As the average age of Americans continues to rise, so does the importance of rental car age requirements. Most people think they need to be at least 25 years old in order to rent a car without an international driver’s license.
However, it’s not true!
There are many other factors that determine whether or not you’re eligible to rent a car! Read on for more information about how old you have to be in order to rent a car and what type of restrictions may apply.
Than…
Hertz
J.D. Power ranks Hertz as the best car rental company in North America, and for good reason. Their focus on customer satisfaction means you’ll have a great time renting from them – from start to finish.
Enterprise
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has locations all over the world, so they’re bound to have one close by. Plus, they offer a wide selection of cars – from economy to luxury – so you can find the perfect ride for your trip.
Fox Rent-A-Car
Fox Rent-A-Car is the perfect solution for budget-minded travelers. They offer low rates on all of our vehicles, so you can hit the open road without breaking the bank.
* With Expedia member prices, you could save 10% or more right now on thousands of cars.
How Old To Rent A Car?
The minimum age to rent a car in the US is different across states. In most states, you’d need to be at least 21 years old in order to rent a car, except Michigan and New York where the minimum age to rent a car is 18 years old.
When renting a car under the age of 25, there is an additional fee that most companies charge in addition to your daily rate.
Here is a list of rental car companies and their young driver’s fee policy:
- Alamo: $25 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Avis: $27 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Enterprise: $25 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Fox Rent A Car: $20 to $30 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Hertz: $19 to $35 per day (ages 20 to 24)
- National: $20 to $30 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Sixt: $15 to $35 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Thrifty: $25 to $35 per day (ages 21 to 24)
- Dollar: $25 to $35 per day (ages 21 to 24)
How Old To Rent A Car?
- Where Does The Myth Of Being At Least 25 Years Old To Rent A Car Come From?
- What Are The Rental Car Age Requirements & Restrictions For Drivers Under 25?
- Which Companies Allow Drivers Under 25 To Rent A Car?
- Rental Car Age Requirements For Drivers Under The Age Of 21
- How Can You Avoid The “Young Drivers Fee”?
- Is There a Maximum Rental Age?
- How do I Rent A Car If I’m 70 Or Older?
- Is There A “Senior Drivers Fee”?
- Which Rental Companies Allow Teens To Rent A Car?
- Car Rental Minimum Age Outside the United States
- Car Rental Maximum Age Outside the United States
Where Does The Myth Of Being At Least 25 Years Old To Rent A Car Come From?
For decades, the unwritten rule has been to not rent a car if you’re under 25. Car rental companies will charge anyone who doesn’t meet this age limit an increased rate for their insurance coverage and experience with cars–which is why younger drivers are typically discouraged from taking up such activities in most cases!
Rental companies can buy a fleet policy to get cheaper rates. Limiting rentals to people who are 25 years old or older means that there is less risk for the rental company. This lets them have more money left over, which means they can afford more insurance and they still make money!
This is why many thought that rental companies only rent cars to 25 years olds and older. But it’s definitely not true!
What Are The Rental Car Age Requirements & Restrictions For Drivers Under 25?
If you’re under 25, here are the things that will get you a car rental:
- A valid driver’s license with a photo (Check age requirements for each state)
- To be at least 21 years old (or 18 years old in Michigan or New York).
- A valid credit card or debit card. Most companies will only accept credit cards.
- Renters who are under 25 will be allowed to rent only certain classes of cars – Economy cars, Compact cars, Intermediate/midsize cars, Standard cars, Full-Size cars, Premium cars, Intermediate/midsize SUVs, Standard SUVs and Convertibles
- Driver’s under 25 will pay a “young drivers fee” that can start at $20 per day and go up to $70 per day extra cost.
Which Companies Allow Drivers Under 25 To Rent A Car?
The following companies allow drivers under 25 to rent a car:
Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar/Thrifty , Enterprise (If you’re 21-24 years old and can provide full coverage insurance), Fox Rent A Car (Must be 18+ with valid international driver’s license), Hertz, National, Silvercar (Must be 21+), Sixt, Thrifty.
Enterprise’s policy is a bit different in terms of the type of car you can rent: Economy cars and intermediate-size vehicles only. In addition to this, drivers under 25 will have to pay an additional fee when they pick up their car.
As for Dollar/Thrifty, you can rent a car under the age of 25 if you’re at least 21 years old and meet one of these requirements:
- You have three consecutive years with no claims or accident history;
- Your annual mileage is less than 20,000 miles per year;
- You are employed full-time and have been for at least three years;
- You are a full-time student with good academic standing and you’ve been in school for more than six months.
It’s best to call the company ahead of time before renting if you’re under 25 just to make sure that your state or personal requirements meet their qualifications!
Here Are The Rental Car Age Requirements For Drivers Under The Age Of 21:
At least 18 years old to rent a Car – Michigan and New York only (18+); 21 years or older with at least two years’ driving experience. Some companies require full coverage insurance. Renters between 18-20 years old will be charged a young driver’s fee with a higher amount – usually in the $70 range.
Most car rental companies have different policies for underage renters, especially those who are under the age of 21. Some companies do not allow drivers under the age of 18 to rent cars at all while others set certain requirements that must be met before you can rent one!
How Can You Avoid The “Young Drivers Fee”?
Many people who are younger than 25 can’t afford to rent a car, but there is always an option for them. If the young adult has their parent or guardian with them in the vehicle when they drive it that will exempt them from paying any underage fees because of laws regarding supervised driving.
Another way – if you are a AAA member, you can get your underage fees waived when renting from Hertz or Avis. But if you are not a member, there are other companies that will do this for you too.
If you’re employed, many companies have partnership agreements with rental companies, and often it includes a waiver for underage fees. Check with your employer and ask if they offer such an account for underage drivers who want the waiver on additional fees associated with renting from rental companies like Hertz or Enterprise car rentals; this could save you a lot of money!
Also, All US rental companies will waive underage fees for military service members on official business. This means that you must be reporting to duty, transferring bases, or assigned locations-and to provide proof of orders!
When it comes to renting a car at corporate-operated locations, there is no underage surcharge for renters with disabilities under the age of 25. However, if either or both drivers are under 25 – an underage fee will be applied.
Is There a Maximum Rental Age?
For the most part, there isn’t a maximum age limit for rentals. However, if you are 70 years old and over there is a chance that the companies will deny your rental request, mostly overseas. In the US, Renting a car when you are 70 or older is usually easy. A small percentage of the international car hire companies charge senior drivers more to rent a vehicle.
How do I Rent A Car If I’m 70 Or Older?
If you want to rent a car, just book it as you would normally. Most times, there are not any extra fees or age limits. You just need to have a valid driving license from your country. There’s at least one rental company in almost every country that doesn’t impose an age limit and they don’t charge extra fees either.
Is There A “Senior Drivers Fee”?
Some rental companies charge drivers over 70 years old more because insurance companies think they are more likely to get in an accident. This fee is called a “Senior Drivers Fee”.
In the US, there are usually no special fees for older drivers.
However, this is not true for all countries. A “senior fee” may be charged in Italy and Portugal if the renter is 70 years old or more.
Which Rental Companies Allow Teens To Rent A Car?
Alamo, Avis, Dollar, and Hertz rent cars to 18-year-old drivers in Michigan New York for an additional fee. Budget has lowered their minimum age requirement to 18 only in New York.
Fox-Rent-A-Car requires a minimum age of 19, but the minimum age is 18 for US military personnel and government employers. Also for these drivers, the “Young Drivers Fee” will be waived.
Which Car Rental Company Is The Cheapest For Teenage Drivers?
As said before, rental companies located in Michigan and New York are allowed to rent cars for drivers between 18 to 20 years old.
FOX Rent A Car has the cheapest fee for people who are 19 years old – They charge $25 per day. But for drivers at the age of 18, there is a different company. National and Alamo have the best deals for 18-year-olds in Michigan. You can call them to find out which of these companies is best for you and where you live.
Car Rental Minimum Age Outside the United States
18 is the minimum age for renting cars in most countries outside the United States. However, there are some restrictions and additional fees that come with it. These may include a higher deposit or late charges if you return your rental past its due date even by just one day.
Young drivers will have to pay a daily fee on top of the cost of their rental. Many suppliers charge this fee to those under 25 years old and it can range from $10-$20 USD per day. Most suppliers have a cap on the total number of days you can be charged this fee but that number varies by supplier.
Car Rental Maximum Age Outside the United States
In a shocking move, rental car companies in more than 20 countries have imposed maximum age restrictions. The listed ages vary by country and provider but we’ve seen prohibitions on drivers as young as 65 years old which seems ludicrous! Restrictions generally follow one of three models: an outright ban for renters above the specified number; proof requirements such as medical insurance or even just license suspension if the renter is on a blacklist; or, in some cases, penalties such as increased insurance premiums.
Car Rental Age Limits in Europe
- Austria: None
- Belgium: None
- Bulgaria: 70
- Croatia: 70
- Czech Republic: None
- Denmark: None
- Finland:97
- France: None
- Germany: None
- Greece: 75
- Hungary: 85
- Ireland: 75
- Italy: None
- Malta: 70
- Netherlands: None
- Northern Ireland: 75
- Norway: None
- Poland: None
- Portugal: 80
- Serbia: None
- Slovakia: None
- Spain: None
- Sweden: None
- Switzerland: None
- UK (England, Scotland, Wales): None
Car Rental Age Limits in the Caribbean
- Barbados: 80
- Curacao: 70
- Dominican Republic: 70
- Grand Cayman: 70
- Jamaica: 80
- St Lucia: 65
Wrapping Up
It’s not true that you need to be 25 years old in order to rent a car. There are many other factors at play, and the best way to find out if you’re eligible is by contacting your rental agency directly. You may want to read our article thoroughly if you want more information about how old you have to be in order to rent a car or what restrictions may apply.
Renting a car is not only about the age requirement. The cost, the driving record, and location are also important factors to consider before renting one. Remember that rental companies have different rules so it’s better to check out which provider offers cheap rates with no hidden fees for you!
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