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Underage Limits of Car Rental Companies

In the world of modern transportation, rental services offer convenience for various travel needs. However, age restrictions set by rental companies can impact your experience. Join us as we unravel the reasons behind these age limits, explore their evolution, and understand their practical implications. In this series, we'll guide you through the complexities of rental company age rules, helping you make informed choices for your next adventure.

Why Rental Companies Limit Age?

Rental companies implement age restrictions primarily to safeguard their vehicles from accidents. According to rental providers, individuals of younger age or those with recently acquired driver's licenses are statistically more prone to accidents. Hence, rental companies enforce specific age limits for renting. For instance, while many countries grant driver's licenses at the age of 18, several states within the United States prohibit car rentals for those under 18. However, exceptions exist, such as in New York City, where individuals aged 18 and above can rent vehicles.

How Old Is Car Rental Age?

In the majority of states in the United States, the minimum rental age is 21 years old. However, this can vary based on both the regulations set by individual states and the policies of rental companies. Across the world, most locations adhere to a standard that prohibits renters younger than 21 years old from renting cars.

Renting a car between the ages of 21 and 25 comes with a caveat: the requirement to pay an underage fee. Similar to age limits, this fee serves as a safeguard for rental providers against potential accidents. Most rental companies impose an underage fee on top of the daily rental price. The exact amount can differ based on factors such as location, the specific rental supplier, and their various branches. Generally, the underage fee falls within the range of $7 to $25 per day.

Car Rental Companies and Their Age Limits

Check out age limits of popular car rental companies

  • Avis: At the time of reservation, Avis will automatically apply an additional underage surcharge in the U.S. and Canada for drivers between the ages of 21 and 24. Renters younger than 25 are permitted to rent Economy through Full-Size cars, Premium cars, Convertibles, Intermediate SUVs and Standard SUVs.
  • Hertz: Renters must be **at least 20 years old** to rent a vehicle at most locations in the U.S. and Canada. In Michigan, New York and the province of Quebec, the minimum age to rent a vehicle is 18. In Alabama and Nebraska, the minimum age to rent a vehicle is 19.
  • Thrifty: The renter must be **at least 20 years of age**, though there are a few areas in which those under 20 have the opportunity to rent. Renters under the age of 25 will be subject to a daily surcharge. Thrifty Car Rental will rent to government renters under the age of 18 who are on official business.
  • Budget: In most U.S. Budget locations that are corporate-operated, you can rent a car between the ages of 21 and 24 if you are willing to pay underage surcharge fees.
  • Ace: **Minimum age to rent is 21 and maximum age is 75. Renters must have held their drivers license for a minimum of one year prior to pick up. No fee for additional drivers.**
  • Alamo: The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 21 years of age. There is no maximum restriction in the United States or Canada.
  • Europcar: Minimum driver age is 19, 20 or 21 years according to the car group. When renting a vehicle, a driver qualified as a "young driver" (from 19 to 25 years old) pays a specific charge (from €6.30 per day) (the "Young Driver Surcharge").
  • Routes: The minimum age of the renter or any additional driver is 21 years old and the maximum age is 74 years old

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