Car rental age limit: what you need to know

How old do you have to be to rent a car? If there is a myth out there worth busting, it’s that the car rental age limit is 25 years old. The fact is, that’s simply not true. You can rent a car under 25, but you may have to pay extra in age-related surcharges. Rental car companies aren’t trying to discourage young drivers from renting by tacking on additional fees — it’s a way for them to reduce risk. We’ll dive into why that is, what you can expect as a younger driver looking to rent a car and tips for avoiding young driver fees at checkout. 

Understanding the car rental age limit

Car rental age limitations are determined by either the rental company or the state where you’re renting the car. This is why, when you’re looking into how to rent a car in Denver or tips for renting a car in Chicago as a young driver, you may see some variations as you do your research. Even if the state you’re renting in allows drivers ages 21 and older to rent a car, you may still encounter an added daily fee if you’re under 25. As we mentioned, young driver surcharges are in place to help companies reduce the added risk they take on when a less-experienced driver gets behind the wheel. Here’s a behind-the-scenes breakdown of why that is and what it all means:

1. Accidents. Road traffic accidents are higher among younger, less-experienced drivers — typically under 25 years old. Age minimums and restrictions on car rentals are a direct result of these car accident statistics. 
2. Insurance. Like any car owner, car rental companies are required to have insurance. When a car rental company gets a policy for its fleet of vehicles, its rate increases if it rents out to a high-risk group, such as drivers under 25.
3. Cost. To reduce insurance rates, many — but not all — car rental companies tack on a surcharge for those under 25, on top of the daily rental rate. 

What is the minimum age to rent a car? 

That again depends on the state you rent in and the rental company providing the car. For example, companies operating in New York and Michigan are required by law to rent cars to licensed drivers 18 and over, even if their company policy states a different age requirement. However, there is no law preventing companies from charging young renters extra fees in these states. In New York, for example, the surcharges for 18-and-over drivers can exceed $50 per day in addition to the daily rental rate. 

On the other hand, in Alabama and Nebraska, the minimum age to rent a car is 19. Even if a car rental company allows drivers who are younger to rent, like 18-year-olds in this case, the state’s regulation supersedes it. 

In most other states, car rental age minimums fall between 19 and 21, but some companies do make exceptions for drivers 18 and older. 

Regardless of age or location, all prospective renters must have a valid driver’s license in good standing. Keep in mind, however, that some rental companies won’t rent to drivers who have had their license for less than a year. 

Are there ways to avoid car rental age limit fees?

Absolutely! There are several ways that you can avoid underage driver fees if you fall into one or more of the following categories.

U.S. military personnel and government employees

U.S. military personnel or government employees aged 18 or over on authorized travel likely will not be charged a young driver fee. USAA Insurance eligible members and their family members who are added as a second driver may also have their fees waived.

Students

If you’re a college student with a verified .edu email address, you may be able to rent a car without a young driver fee. Check your college’s internal web portal to search for car rental partnerships.

Corporate employees

Some employers also have car rental partnerships as part of their employee benefits package. Check your benefits portal to see what may be available. 

AAA member

As a AAA member, you can have your young driver fee waived if you rent with select companies, like Hertz. However, you’ll still need to meet the rest of their rental requirements to be able to book a car.

Insurance replacement

In case of emergencies, Enterprise, whose minimum car rental age is 21, will rent a car to anyone 18 and older if the rental car is an insurance replacement while their car is in the shop for repairs.

What age can you rent a car with Avail?

With Avail, you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car. Avail never charges extra fees to add a second driver, and that’s in addition to reasonably priced daily rates. You can hit the road in one of our cars as soon as you turn 21, from our neighborhood car sharing locations throughout Chicago and Denver. And, to give you peace of mind as you explore the vast world out there, every trip is protected by Allstate insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance.