Renting a car is a great option in case there is some urgency, any occasion coming or anything else important and you have to reach there. Many companies provide car rentals at affordable prices. But as a young person, it can be difficult to get a car rental, even though you are legally 18 years old. So how old do you have to rent a car?
In most US states, you have to be atleast 21 years old to rent a car, except for New York and Michigan, where the legal age is 18 years old. However, if you are below 25 years old, you have to pay an extra fee, also known as the ‘Young Renter Fee,” in addition to the car renting fee. Moreover, the person below 25 is restricted to renting specific car types.
Let’s get to know about the minimum age for car renting, its conditions and more!
Can you rent a car at 18?
Yes, but only in the states of New York and Michigan. In all other states, you have to be atleast 21 years old to rent a car. However, even if you are legally able to rent a car, you have to pay extra fees called young renter fees apart from normal rent.
This is levied on all renters below 25. Generally, the person between 18-20 has to pay $40 in Michigan and $57 in New York for renting a car.
Apart from this, young renters are just restricted to some specific car classes.
Can you rent a car at 20?
Yes, you can rent a car at 20, but only in the States of Michigan, Newyork, Alabama, and Nebraska. In-State of Michigan and New York, the minimum age to rent a car is 18 years old, and in Alabama and Nebraska, the minimum age is 19 years old.
However, you have to pay an extra fee, known as the ‘young rental fee,’ to rental companies.
How old do you have to rent a car?
You have to be a minimum of 21 years old to rent a car in the US. However, in Michigan and NewYork, the minimum age is 18 years old, and in Alabama and Nebraska, the minimum age is 19 years old.
The general rental fee is much higher for young car rental, aged less than 25 years old. Most car rental companies charge a ‘’young rental fee’’ which comes at around $25.
However, in Michigan, the car rental for 18-20 years old stands at $40, and in New York, it stands at around $57. For people aged between 21-24, the fee is around $25.
Also, if you are less than 25 years old, then you will be restricted to only specific car classes. Here are class types young renters can choose from:
- Economy cars
- Standard cars
- Full-size cars
- Compact cars
- Intermediate/midsize cars
- Standard SUVs
- Convertibles
What are the requirements to rent a car?
Apart from minimum age requirements, you need to show some proof to get the car rental. Here are the things needed to rent a car:
- Ofcourse, the minimum age in your state.
- Driver’s license with photo on it.
- Valid Debit or Credit Card
- In some locations, only credit cards will work.
What’s this ‘25-to-Rent’ Rule?
In the United States, it is well known that you must be at least 25 years old in order to hire an automobile. This is because older drivers have been found to be less likely to get into an accident, and car rental businesses are looking for ways to cut down on their liability. Because of their inexperience and propensity for risk-taking, young drivers face higher insurance premiums than more experienced ones.
The age of 25 has long been a dividing line for insurance firms. In spite of the unwritten norm, rental firms would charge much higher rates to drivers under the age of 25, even if they could still hire a car.
Another reason for the rule ‘25-to-rent’ is the cost of insurance to rental companies. Rental firms purchase fleet coverage. This rate, however, is determined by the insurance risk pool or the average risk associated with all insured cars. By restricting rentals to those aged 25 and above, rental businesses significantly minimize the risk associated with their whole pool, allowing them to provide significantly lower fleet insurance rates.
So, the ‘25-to-Rent’ is just an industry rule and not an actual law. So the people under 25 can still rent a car but without paying extra charges.
Is there a maximum age for car rental in USA?
In the United States, there is currently no maximum or renting a car. Therefore, if a person has a valid driving license, they can rent a car even if they are old. No car rental company can deny them. The same goes for Canada, where there is no maximum age to rent a car.
So, you may drive your rental car everywhere in North America, except in Mexico, where the maximum age is 75 years old. Moreover, in many European countries, there is a maximum age limit on car renting. So if you are an old person and traveling to Europe, check the maximum age limit before renting a car.
Bottom Line
So to sum it up, you need to be atleast 21 in most USA states to rent a car; however, you will be charged with a ‘young rental fee’ and can only rent specific car types. So, if you are in high need of a car, only then rent a car; otherwise, choose other transportation options.
We hope now you have got a satisfactory answer to how old do you have to rent a car. Leave your valuable thoughts & suggestions in the comments!
Thank you for reading!
