Does rental age vary by state and company?

Yes, rental age varies by company and state. For instance, Hertz and states like Michigan have a minimum rental age of 18 years.

Can I rent a car if I am 18 years old?

Yes, one can rent a car if they are 18 years old, but only in New York and Michigan.

Is there any upper age limit for renting a car?

No, there is no maximum age limit as long as the renter meets the basic requirements and is healthy enough to drive a car.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car? Minimum Age Requirements

Q: How old do you have to be to rent a car?

On average, the minimum age to rent a car is 21 years. But a young driver fee is charged for drivers under 25.

To rent a car in the United States, the minimum age is 21 years. However, some states, such as New York and Michigan, may allow renters who are 18 years old. Additionally, military personnel may qualify to rent a car in the country even if they don't meet the standard criteria, but under some conditions. For underage drivers, car rental companies often charge a young renter fee of USD 25 to USD 65 per day. Keep in mind this fee varies by rental duration, company, and state. Lastly, renters must confirm all rules and terms, including the minimum age to rent a car in their specific location beforehand.

minimum age to rent a car

What is the Minimum Age to Rent a Car?

Since there is no fixed or specific minimum age to rent a car, the rules vary by rental agency, category, state, and other factors.

Age Group	Typical Rules
18 to 20 years	Only New York and Michigan allow renters between 18 and 20 years to rent a car.
21 to 24 years	It is one of the most common age groups. However, a young renter fee is charged by the companies.
25 years or more	This age group is the most standard one, and it does not incur any fee.
Military personnel (18+ years)	Some agencies allow eligible members of the military to rent a car even if they are 18 years old.

Can You Rent a Car at 18, 19, or 20?

Even though the minimum age to rent a car varies depending on the state, rental agency, car type, and other aspects, one should know the rules for renting cars at 18, 19, and 20:

Rent a Car at 18

State Laws: An 18-year-old can only rent a car in Michigan and New York.
Special Exceptions: Rental agencies allow all active-duty military members and government employees to rent a car if they are 18 years old. However, they will need to submit supporting documents.
Fees: A higher underage driver surcharge is levied by the companies. This can be between USD 25 and USD 35+ per day.
Restrictions: Only basic cars, such as compact and economy cars, can be rented. This age group cannot rent SUVs, luxury/premium cars, and vans.

Car Rental 19-Year-Old

State Laws: Operators, such as Hertz, allow 19-year-old renters to rent a car in Michigan, New York, Nebraska, and Alabama only.
Availability: Renters in this age group can get standard vehicles.
Limits: Due to safety reasons, companies do not allow renters to rent high-end cars. Besides, a car valued under USD 20000 is allowed to rent.
Fees: USD 25 is the starting young renter fee charged. However, the higher amount varies from one company to another.

Car Rental Rules for 20-Year-Old

State Laws: Hertz is the only company that allows renters aged 20 to rent a car in most states. While with others, renters can get a car in New York and Michigan.
Fees: A daily young driver fee is charged, which typically starts at USD 25.
Vehicle Limits: The vehicle options remain limited. This means renters in this group can only rent economy, compact, and other cars valued under USD 20000.

Can You Rent a Car Under 25?

Anyone who is under 25 years of age can easily rent a car. However, car rental companies often charge a fee, and additional rules are applied.

Young Driver Fees

The typical fee is as low as USD 15 per day.
It can go up to USD 68+ per day in certain areas, like New York.
USAA or AAA memberships may sometimes waive or reduce the applicable fees.

Vehicle Restrictions

Renters can only rent compact, economy, and other standard cars.
No company allows performance, premium, full-size SUVs, and other specialty vehicles to underage drivers.

Extra Requirements

Drivers under 25 must hold an active, DUI-free, and valid driver’s license.
A renter should have a credit card on his name to pay the authorization hold.

Is There an Extra Fee for Drivers Under 25?

Most rental car agencies charge an extra fee for drivers under 25. This fee reflects the higher risk of accidents, which is associated with young drivers. To plan a travel budget, one should know the following:

Generally, the young driver fee is from USD 20 to USD 25 per day on average for drivers aged 21-24.
In Michigan and New York, this fee spikes if a driver is between 18 and 20 years old.
Due to strict rules, the per-day fee ranges from USD 35 to USD 120+.
In most states, this fee is around USD 15 to USD 30.
For standard trucks and larger trucks, the young driver fee for rental cars in Detroit, Michigan, is USD 15.75 to USD 34 and USD 52.25, per day, respectively.
Underage drivers in New York will need to pay USD 33 to USD 68 for standard cars and USD 121.50 for larger and commercial vehicles.

Does the Rental Car Age Requirement Vary by Company?

