Under 25, refused or hit with a surprise fee?

How old do you have to be to rent a car with each company?

Most major US companies rent from 21, and the Hertz family rents from 20. New York and Michigan require companies to rent to drivers from 18, with a fee. Here's the picture across the main brands.

Government employees on official travel can often rent younger than the usual minimum. Enterprise, for example, rents to US government employees from 18 when they show official orders.

How much is the young renter fee?

It's charged per day, on top of the rental, and it varies by company, state and location. Enterprise publishes its fees, which give a good idea of the range:

On a one-week rental, a young renter fee can add more than the base price of a small car. That's why the fee, not the daily rate, is often the number that decides which company is cheapest for a driver under 25.

The fee usually applies to each young driver on the agreement, including extra drivers. If an older friend or parent is traveling with you, making them the main driver and leaving the young driver off can remove the fee completely, but then only the named drivers may drive.

Which cars can you rent under 25?

Usually the everyday classes. Enterprise, for example, lets renters aged 21 to 24 book economy, compact, intermediate, standard and full-size cars, cargo vans and minivans, standard pickup trucks, and compact, small and standard SUVs up to five passengers at most locations. Premium, luxury, convertibles, large SUVs and specialty vehicles are usually off limits until 25.

This catches people out when they book online: the site lets you pick a premium SUV, and the counter says no. If that happens, ask to move to an allowed class at the same location before you cancel anything. See car types compared.

Does state law change the rules?

In two states, yes. New York and Michigan require rental companies to rent to licensed drivers from 18. Companies can still charge a young renter fee there, and it's often higher for 18 to 20 year olds. In New York, state rules also cap the fee companies can charge for each additional driver.

In California, a 2022 law stops companies charging an extra-driver fee for a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or co-worker on a work trip. It doesn't remove the young renter fee, but it can save a young driver traveling with family the extra-driver charge. Everywhere else, company policy decides.

How can you lower or avoid the fee?

• AAA with Hertz. AAA members aged 20 to 24 can have Hertz's young renter fee waived at participating locations, when booked at least 24 hours ahead with a credit card in their own name.
• USAA. For members eligible for USAA insurance, under-25 fees are waived for ages 18 to 24 at Hertz, Avis and Budget.
• Work or government travel. Corporate and government rates often waive the fee or lower the minimum age. Book through your employer's travel program.
• An older main driver. If someone 25 or over is on the trip, they can be the main driver.
• Compare the total. A company with a slightly higher daily rate and a lower young renter fee can be cheaper overall.

Never book under a false date of birth or let an unlisted driver take the wheel. If something happens, there may be no cover at all, and you'll be responsible for the damage. See memberships and discounts.

What else do young renters need at the counter?

• A full license held long enough. Many companies want at least a year. Hertz, for example, asks for one year of licensure.
• A credit card in your own name. Debit cards come with extra checks, and some companies don't accept them for young renters at all. See card rules.
• Room on the card for the deposit hold, which can be large.
• Your booking confirmation, showing the young renter fee if it was included.

Does booking through a travel site change anything for young renters?

Often, yes. Many travel sites ask for the driver's age when you search, and some show the young renter fee in the total. Others leave it to the counter. The rental company's rules still apply: if the company doesn't rent to your age at that location, or not in that car class, the counter can refuse you even though the site took your booking.

• Enter your true age when you search. Prices for under-25 drivers can change which company is cheapest.
• Read the rental terms on the booking, which name the age rules and fees, before you pay.
• Check the cancellation rules. If the counter refuses you, a prepaid booking may be hard to refund. See refunds stuck between a site and a company.

Can a young driver be added as an extra driver?

Usually, yes, if they meet the minimum age for that company and location. They'll pay the young renter fee for their days, and they must be at the counter with their own license. The car class rules apply to every driver: if one driver is under 25, the whole rental may be limited to the classes young renters can drive.

For families, the cheapest setup is often an adult over 25 as the main driver, with the young driver added only if they'll really drive. In California, a family member added as an extra driver can't be charged the extra-driver fee, though the young renter fee can still apply.

What about insurance for drivers under 25?

• On a parent's auto policy? Ask whether the policy extends to rental cars, and for which drivers.
• Credit card cover works for young drivers too, but only if you pay for the whole rental with that card and decline the counter's damage waiver. Check the card's age and vehicle rules.
• No cover of your own? The counter's damage waiver and supplemental liability are expensive but may be your only option. Factor them into the total when comparing companies.

Are the rules different for visitors under 25 from abroad?

The age rules are the same, plus the usual visitor rules. Expect the company to ask that you've held your full license for at least a year, sometimes longer for young drivers, and to want a credit card in your own name. An International Driving Permit helps if your license isn't in English. Some companies apply extra restrictions to young international renters, so check before you book. See renting from abroad.

What if you're military or on government travel?

If you're traveling on official orders, government rates can lower the minimum age and include the young renter fee. Enterprise, for example, rents to US government employees from 18 with official orders. For leisure trips, military and veteran discounts can help with the base rate, and USAA waives under-25 fees for eligible members at Hertz, Avis and Budget. See military and membership discounts.

A checklist before you book under 25

• Does this company rent to my age at this exact location?
• Is the car class I want allowed for my age?
• What is the young renter fee per day, and is it in my total?
• Do I have a membership, work rate or military benefit that waives or lowers it?
• Do I have a credit card in my own name with room for the deposit?
• Have I held my full license long enough?
• Does my insurance or card cover a rental, or will I need the counter's cover?
• Is the booking free to cancel if the counter says no?

If any answer is unclear, that's exactly what our agents check on a free planning call, before you pay anything.

What if you turn 25 during the rental?

The fee is usually set by your age when the rental starts, not day by day. If your birthday is close, it can be worth starting the rental on or after it, especially on a long trip. Ask the company how it handles a birthday during the rental before you book.

What are the best tips for students and first-time renters?

For college trips, spring break and internships, a few habits save money and stress:

• Book early. Spring break weeks sell out, and fewer companies rent to under-25 drivers at small airports.
• Join the free loyalty program of the company you book. It speeds pickup and keeps your details ready. See loyalty programs.
• Pick a car class you're allowed to rent, then you can't be refused for the car.
• Take photos at pickup and return. Young renters are often careful drivers who still get damage letters for scratches that were already there.
• Know your insurance. If you're on a parent's auto policy, ask whether it covers rentals.