US Trends

how old do you need to be to rent a car

You usually need to be at least 21 to rent a car in many places, but 25 is the typical age to rent without extra “young driver” fees in the U.S.

Quick Scoop: Basic Age Rules

  • In most U.S. states , rental companies set the minimum rental age at 21.
  • To rent without underage surcharges or special restrictions, you generally need to be 25.
  • Some major brands (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, etc.) allow rentals from 21+ , but charge an extra daily fee for drivers under 25.

Think of 21 as “you can usually rent, but pay more,” and 25 as “you can rent like everyone else.”

Under 25: What Actually Happens

If you’re between 21 and 24 , most big rental companies in the U.S. will rent to you, but with strings attached.

Common conditions:

  1. Young driver surcharge
    • Extra daily fee, often around 20–40 dollars per day , sometimes more depending on brand and location.
  1. Limited car types
    • You may be restricted to lower-risk categories like economy, compact, or intermediate cars, and blocked from luxury, specialty, or big SUVs.
  1. Stricter payment rules
    • Under 25s are more likely to be asked for a credit card instead of a debit card, plus a clean, valid driver’s license.

A simple example: a 22‑year‑old renting a compact car for five days might pay a base rate plus an extra underage fee each day, which can easily add up to the cost of an additional rental day.

Special Cases: 18–20 Year Olds

There are some notable exceptions where 18–20 year olds can rent:

  • New York and Michigan (U.S.)
    • State law forces major companies to rent to drivers as young as 18 , but they charge very high daily surcharges for ages 18–20 and still charge underage fees for 21–24.
  • Government/military rentals (U.S.)
    • Some companies will rent to U.S. government employees starting at 18 when they’re on official orders, with special policies.

Outside the U.S., many countries set the minimum rental age around 21 , with some variation by country and car category, and often require that you’ve held a license for at least a year.

Big Rental Brands: Snapshot

Here’s a quick look at common policies in the U.S. (always check the exact location before you book):

[3] [1][3] [3] [5] [5] [5] [7] [7] [7] [9] [9] [9]
Company Typical minimum age Age without surcharge Notable exceptions
Enterprise 21 in most states 25 18 in NY & MI; 18 for U.S. gov employees on orders
Avis 21 in most U.S. locations 25 18 in NY & MI with high surcharges
Budget 21 in most U.S. states 25 18 in NY & MI with extra underage fees
Alamo 21 in U.S. & Canada 25 (no “youthful surcharge”) No max age; under‑25 pays daily youthful surcharge
On forums, younger drivers often mention using **peer‑to‑peer platforms** like Turo as alternatives, although those platforms also have age and insurance rules that can be strict for drivers under 25.

Quick FAQ and Tips

Is 25 always required?
No. You can usually rent at 21+ , but you’ll pay extra until 25 and may have car-class limits.

Can you rent a car at 18?
Yes, in a few places (notably New York and Michigan in the U.S.), but expect very steep underage surcharges.

Why are under‑25s charged more?
Rental and insurance data show higher accident risk for younger drivers, so companies price that risk into daily fees.

How to keep costs down if you’re under 25?

  • Compare several companies for lower surcharges.
  • Stick to smaller car classes that are allowed for your age.
  • Look for discount programs through memberships, student deals, or corporate rates that sometimes reduce the young-driver fee.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.