Teenagers and Rental Cars

Reluctant to pay added fees for the "kids" to drive a rental car? Learn about the age limits of various car rental companies and where you can save.

We took a look at the major car rental company's policies on renting your eldest a car for that next weekend road trip. Guess what?  It ain't easy!  Even a childcare provider under the age of 25 who you hired to take your kids to the beach house will incur additional fees and headaches when booking her or his own wheels.  Although most car rental companies claim that insurance rates are prohibitive for the High Risk group of renters under 25, it seems it might just be another way to assess extraordinary fees...

Yet two companies, Avis and Budget, have standardized their policies to allow renters under age 25 to rent any vehicle from any location, with a $25/day surcharge.  That's a good start.

U.S. Rental Car Company Policies

Alamo:   Primary renters must be 21 or older in most states, a very liberal policy. Customers under the age of 21 pay a daily fee of $25. In New York, drivers 18 and older may rent, but there is an under-25 fee of $60 per day. Alamo reserves the right to restrict under-age renters from renting certain vehicles. 

Dollar:  Drivers 25 and older may rent at most locations with a major credit card and a valid license. Extra charges for those under 25 vary depending on location.

Hertz:  The minimum age for renters is 25, except in New York and Michigan, where drivers 18 and over can rent. Customers under 25 pay a surcharge between $27-45 a day.

National:  Renters must be 21 or older in most states. Customers under the age of 25 pay a daily fee of $25, except in Boston, where the fee is higher. In New York, drivers 18 and older may rent, but the under-25 fee is $70.82/day. Maximum age limit to rent is 99.

Enterprise:  Most drivers must be 21 or older; in New York, those 18 and older may rent. Every location charges extra fees for those under 25 which is usually $10 per day.

Payless:  The minimum-age policy is 25 years throughout the company, unless specified differently by each location. Renters under 25 pay a surcharge of $25 a day and must hold a major credit card in their name.

Thrifty:  Drivers 21 and older may rent. Those under 25 are required to pay a daily surcharge of around $42.99 a day.

International Rental Age Minimums & Maximums

Rental car regulations vary by country and, in addition to minimum and maximum ages for drivers, each country has regulations about which border can be crossed with a rental vehicle. We suggest you do some research with one of the multi-national car rental agencies before departure to determine the basic rules, then do Internet research to find local car rental operators at your destination, as their rates are often less.

Here's a look at regulations in some countries where renting a car for sightseeing is a popular option.

• Austria - The minimum rental age is 19; no maximum age. Restrictions apply on vehicle types booked for ages 19-24.



• Cyprus - The minimum rental age is 23; maximum age limit is 75. There is no under age fee



• Germany - The minimum rental age is 21 years. Additional fees apply for 21-24 year olds. Restrictions apply on vehicle types booked for ages 21-30. If a young driver is an additional driver, charges will apply.



• Guam - The minimum rental age is 18;  no maximum age limit. There is no under age fee.



• Ireland - The minimum rental age is 24; maximum age limit is 74. Restrictions apply on vehicle types booked for ages 24-26. An underage fee applies per day of rental for drivers between 24-26.



• Israel - The minimum rental age is 24; no maximum rental age. There is no under age fee.



• Italy - The minimum rental age is 19; maximum age limit is 75. Restrictions apply on vehicle types booked for ages 21-24.

Story provided by The Family Travel Forum. (FTF) Their motto Have Kids, Still Travel, is dedicated to the ideals, promotion and support of travel with children.