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

Getting a driving license is so exciting! I guess the first thing that you thought about after getting a driving license was to get a vehicle. Sometimes we are limited in budget and can’t afford to buy an automobile, or don’t have the appropriate type of car for vacation, etc. For solving the issues and many other things, you can rent a car. Even if you plan to get a vehicle and are not sure whether it meets all your requirements or not, you can rent the model and test it for several days, instead of a short test drive before purchase. 

Nonetheless of the comfortability of renting a car, there is one important detail… Did you know that there are some eligibility criteria and age restrictions for renting an automobile? That can be a challenge for some individuals under a certain age. Read and learn how old to rent a car, and what to do in case you are under the restricted age. Reading the blog helps you to learn all about renting an automobile. So, let’s start the journey by exploring the minimum age requirement for renting a vehicle!

How old to rent a car? 18, 21, or 25? 

As you may already know, eligibility criteria may differ from state to state for different issues. Unsurprisingly, the minimum age requirement for renting an automobile is not an expectation! I guess you have heard different years about the issue. Some would say that he/she could rent a car at the age of 18, others may say that it is impossible to rent a car under 25… Since the issue might seem a bit complicated, it really needs a good clarification. Below I will explain in detail how old do you need to be to rent a car. 

The complication is derived due to the fact that the legal minimum age varies by region and rental companies. In some states, you have to be at least 21 years old to rent a car, but there are some expectations, where you can rent a vehicle at the age of 18 as well. Most states in the U.S. request rental companies to determine their minimum age requirement, which is usually 25, but not always! For instance, in Michigan and New York State, you can rent an automobile at the age of 18. The minimum age in those states is mandated by the state. 

Besides state regulation, as I’ve already mentioned, car companies have different requirements about what age can you rent a car. You may find some rental companies that won’t allow renting a vehicle unless you are over 21 years old, but you can find another company in the same state, that provides service for 18 years old customers as well. 

Another interesting detail while talking about age requirements is that some employment status might affect it. For instance, if you work in the US government or military, and need to rent a car for business purposes, you can do it even if you are 18 years old. But remember, you should own official orders to receive the allowance. Besides, some companies have corporate contracts with local rental companies, and this is another way when an employee can use the service even if he/she is under the required age. 

I guess it is already clear how old do you have to be to rent a car. Now we can move on and explore how old you have to be for saving money on the rental cost. 

How old do you need to be to rent a car at the lowest price? 

As you already know there are differences between states and companies in terms of the minimum required age for renting a vehicle. We know that most companies require to be over 25 years old for renting an automobile, but there are some expectations when agencies rent automobiles to 18 years old individuals as well. Some individuals might directly address a different company that allows them to rent a vehicle. I guess you understand that there is a big difference in terms of the rental cost. Yes, you are right! Individuals below 25 years old have to pay a “younger renter fee” on top of the daily rental rate. 

In some states, a rental fee might be quite high depending on the automobile model. Given into account that you might face an additional “younger renter fee” as well, you must be interested in exploring how old to rent a car at the lowest price. The renter fee differs per state. Let’s review exception cases, where you can rent an automobile even at the age of 18. In Michigan, you have to pay an additional 40$ per day, if you are 18-20 years old. In case you are between 21-24 years, then you should pay an additional 19$ per day for the “younger renter fee”. Prices are different in New York state. You have to pay about 65$ if you are between 18-20years and 25$ between 21-24 years. Nonetheless, of the mentioned costs, it might differ upon your age, the automobile model, the rental company, and local laws. 

Upon analyzing the above-mentioned information now you know how old do you need to be to rent a car, at the lowest price. Of course, in the best scenario, you should be at least 25 years old to avoid paying some extra rental fee. But, in case you are under 25 years old, now you have a clear picture of how much it will cost you to rent a car. 

What age can you rent a car – All about restrictions

After reading all the information, you know that in some states you can rent a vehicle even at the age of 18. But we have not yet mentioned anything about restrictions. Do you know that even though at what age can you rent a car, it might still have some restrictions? For instance, it is a well-known fact that rental companies provide a limited variety of automobiles to consumers under 25 years. They don’t allow younger drivers to rent expensive vehicles due to the high risk of damage, as younger consumers don’t have a long driving experience. 

While talking about restrictions, you might ask maximum how old do you have to be to rent a car. Unlike the minimum age requirement, there is no restriction about the maximum age. Most rental companies don’t have any limits, but still, older drivers can check whether some specific rental companies have any limits regarding the maximum age.

Conclusion 

All in all, nonetheless the issue of how old do you have to be to rent a car might seem quite confusing, hopefully reading the blog helped you to clarify it. Now you know that in most states you have to be at least 25 years old to rent a vehicle without paying an additional “younger renter fee”. But still, there are some exceptions and you are eligible to rent an automobile at the age of 18 in Michigan and New York states. Besides, you also know how much will the “younger renter fee” be per day. Hence, it’s up to you to make a decision and enjoy your rides! 

Used sources: