How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?

I have picked up rental cars in maybe a dozen countries, usually an hour after stepping off a flight with a backpack and a slightly fried brain. The question friends ask me most before their first fly-and-drive trip is simple: how old do you have to be to rent a car? The honest answer is that there is no single global number.

In most of the United States, the standard minimum age is 21. Across much of Europe it is also 21, sometimes higher for certain cars. A few places will rent to an 18-year-old. And almost everywhere, drivers under 25 pay extra. Where you land, which of the rental companies you book, the car class you choose, and local law all move the answer around.

Quick Answer: What Is the Minimum Age to Rent a Car?

So how old do you have to be to rent a car? In most countries, the standard minimum age to rent is 21, though some locations allow drivers to rent at 18, 19, or 20. Renters under 25 almost always pay a young driver surcharge, often around $25 per day. Luxury SUVs, vans, and specialty vehicles usually require older drivers.

Check the rental terms for your exact pickup city before you book, then check them again before pickup, because policies vary by company and location.

Why Car Rental Age Rules Vary

Rental age limits are shaped by four things: local law, insurance rules, each company’s own rental policy, and risk. There is no worldwide standard, so please do not assume the same age rule applies everywhere. A simple example shows how messy this gets. You might be allowed to rent a compact car at 21 in one country, then find that the same age cannot touch a luxury car in another.

The car is the variable. The driver’s age is the variable. The destination is the variable. Knowing how old you have to be to rent a car always means asking “where, which company, and which vehicle.”

Country and State Rules

Rules differ by destination, and sometimes within a single country. Some U.S. states allow younger renters than the national norm, while many European and other international rental markets set their own minimum ages.

State law can override a company’s usual policy, which is why a brand will publish one number for most of the country and a different number for a couple of states. Treat any figure you read, including the ones below, as a starting point and verify it against the rental company’s current terms for your pickup city.

Rental Company Policies

Each company sets its own rules, and most major rental companies publish them openly. Here is how a few of the big U.S. brands describe their age requirements:

Even within one brand, the number can vary, so read the policy for the specific rental location rather than trusting a general figure.

Vehicle Type Restrictions

Younger drivers are often limited to economy, compact, and standard cars, plus some midsize and full-size cars and smaller SUVs. Premium cars, large vans, luxury vehicles, and specialty models tend to carry higher age minimums.

The pattern is consistent: the more expensive or powerful the vehicle, the older you usually have to be. If you have your heart set on a particular car class, confirm the age rule for that class before you reach the counter.

Can You Rent a Car Under 25?

Yes. Many rental car companies rent to drivers under 25, but extra fees and a few restrictions are common. “Under 25” does not usually mean “too young to rent.” More often it just means the booking costs more, and your choice of vehicle classes is narrower. I rented plenty of cars in my early twenties. I simply paid the surcharge and stuck to a sensible hatchback.

Renting a Car at 18

Renting at 18 is possible in some places, but it is not the global norm. In the United States, New York and Michigan are the common exceptions where major brands rent to 18-year-olds, because state law requires it.

Military personnel and government employees traveling on authorized government travel can sometimes rent at 18 with official orders, and insurance-replacement rentals occasionally have their own rules. Outside those specific cases, an 18-year-old will struggle to find a standard rental in most locations.

Renting a Car at 19 or 20

Some companies and locations allow rentals at 19 or 20. Hertz, for example, sets its minimum rental age at 20 across most U.S. and Canada locations, and at 19 in Alabama and Nebraska. Availability at these ages can be limited, and young driver fees still apply. If you are 19 or 20, your eligibility depends heavily on the destination and the supplier, so search the actual pickup city rather than assuming.

Renting a Car at 21 to 24

This is the key young-driver age group. Most renters in this band can book a car, but they often face daily surcharges and car class limits. Alamo, for instance, lists a Youthful Surcharge for drivers aged 21 to 24, with an average cost around $25 per day, though the exact amount changes by rental location. I was 23 the first time I rented in Portugal. The daily rate looked great online, then the young renter fee quietly added up to a meaningful chunk of the total by the end of a week.

Renting a Car at 25 and Older

Twenty-five is the age when most young driver fees no longer apply. That does not clear every hurdle. At 25 or older, you still need a valid driver’s license, an accepted payment method, deposit approval, and possibly additional documents when traveling abroad. Older drivers occasionally face an upper age limit as well, since a few markets impose restrictions or additional checks for senior renters. Age 25 removes the surcharge, not the rest of the rental agreement.

What Is a Young Driver Surcharge?

A young driver surcharge, sometimes called a young renter fee or underage surcharge, is an additional daily fee charged to younger renters, usually those under 25. It exists because younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents, and insurers price that risk into the rental rate. On a cheap base rate, it can hurt. A car that looked like a bargain per day can become noticeably more expensive once the surcharge is multiplied across a long trip.

How Much Is the Under-25 Fee?

The exact amount varies by company, location, and booking terms. Alamo lists an average youth surcharge of about $25 per day, but says it can be higher or lower depending on location. Hertz charges a young renter fee that is below the industry average, currently around $19 per day, though it varies by location and car type, and can run higher for some vehicles and states.

Two states distort everything: in New York and Michigan, the fees published by major brands are often steeper, sometimes well over $60 per day for the youngest renters. The only way to know your exact amount is to start the reservation process for your specific location, which reveals the fee before you commit.

How to Lower or Avoid Young Driver Fees

A few practical moves can shrink or remove the fee:

• Compare suppliers. The surcharge differs between rental car companies for the same city and dates.
• Check memberships. NerdWallet reports that members of the American Automobile Association may have Hertz young-renter fees waived when booking through the eligible AAA-Hertz benefit, and AAA members often get a base-rate discount and a waived additional-driver fee, too.
• Look for student or association benefits, which sometimes reduce the underage surcharge.
• Review employer or government travel codes if you are eligible, since some corporate-operated locations apply negotiated rates.
• Avoid larger vehicle classes. Staying in economy or compact keeps both the base rate and the age-based checks lower.

If you are a government employee or military member on authorized government travel, bring your official orders, as that paperwork can eliminate the young renter fee at participating locations.

What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car?

Whatever your age, prepare the same core set of documents before you fly: a valid driver’s license, a payment card in your name, your booking confirmation, a passport or ID, and an international driving permit if your destination requires one. Having these ready turns a stressful counter visit into a five-minute formality, which matters when you have just landed and want to get on the road.

Driver’s License Requirements

Your driver’s license must be valid, not expired, and accepted in the pickup country. Some rental locations also require that you have held the license for a minimum time. Enterprise in France, for example, says drivers must have held a valid license for at least 1 year and does not accept digital driver’s licenses. Hertz similarly asks that your license has been in good standing for over a year. Check the hold-for requirement as well as the age requirement, because failing the first one can stop a rental just as fast as failing the second.

Credit Card, Debit Card, and Deposit Rules

Many rental companies require a card in the renter’s name and place a hold for the deposit at pickup. Rules for credit cards versus debit cards vary widely. Some locations accept a debit card, some insist on a credit card, and some add extra requirements, such as proof of a return flight.

Budget, for instance, asks under-25 renters to show an accepted credit card rather than a debit card, along with a valid license and a student ID. Do not assume your card will be fine. Confirm the card and deposit rules for your exact location before pickup.

International Driving Permit

An international driving permit is essentially a translation of your existing license. It becomes useful, and sometimes required, when your license is not in the local language or uses a different alphabet from the country you are visiting. In the United States, the American Automobile Association is one of the authorized issuers, and many countries recommend or require an IDP alongside your home license. Always check the destination’s official driving rules and the rental company’s terms, since an IDP does not replace your license. It travels with it.

Renting a Car After a Flight: What Travelers Should Check First

Here is the part travelers forget. A cheap flight can stop being cheap once you add a rental car with high age fees, a big deposit hold, or awkward pickup restrictions. The trip is the unit that matters, not the flight in isolation. Before you lock in a route, it is worth pricing the flight and the car together. If you are still comparing routes, searching cheap flights first and then layering the rental cost on top gives you the real picture.

Match Pickup Time to Your Flight Arrival

Delayed flights, late-night arrivals, and limited rental desk hours can wreck a smooth pickup. I once landed close to midnight and found the rental office had closed twenty minutes earlier, which led to an unplanned taxi ride and a wasted first night. Check whether the rental desk is inside the airport, off-site, or reachable only by shuttle, and confirm its opening hours against your scheduled arrival.

Compare Flight Price With Ground Transport Costs

The cheapest flight route is only one line in the travel budget. Add rental fees, fuel, tolls, parking, insurance, and any young-driver charges before deciding whether an itinerary is affordable. Sometimes a slightly pricier flight into a different airport works out cheaper overall because the car is cheaper or the drive is shorter. Timing helps too: reading up on the best days to book flights can shave money off the airfare, leaving more room in the budget for the car.

Be Careful With Last-Minute Rentals

Spontaneous trips are wonderful until the rental counter says no. Last-minute car rental options can be limited, especially for young drivers, and the cheapest vehicle classes fill up first. If you are tempted by a sudden getaway, check the age rules before you book the flight so you are not stranded after landing. The same caution applies to last minute flights : a great fare is only great if there is actually a car waiting for you at the other end.

Renting a Car Abroad: Age Rules for International Trips

International rentals need extra care. Age limits, license rules, insurance terms, and deposit requirements can change from country to country, even within the same brand. The safest habit is to read the rental company’s country-specific policy for your exact pickup city, not the version written for your home country.

Europe

Age rules in Europe vary by country and by supplier. Many companies rent from 21, while certain car classes need older drivers. Enterprise in France is a clear example: all drivers must be at least 21; some vehicle classes require drivers to be 23 or 24; and the most luxurious classes require drivers to be 30. France also requires that you have held your license for at least a year, and at some airports international travelers need to show a return ticket. None of that is obvious from a home-country page, which is exactly why you read the local one.

United States and Canada

Many major U.S. rental brands allow rentals from 21 in most states, with the usual exceptions baked into state law. Hertz lists 20 as the minimum at most U.S. and Canadian locations, with younger exceptions in a handful of places. If you are planning a long drive, factor the age rules into the route as carefully as the scenery.

A classic American road trip across several states can cross jurisdictions with different age and fee rules, so confirm the policy at each pickup point if you are switching cars along the way.

Other Global Destinations

Rules across Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania differ widely, and I would not trust any blanket claim about them, including a confident one. Minimum ages, accepted licenses, and deposit norms can swing dramatically between neighboring countries. Check the rental terms for the exact pickup city and allow a little buffer in case an international driving permit or a higher deposit is required.

Common Mistakes Young Renters Make

Most rental-counter stress is avoidable. These are the mistakes I watch trip up first-time renters, and a few I made myself, so they are worth a quick scan before you book.

Looking Only at the Daily Rental Price

The headline daily rate rarely includes everything. Young driver fees, insurance, taxes, toll plans, an additional driver, and deposits can all land on top of it. Before you confirm, look at the final all-in price, not the number in the big font. That is where the real cost of the rental lives.

Booking a Car Class You Are Too Young to Drive

A young driver might be allowed to rent a compact car but blocked from a premium or large vehicle. Booking a car class above your age band results in an awkward swap or a refusal at the counter. Check the age rules by vehicle class before you reserve, and pick something you are actually eligible to drive.

Forgetting About Insurance and Excess

Rental insurance confuses almost everyone. At a simple level, a collision damage waiver limits what you owe if the car is damaged, the excess is the amount you still pay before that kicks in, and your own credit card or travel insurance may already cover part of it. I am not going to pretend one option is always right. Read the terms, confirm what is actually covered, and decide before pickup rather than under pressure at the desk.

Not Checking Local Driving Laws

Local laws catch travelers off guard. Speed limits, toll tags, mandatory winter tires, low-emission zones, and which side of the road you drive on all vary by country. A quick read of the destination’s rules before you go saves a fine and a fright. Keep it travel-focused: you want to enjoy the drive, not decode a traffic ticket in a language you do not speak.

Ready to Plan the Rest of Your Trip?

A smooth fly-and-drive trip is really just two things lined up properly: the right flight and the right car waiting at the other end. Kiwi.com helps with the first half, finding affordable flights and giving you the arrival times you need to plan onward ground transport with fewer surprises. Check your flight options, your landing time, and the rental age rules together, in one sitting, and you will build a trip that holds up from takeoff to the moment you turn the key in the rental car. That is the whole point: less guessing, fewer nasty surprises at the counter, more of the trip you actually came for.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car FAQs

Why do rental companies charge extra if you are under 25?

Drivers under 25 are statistically involved in more accidents, so insurers treat them as higher risk. Rental companies pass that risk on as a young driver surcharge, a daily extra fee that most renters under 25 pay on top of the base rate.

How much is the young driver fee for rental cars?

It varies by company and location, but a common figure is around $25 per day. Alamo lists an average of about $25 daily for ages 21 to 24, and Hertz sits below the industry average at roughly $19 per day. In New York and Michigan, the fees published by major brands are often much higher.

Do you need a credit card to rent a car?

Often, yes. Many companies want a card in the renter’s name and place a deposit hold at pickup. Some locations accept a debit card while others require a credit card, and a few add extra checks for younger renters. Confirm the card rules for your exact location before you go.

Are there cars young drivers are not allowed to rent?

Usually. Younger renters are commonly limited to economy, compact, and standard cars, plus smaller SUVs. Luxury cars, high-performance cars, exotic cars, large vans, and other specialty vehicles often require drivers to be 25 or older, depending on the company and country.

Is it cheaper to rent a car at the airport or in the city?

It depends on the location. Airport desks usually have the widest choice but sometimes stricter age and card policies and added airport fees. City branches can be cheaper but may have shorter hours. Compare the all-in price for both, including any young renter fee, before deciding.

What should you check before renting a car after a flight?

Confirm the minimum age and any surcharge for your age, the documents required, the card and deposit rules, the rental desk’s opening hours against your arrival time, and the full price with insurance and fees included. Check it when you book, then once more before pickup, since policies vary.