You generally need to be at least 21 years old to rent a car in California with most mainstream rental companies, and renters under 25 usually pay an extra “young driver” surcharge.

Quick Scoop: Age rules in California

  • Most major rental brands in California set the minimum age at 21.
  • If you are 21–24 , you can usually rent, but:
    • You’ll almost always pay an extra daily young driver fee.
* You may be limited to certain vehicle categories (compact, standard, some SUVs; high‑end or specialty cars often excluded).
  • A few companies or special programs sometimes let 19–20 year olds rent, but this is less common and comes with higher fees and tighter restrictions.
  • Traditional rental companies in California generally do not rent to 18‑year‑olds , but some car‑sharing services (like peer‑to‑peer or membership‑based platforms) may allow rentals starting at 18 with their own rules and insurance terms.

Why it’s a bit confusing

Different sources talk about two layers:

  1. Legal / practical minimums in the state
    • There is no law that forces companies to rent to drivers under 21, so most choose 21+ as the baseline to manage risk and insurance costs.
  1. Company policies
    • Each brand (Enterprise, Budget, Avis, Alamo, etc.) sets its own minimum age and surcharges, even within California.
 * For example, guides point out that big brands typically start at 21 with under‑25 fees, while a few budget or niche companies may start at 19 or 20.

Think of it like this: California doesn’t stop a company from renting to 18‑year‑olds, but most big rental chains simply choose not to.

What this means for you (in 2026)

If you’re planning a trip or just need a car:

  1. 18 years old
    • Very unlikely to rent from a classic airport/car‑rental counter.
 * Look instead at car‑sharing or peer‑to‑peer rental platforms that explicitly serve 18+ with their own insurance and age tiers.
  1. 19–20 years old
    • A few companies or specific programs may rent to you, but:
      • Expect high surcharges and limited vehicle choices.
   * You must read the fine print or contact the location directly before you show up.
  1. 21–24 years old
    • You can rent from most major brands in California.
 * Plan for:
   * Daily young driver fees (often around 20–30 USD per day, though it varies by company and location).

   * Possible exclusions on luxury, premium, or specialty vehicles.
  1. 25 and older
    • You’re in the “standard” renter category: usually no young driver surcharge and broad access to vehicle types.

Company-by-company flavor (example snapshot)

These are representative patterns described in current guides and travel write‑ups about renting in California, not a legal list:

  • Enterprise, Budget, Alamo, Avis :
    • Commonly: minimum age 21 in California, with a daily young renter fee for ages 21–24.
  • Some budget / alternative brands :
    • May allow rentals at 19–20 , especially for economy cars, but with higher fees and stricter limits.
  • Car‑sharing services (e.g., Gig, Zipcar, Turo, similar) :
    • Often allow 18+ under specific membership or host rules and with platform‑managed insurance.

Because this changes over time and can differ by city or even branch, always check:

  • The exact age requirement for your pickup location.
  • Whether the quoted price already includes young driver fees (some sites only show them after you enter your date of birth).

Mini example scenario

Imagine you’re 22, flying into LAX and booking online:

  • You enter your age and dates.
  • The site shows a base rate of, say, 40 USD/day plus a young driver surcharge (for example 25 USD/day), making it 65 USD/day before taxes and fees.
  • You’ll likely be able to choose from compact to standard cars and some small SUVs, but luxury models, big vans, or high‑performance cars might not appear as options.

Bottom line:

  • Plan on 21+ for standard rental companies in California, with extra fees if you’re under 25.
  • If you’re 18–20 , you’ll need to either hunt for the few companies that serve your age group or consider car‑sharing platforms that allow 18‑year‑old drivers.

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