If your work involves dealing with a lot of agreements, chances are you often come across the term ‘contract rider.’ Have you ever wondered what’s that about? 

Most people cast it aside, believing it’s just like another additional document that they don’t really need to skim through. Well, that’s a mistake you don’t want to make. 

According to a survey by Deloitte, around 90% of people accept contract terms without ever reading or fully understanding them. Half of these terms are outlined in the contract rider. This means you might get yourself in serious trouble for unknowingly signing up for things. 

Hence, contract riders are just as important as the main agreement itself. To help you fully understand their significance, this article will explain everything you need to know about contract riders. 

What Is A Rider In A Contract?

Simply put, a contract rider is a supplemental document that outlines specific terms, conditions, stipulations, or explanations that don’t quite fit into the main agreement. However, a mere contract rider definition is not enough to explain what is a contract rider. 

For example, you have a gift card, and you know you can use it to get a discount, right? It’s only when you read the tiny fine print on the card that you realize it will expire in a year and is only applicable in certain stores. 

Think of the gift card as the main agreement and the fine print as the rider. Without reading what the rider entails, you may only be seeing one side of the coin.

The involved parties may use the rider to clarify specific terms and conditions of the agreement. In some cases, it can also be used to outline certain circumstances that call for flexibility in the terms of the original document. 

Going back to the contract rider example we used above, notice how the fine print altered the conditions in which you could use the gift card. So, it’s a crucial document that should not be disregarded. 

Contract Rider vs. Addendum

Some people often confuse a rider with an addendum and use these two terms interchangeably. However, while both serve the purpose of modifying the original contract, they are two different documents. 

Following is a list of differences between a contract rider and an addendum:

5 Benefits of Rider to Agreement

Considering the nature of this document, a contract rider offers quite a few advantages to an agreement. Let’s take a closer look at them below:

1. Provides Room for Customization

More often than not, standard contracts fail to cover all aspects of your agreements and requirements in detail. After all, a contract contains numerous pointers, and you can’t keep on explaining them in detail as you have limited space and time. Besides, this could even disrupt the contract template.

With a rider to agreement, you can take the time to explain your exact requirements. This ensures that you have clarified all elements of the contact elements in detail. Moreover, it can also be used as a space to outline any circumstances during which the contract terms may be subject to alteration. 

2. Offers Clarity

Business deals can be sensitive, so it’s vital to be clear about what you expect. Contracts can sometimes be vague, and essential details might be open to interpretation. A rider lets you spell out exactly what you mean in certain parts of the agreement. 

For example, you can get a musician onboard by simply signing a performance contract. But what if you require them to play a specific sound equipment? That’s where a contract rider comes in handy.

3. Allows Flexibility

Things change. Sometimes, a contract needs to be adjusted after it's drafted. A rider is a convenient way to make those changes without reworking the whole agreement. With riders, you can easily extend a project deadline and outline the new dates without the added stress. This makes it much simpler to adapt when the circumstances take an unexpected turn.

4. Serves as an Extra Layer of Protection

Guess what? A rider contract is just as much legally binding as a standard contract. Having this extra layer of protection means that anything that you include in the rider will be enforceable once the other party signs it. 

5. Keeps the Contract Organized

Instead of cluttering the main contract with too much information, riders keep additional details in a separate section. This makes the main document shorter and easier to read while still ensuring all important points are covered. 

This ensures that the actual contract remains clear and professional.

4 Real-World Uses of Contract Riders

At first glance, drafting a contract rider may seem unnecessary or too much work that’s uncalled for. 

However, it may be more common than you know. For example, take a look at the following real-world uses of contract riders:

1. Entertainment Industry

In the entertainment industry, especially for musicians or performers, the main contract typically discusses the general terms of the performance, including the payment, venue, and event timing. 

However, performers often have specific, sometimes quirky, needs that go beyond the basic agreement. This is where a contract rider comes in.

The rider might specify the exact type of sound and lighting equipment required for the show to make sure the venue has the right setup. It could also list the artist’s food and beverage preferences, such as specific brands of water, snacks, or even meal choices. 

2. Real Estate Leases

When you’re renting a property, the main contract will probably only outline the basic terms of renting that building. This could include the amount of rent, the payment deadline, and any maintenance responsibilities.

However, the landlord may have some additional terms and conditions that shouldn’t be squeezed into the main document. For instance, what if the owner doesn’t want the tenant to keep any pets? Or what if he wants to charge extra for allowing a pet? These issues can easily be addressed in the rider instead of going into the contract. 

3. Construction Contracts

In the construction industry, there’s a higher likelihood of incorporating changes or specific requirements even after the initial contract is signed. 

For example, a homeowner who hires a contractor to renovate their kitchen may sign the contract that outlines the project scope, material requirements, and all the other details.

However, halfway through the project, they may decide to opt for eco-friendly materials instead. 

In such cases, the vendor can add a rider to the original contract instead of making a new one and starting again from square one. 

It’s relatively easier to draft a contract rider since you can also ask any reliable AI tools to make the changes for you.

4. Insurance Policies

Some insurance policies include a rider for additional coverage in case of certain circumstances. 

For instance, they might add accidental death benefits in the rider. This means that while the main agreement will provide standard coverage, the contract rider could add extra protection in the event the policyholder passes away in an accident. 

The company could choose to double the payout or come up with its own terms and conditions in the rider to accommodate such scenarios. 

Can a Contract Exist Without a Rider?

As mentioned in the contract rider definition above, a rider is merely an additional document. This means that it’s not absolutely necessary to include a rider with the standard agreement. 

People only do so to clarify and explain the specific terms and conditions in the main contract to avoid any confusion or disputes later. 

However, this certainly doesn’t mean a contract can’t stand alone. Not having a rider will not make your contract invalid or any less legally binding. 

You should only include a rider in a contract if you believe some of the terms in your agreement could benefit from further clarification.

In other words, a contract rider is just an add-on to your original agreement.

Create Contract Riders with Formaloo

Now that you know all about contract riders, it’s time to address the elephant in the room: How do you make one? Well, it’s not a super complicated procedure, but Formaloom makes it even simpler. 

With Formaloo, you can easily design contract riders in no time. The platform has a drag-and-drop feature and predefined contract templates that allows users to create a contract rider within minutes. 

It even has a user-friendly interface, so you won’t have to invest your time in trying to understand how it works. Start free with Formaloo today! 

FAQ

What does a rider mean in a contract?

A rider is a legal document that complements an official contract. It is used to explain, alter, or add the terms and conditions outlined in the original agreement once it has been signed. 

Why is it called a rider contract?

It is referred to as a ‘rider’ contract because it accompanies or ‘rides’  the original agreement. While a contract itself is sufficient to close a deal and make it official, a contract rider is not. It can only be used along with an agreement.

What is the purpose of a rider?

The purpose of a rider is to be clear and open about the demands and requirements of all involved parties. It is drafted to prevent any misunderstandings or disputes during the contractual term and to clearly document the expectations of all parties.

What is a contract rider example?

An employment contract outlines the basic terms of the job, such as the salary, key responsibilities, and benefits. However, all roles have some specific requirements or benefits that go into the rider contract. In this case, a rider might include confidentiality terms or key performance metrics an employee must meet.