Surprising Rental Car Age Restrictions

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

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Carol is an editor with SmarterTravel Media, specializing in travel writing, multimedia production, and trying every local cuisine she can find. You can follow her journeys @cj_mcpherson on Instagram.

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Renting a car can be the key to unlocking the ultimate freedom during your travels. No need to rely on bus schedules, navigate the local subway system, or worry about rush hour taxi fares. However, not everyone is allowed to hop behind the wheel. Many states, countries, and rental car companies have policies that restrict which licensed drivers are able to rent a car. From young driver fees to maximum age restrictions, here is who qualifies to hit the open road.

Minimum Age Restrictions for Car Rentals

You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car in the United States, with the exception of Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah, where the minimum age to rent a car is 18 years old. However, many rental car companies apply a ‘young driver fee’ to renters younger than 25 years old.

Two young women driving a convertible on a sunny day — Alessandro Biascioli | Adobe Stock

According to Hertz, this is because, “statistically, drivers under 25 years old are more likely to be involved in an accident, so rental car companies add the surcharge to help protect themselves from the added risk they are assuming.” Practice your due diligence in price comparison before booking—some companies charge a higher fee than others. For AAA members, certain car rental providers will waive the fee entirely.

International locations also implement minimum age requirements for rental cars, with most destinations setting their minimum age similarly between 18 and 25 years old.

Maximum Age Restrictions on Car Rentals

Here in the U.S., the idea of a maximum rental age is nearly unheard of. But if you’re a senior traveler headed overseas, it’s important to check ahead. Many countries have a minimum and maximum age for renters. Drivers over the age of 70 may face surcharges or not be permitted to rent at all.

Elderly couple driving rental car — Zoran Zeremski | Adobe Stock

For example, Auto Europe’s Web site states that renters in Ireland may not be over age 75, and that those over 70 may be subject to additional fees. (Editor’s Note: An Auto Europe spokesperson tells us that this maximum age does not necessarily apply to all of the company’s suppliers.) On Budget Rent a Car’s Web site, we found maximum age of 85 in Aruba, and on Enterprise there is a maximum age of 75 for car rentals in Montego Bay. Apollo Car Rental in Australia permits renters over the age of 75, but only with a doctor’s note.

Seniors can often evade these restrictions by shopping around, as terms and conditions vary widely from company to company. An 80-year-old traveler looking to rent in Ireland can try booking with Hertz, which permits renters over 75 as long as they’re willing to jump through a few hoops.

According to the policies on their website:

Customers over 75 years are eligible to rent with the following specific conditions:

You must drive on a regular basis;

You will need to provide to the counter a letter from your insurance company to state that you have not had an accident within the last 5 years, that you hold a current policy of motor insurance with you and that you are currently driving;

You will need to provide a current letter from your doctor to state you have been in good health.

An 80-year-old reader reported that she was able to rent a car at the Dublin airport through Dan Dooley Car Rental, a local outfit.

No matter your age, never book a car without reading the fine print. If you’re traveling with a younger companion, you can save money and avoid hassle by naming that person as the driver on your rental contract. Similarly for younger travelers, if a member of your group is a licensed driver over 25 years old, let them handle the rental.

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