I hope so too, taconictraveler!

Debit and Starrs: Most sites Do say spouse or Domestic Partner, I have now noticed.

Debit: Thanks for suggestion. All I can say is: I wish !! However, we live so far from a Sam's Club or a Costco, that it makes no sense to belong.
I may reconsider the one hour's drive to get to Costco now - or at least I would if I thought we'd rent cars more during our dotage!! (Meaning that it is better to have two of us able to drive on a rental, since anything can happen at our age!!)

So I am clear: Costco allows people to rent cars from their website? or their stores? Can you elaborate? Thanks.

You use the Costcotravel.com website to reserve the cars. They use the big name rental agencies - Avis, Alamo Budget and Enterprise. You get a confirmation and simply get the car from the agency, just as if you had rented directly from them! Couldn't be easier.

I think Costco membership is $55 a year and you can even shop online! You don't need to go to stores to shop for merchandise. They have some really good travel deals too. A single rental alone can save you enough to cover annual fee.

And it doesn't have to be spouse or partner "One additional driver fee will be waived for Costco members at locations in the U.S and Canada."

http://www.costcotravel.com/Rental-Cars

"end of Jan to late Feb"

Note that "credit card collision insurance" with Visa or MasterCard generally only covers rental of 21 days or less. 21 days plus one hour would disqualify you. So check with your own car insurance agent back home to insure that you're covered and paid up for those dates and that your car insurance includes collision.

Budget and Alamo appear to be battling in WPalm right now with some decent rates late January. Your best bet may be Budget (part of the Avis group) which offers free additional driver to AARP members. www.budget.com/aarp

Also if driver has any American Express card, you may want to look into their Premium Car Rental Insurance coverage which is around $24 for the entire rental.

"for three weeks" in OP.

Simple enough to do if it is even a day longer, just make 2 reservations; in any combination that is cheaper -- 21 + 1 day or
7+ 15 etc