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You're planning a summer vacation in sunny California, but you don't want to pay for a cab and you know that public transportation is slim in Los Angeles. The solution should be simple—car rental. But if you have yet to turn 25, you may run into some issues, costly daily surcharges being one of them. So what can you do? This page explores your options and gives you the info you need to know before you try how to rent a car if you're under 25.
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Introduction
- Ah, to be young again: good health, a clean slate in life, and the inability to rent a car without shelling out some serious green. In fact, not too long ago, being under the quarter century mark simply meant you were out of luck, no matter how pristine your driving record was. These days, thankfully, most rental policies have changed; unfortunately, due to the higher statistical probability of car accidents occurring among drivers under 25, car rental companies charge extra for their underage customers (if they let you rent their cars at all). So with your pennies already being stretched to balance your college loans with all those late-night visits to the vending machines, what can an under-25er do to avoid breaking the bank when trying to rent a sedan for your spring break trip?
The Policies
- First off, you'll want to be be familiar with the rules of some of the biggest car rental companies. These policies form the basis of what you have to work with if you need to rent a car when you're under 25. However, some state laws can supersede rental car policies, so check your local regulations as well.
The General Rules
- Before we get into specifics, here are the general things to know about most companies in most locations:
- If they rent to drivers under 25, you MUST be at least 21 (or sometimes 18 in select places).
- Drivers aged 18-24 will have to pay a surcharge of about $25 per day.
- Those 18-24 will also be restricted to driving regular cars (compact, economy, full-sized) and not vans, SUVs, sports cars, luxury vehicles, etc.
- You'll probably need a credit card to rent a car.
By Rental Company
- Here are the general policies of some of the largest car rental companies in the country.
- Alamo's general policy is not to rent to anyone under 25, though renters aged 21-24 may be able to rent a car if they're using a corporate account.
- Avis has a minimum age of 21 for most locations. For drivers 21-24, the surcharge is $25 per day.
- Budget rents to drivers under 25 that have a valid credit card in certain locations. You must be at least 21 and pay a surcharge.
- Dollar will rent to anyone 21 and older, with fees for those 21-24. (You'll need to allow cookies and possibly refresh the site to view the previous link.)
- Enterprise will rent cars to drivers under 25 for a surcharge, but will not rent to anyone under 21 in most locations.
- Hertz has a 21-year-old minimum. There is an "Age Differential Charge" for those 21-24.
- National will rent to anyone 21+, with a surcharge for those 21-24.
- Thrifty will also rent to anyone 21+, with a surcharge for those 21-24.
By Location
- Some places in the U.S. have their own age laws for car rentals that trump the company's rules. Do a little local research to find out if there are any local provisions that apply to you. Here are some examples:
- New York will allow you to rent if you're 18+, but you may be subject to sometimes astronomical surcharges (try over $100 per day on for size) if you're under 25.
- Michigan will allow you to rent if you're 18+ (you'll still pay an additional a daily fee).
- Montgomery, Alabama will not allow anyone under 25 to rent a car.
Military and Government Exception
- If you are in the military or are a government employee, it doesn't matter what the rental company's age policies are—you can rent a car while traveling on official business as long as you're 18 years old and have a valid license. Plus, there is no underage surcharge for military/government personnel—one of the perks of serving your country!
What You Can Do
- So now you've familiarized yourself with the policies, general rules, and lines of red tape. Is there anything you can do to avoid the extra charges? It's tough. Rental companies aren't in the business of being charitable to you, even if you ask nicely (although it doesn't hurt to try). In fact, back in 1998, a Hertz executive had trouble convincing the company to rent a car to his own underage son. But here are a few tips to try.
Compare Prices
- It may seem obvious, but this is one of the first things you should be doing while planning your rental. Different companies have different rates in different places. If you can't get around the surcharge, find the service that will charge you less overall so you can at least save a couple bills.
Look into the Locality
- Underage surcharges are different depending on where you're renting (and who you're renting from). An economy car in Atlanta might have a $25/day fee from one company and a $15/day fee from another. Explore your options to see if your location has opportunities to save. BreezeNet.com has a good overview of surcharges from multiple companies organized by location.
Use Rental Discounts
- When underage fees strike, use discounts to strike back!
- Ask your employer if there is a corporate rental account for your company. Often, the company discount can offset the extra costs involved with being too young.
- Find out if an organization that you're a member of, such as AAA or USAA, has partnerships with rental companies or offers any opportunities for discounts that could cushion the financial blow or waive the surcharge.
- There may be other, less obvious connections between memberships and car rental companies. In a post on the blog Upgrade: Travel Better, a reader pointed out that an executive membership at Costco eliminates underage surcharges at Budget (among other benefits). Since Costco membership costs $100, you'll start saving money after four days if you're paying a $25 surcharge.
Find an Alternate Rental Company
- No one says you have to use one of the major car rental companies.
- Hunting down local mom-and-pop rental services or finding some more "off the beaten path" companies like Rent-a-Wreck can help you find lower prices.
- You also may have more of an opportunity to negotiate with one of these services than you would with a nationwide conglomerate, especially when you show them your flawless driving record.
- If you're still dead-set on using a major company, try contacting their local branch to talk about lowering your fees.
Follow General Money-Saving Tips for Rentals
- Even if you can't get around the surcharges and have to rent a car, there are plenty of other money saving tips that apply to renters of all ages. For example:
- Book your rental as early as possible.
- Don't pay for feature upgrades that you don't really need, such as satellite radio.
- Report any scratches, dents, or other damage to the vehicle before you leave the lot.
