Car rental can be stressful, with hidden fees and additional costs around every corner. Trying to make sure you are getting a fair deal with a reputable dealership is crucial.
One point of concern is the age at which you can rent a car and the cost implications. Unfortunately, the answer is more complex than you would hope.
The age at which you can rent a vehicle changes depending on your state. Worry not; we’ve compiled a short guide to car rental in the U.S., depending on your age. Keep reading to learn more.
Certain states will allow drivers to rent a vehicle under 21. For example, new York, Michigan, and the province of Quebec will rent to drivers at 18. Alabama and Nebraska will rent to drivers with one year of experience at 19.
Generally speaking, most rental agencies will rent to drivers aged between 21 and 25. However, drivers must be prepared to pay additional daily fees if they want to rent under 25.
Can I Rent a Car Under the Age of 21?
Yes, several states in the U.S. allow drivers under the age of 21 to rent a car in the U.S. However, you should also check with the car rental company to ensure they can facilitate this.
Can I Rent a Car at the Age of 18?
Yes, in some states and parts of Canada, drivers can rent a car as young as 18. However, drivers must hold valid driver’s licenses and be prepared to pay additional fees that range between $20 and $85 per day.
Each car rental company has its own policy, so you must check with each service provider.
Few states allow car rental at the age of 18. This is because the driver will only hold their license for a short time and will have little driving experience.
Where can I rent a car at the age of 18?
- Michigan
- New York
- Province of Quebec
Can I Rent a Car at Age 19?
Yes, in some states, you can rent a car at 19. However, the driver must have held a valid driver’s license for over one year before being allowed to rent.
Where can I rent a car at the age of 19?
- Alabama
- Nebraska
Again, drivers will be asked to pay additional fees.
Car Rental Between the Age of 21 and 24
In most states of the U.S., car rental agencies will allow you to rent a car between the age of 21 and 24. Most renters will have to pay an underage surcharge fee and meet the following criteria:
- Show an accepted credit card, not a debit card.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Pay an additional surcharge of around $25 – $35 per day.
- If you prepay for the rental, you must pay the underage tax when you return the rental.
- Suppose you want to add an additional driver to the rental agreement. In that case, the individual must be at least 25 or older and hold their own credit card and valid driver’s license.
What Vehicles Can Under 25 Driver rent?
- Compact cars
- Economy cars
- Midsize cars
- Standard cars
- Premium cars
- Full-sized cars
- Midsize SUVs
- Standard Suvs
- Convertibles
What Do I Need to Rent a Car?
You will need a few different documents to rent a vehicle in the U.S.
Make sure you bring the following with you:
- I.D. proving that you meet the minimum age restriction the establishment has in place.
- Valid driving license. Some rental agencies will require drivers to hold their license for at least 1 year before being allowed to rent.
- A valid credit or debit card to pay with.
How to Avoid Paying the Under 25 Car Rental Fee
Renting a car is difficult for most people but also costly for young drivers. For drivers under 25, a rental can set you back hundreds of dollars, and that’s before worrying about paying for gas! Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks you can do to avoid paying some of these additional fees.
Three ways to avoid paying for the under 25 car rental fee:
Membership in Certain Programs
Membership to AAA
When you rent with certain providers, your fees can be significantly reduced or waived entirely if you have a membership to programs like AAA.
Hertz has a partnership with the AAA. If you are a member of the AAA and choose to rent through Hertz, the young renter fee will be waived entirely.
You will also receive 20% off additional driver fees if you are a member of AAA and rent with Hertz.
To become a AAA member, you pay a yearly fee of between $40 and $170 per person. The cost will depend on the tier of coverage you choose with AAA and will also vary from location to location.
If you choose the lower membership tier, you will likely save money when renting a vehicle under 25. It’s beneficial if you plan to rent a vehicle more than once a year and wish to add another driver- savings galore!
Membership to USAA
Members of the USAA (United Services Automobile Association) might have their fees waived at certain major car rentals agencies, such as Enterprise, Budget, Avis, and Hertz.
To qualify for this, you must enroll in a military school, such as a trade school or military academy. USAA membership is open to current and former military people and their spouses and children.
Here are some more details about utilizing the USAA rental fee wavier:
- Enterprise: young driver fee is usually $20 and will be waived for USAA members from 18 to 24 years of age.
- Avis: young driver fee is usually $27 per day and is waived for USAA members aged between 18 and 24.
- Budget: fee is usually $27 and waved for USAA members aged between 18 and 24/
- Hertz: fee is usually $30 and waived for 18 to 24-year-old USAA members.
Check With Your Employer or University
Some employers and universities will collaborate with rental companies. These partnerships will give employees, alumni, and students deals when renting a car.
Unfortunately, some of these deals may include waves of underage driver’s fees. Contact your work or university to see if there are any discounts available.
Renting Through Certain Companies
Each company will have its own underage surcharge fees, with some companies charging significantly less than others. Some organizations specialize in helping young drivers rent a car at an affordable price.
Getaround
Getaround is a great car rental agency that rewards drivers under 25 for their clean driving record.
For example, some companies will make a new 20-year-old driver pay the same fee rate as a 24-year-old driver with a clean license and years of driving experience. Unfortunately, the fees remain high for younger drivers.
The fees are as follows:
- Aged 19 pays an additional 75% of the total trip price.
- Aged 20 pay an extra 45% of the total trip price.
- Aged 21 pay an extra 25% of the total trip price.
- Aged 22 pay an extra 15% of the total trip price.
- Aged 23 pay an extra 10% of the total trip price.
- Aged 24 pay an extra 5% of the total trip price.
Turo and Zipcar
Zipcar and Turo work similarly to Getaround in a tier system for the underage driver’s fee.
Zipcar offers a decent discount when it comes to short-term rentals. Generally, Zipcar will charge an additional $1 per hour for an under-25 driver and $12 per day if you’re aged between 18 and 20.
And $0.70 per hour and $10 per day if you’re between 21 and 24.
Drivers can rent a vehicle at 18 in New York, Michigan, and Quebec. However, fees for such young drivers are very high. Drivers can rent a car at 19 in Alabama and Nebraska if they hold at least one year of driving experience, but fees are high.
Most states in the U.S. will allow drivers between the age of 21 and 25 to rent a car. Drivers must show a valid I.D., a driver’s license, and a credit card.
Most rental agencies will require drivers to pay the under-25-year-old surcharge upfront, costing an additional $25 to $45 daily.