Requirements and policies vary by company. Additionally, vehicle restrictions, surcharges, and eligibility also differ even within the same region or state. Thus, renters should verify everything beforehand:

Car Rental Company	Minimum Age	Under-25 Renter Policy
Hertz	20 years	A 20-year-old can rent a car, but underage surcharges are applied.
Enterprise	21 years	Exceptions are applicable in New York and Michigan, but a 21-year-old is allowed to rent a car. However, a young renter fee is charged for renters under 25.
Budget	21 years	Renters under 25 qualify, but they will need to pay a young renter fee.
Avis	21 years	Besides New York and Michigan, renters 21-25 can rent a car.
Dollar	20 years	Drivers 20-24 years of age are allowed to rent, but they will need to pay a young driver fee.

Note: Renters should also learn about the minimum and young driver policy before renting to avoid an additional underage renter surcharge.

Does the Minimum Age Vary by State?

State laws regarding the minimum age greatly vary. For Virginia, Texas, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania, rental agencies implement standard policies, while in the rest of the states, the minimum age is different from one another.

State	Minimum Age	Precise Rules
Texas	21 years	All companies accept rental requests made by a 21-year-old, but for Enterprise, the age should be above 21.
Pennsylvania	21 years	A young renter fee is payable if a driver is under 25.
Virginia	21 years	Certain fees and vehicle restrictions are applied for drivers below 25.
Nebraska	19 years	Other companies may have different age rules, but Hertz allows 19-year-old renters to rent a car.
South Carolina	21 years	Along with vehicle restrictions, renters between 21 and 24 will have to pay a fee.
New York	18 years	Visitors and military members can rent a car. However, a higher young driver surcharge will be levied.
Alabama	19 years	Only Hertz allows 19-year-old renters to book a car.
Michigan	18 years	With higher fees and limited vehicle options, renters in this age group can reserve a rental car.
Other States	20 and 21 years	Except for Hertz (it has a minimum age of 20 to rent a car), all companies have a minimum age requirement, which is 21 years.

What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car?

In the United States, most car rental agencies need certain documents to prove individual identity and other information. However, company-to-company requirements vary, but some will remain the same:

Driver’s License: It should be valid for the rental duration and should not have any DUI convictions.
IDP: Stands for International Driving Permit; it is needed when a renter has a license in a non-English language.
Credit/Debit Card: Although most companies need a credit card, some agencies may accept a debit card for an authorization hold and other payments.
Passport: It is needed when a visitor is using the IDP and debit card as an extra ID for further verification.
Booking Confirmation: Every company asks for the booking confirmation (if it is done online) at the time of pick-up.
Return Ticket: When rental cars are booked at the airport, it is mandatory to have a confirmed return travel ticket.
Insurance Proof: To drive a rental car freely and manage accidental and other expenses, one should have insurance coverage, though it is not legally mandatory.
Extra ID: Car rental companies may also need more photo IDs issued by the government. However, it is not mandatory.
Military ID: Since military members can rent if they are 18 years old, they will need government ID to validate their age.

Remember: Every company charges a young renter fee for renters under 25. However, the fee varies by state, rental company, pick-up locations, and more.

Does Your Age Affect the Type of Car You Can Rent?

The age of a renter directly affects the vehicle category one can rent, particularly if a person is under 25. Here are vehicle-based age rules:

Compact/Economy Cars: This category is available for all, even if a renter is between 21 and 25 years of age.
Mid-Size and Full-Size Sedans: Even though it is an easy category to rent, renters may not get every model due to safety reasons.
Minivans and SUVs: Young renters can rent these vehicles, but restrictions vary by vehicle model, location, and company.
Premium and Luxury Cars: No company allows renters under 25 to rent a car from this category due to higher repair and replacement costs.
Sports and Specialty Vehicles: Again, this category is age-restricted, as young drivers are prone to more accidents.

Note: Hertz has clearly mentioned in its young renter policy that drivers under 25 are not permitted to rent cars from Prestige, Dream, Adrenaline, and other premium collections.

Can Older Drivers Rent a Car?

Generally, there is no maximum age in the United States for renting cars. Still, one should know the rules for older-age categories for a seamless rental experience.

65-74 Years

For this age group, there are no specific restrictions. However, one should meet the company-based requirements, such as a valid driving license.

75-79 Years

Most car rental companies in the country continue to give vehicles on rent. Nonetheless, some locations, such as car rentals at JFK Airport and other areas, may impose stringent rules and conditions.

80+ Years

Some companies may allow renters of this age, but others may restrict it due to safety reasons. Still, if a renter is fit enough and has all valid documents, they can rent a car.

Note: Since rental agencies, including Hertz, have no upper age limit for rental cars, older renters must have all documents, including insurance coverage, to rent a car.

Summary,

In the United States, the minimum age to rent cars is 21. However, some states, like Michigan, have a minimum age of 18. Similarly, Hertz allows 18-year-old renters to book a vehicle. Despite different age requirements, every company charges a young renter fee that starts at USD 15 per day. Lastly, visitors are advised to check state and company-based rules beforehand.