In our case that, too, would be in Europe as a 5* member.