Car Rentals That Rent to Drivers Under 25: What Young Renters Need to Know

Renting a car under 25 is possible — but it costs more, comes with more restrictions, and varies significantly depending on where you rent, which company you use, and what you're renting. Here's how the system actually works.

Why Age 25 Is the Threshold

Car rental companies treat drivers under 25 as higher-risk based on actuarial data — younger drivers statistically have more accidents and moving violations. Because rental companies self-insure a portion of their fleet risk, they pass that exposure back to the renter through young driver surcharges (sometimes called underage fees).

This isn't a legal requirement — it's a business policy. That's why the rules differ from one company to the next and even from one location to the next under the same brand.

The Minimum Age Floor

Most major rental companies won't rent to anyone under 21, and some locations (particularly airport counters) draw the line at 25 for certain vehicle categories. A handful of locations won't rent to drivers under 18 even with a parent or guardian present.

The general breakdown looks like this:

These cutoffs aren't universal. Some companies allow rentals starting at 18 in certain states. Others restrict rentals to 21+ regardless of location. You'll need to check directly with the company for the specific pickup location you have in mind.

How Young Driver Surcharges Work

A young driver surcharge is a daily fee added to your base rental rate. It applies separately from other fees — taxes, insurance, fuel options — and it adds up fast on a multi-day rental.

Surcharges commonly range from $25 to $35 per day, though this varies by company, location, and rental class. On a 7-day rental, that's potentially $175–$245 in additional cost before taxes.

Some rental categories — luxury vehicles, large SUVs, vans, exotic cars, and premium trucks — are excluded entirely for drivers under 25, regardless of willingness to pay the surcharge. The age restriction on those vehicle classes is a hard policy, not a pricing adjustment.

Companies That Commonly Rent to Under-25 Drivers

Most major national rental brands — including Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Alamo, and National — do rent to drivers between 21 and 24 with the surcharge applied. Availability at 18–20 is more limited and more location-dependent.

A few things worth knowing:

• Enterprise has historically been noted for more flexible age policies at some locations, including some 18+ rentals, but this varies by state.
• National and Alamo are affiliated brands and share similar age policies.
• Hertz and Dollar (also affiliated) may have slightly different rules at airport vs. off-airport locations.
• Turo (peer-to-peer vehicle sharing) has its own age rules set partly at the platform level and partly by individual car owners. Some hosts rent to drivers 18+; others set higher minimums.

No rental company has a blanket national policy that applies identically everywhere. State regulations, local franchise agreements, and individual location policies all create variation. 🗺️

State-Specific Rules That Can Help Young Renters

Two states — New York and Michigan — have laws that effectively limit how rental companies can handle young driver surcharges or age minimums, which means policies in those states may differ from what the same company offers elsewhere.

If you're renting in either of those states, it's worth checking the company's state-specific policies directly, because what applies in Texas or Florida may not apply there.

Credit Cards and Young Driver Benefits

Some credit cards marketed to younger consumers or college students include rental car perks, but these typically cover collision damage waivers — not surcharge waivers. The young driver surcharge usually still applies regardless of how you pay.

A few premium travel credit cards waive the young driver surcharge at certain rental companies as a cardholder benefit. This is card- and company-specific, so checking your card's benefits guide is worth the time if you carry one of these cards.

What Under-25 Renters Often Can't Rent

Even when a young driver surcharge is paid and the rental is approved, certain vehicle types are commonly off-limits:

• Full-size pickup trucks
• Passenger vans (12–15 passenger)
• Luxury or premium sedans (above a certain rate tier)
• Sports cars and convertibles
• Large SUVs in some cases

If your trip requires one of these categories, availability depends entirely on the company and location — and in many cases it simply won't be available regardless of budget. 🚗

Additional Driver Policies for Under-25 Renters

If an under-25 driver needs to be added as an additional driver, the surcharge typically applies to that driver too — it's per-driver, not per-rental. Some companies waive the surcharge for a spouse or domestic partner in states where that's required, but a young additional driver usually pays the same daily fee.

The Variables That Shape Your Actual Experience

What you'll actually pay and what you'll have access to depends on:

• Your age — 18, 21, and 25 are the three major cutoff points
• The rental company — policies differ meaningfully between brands
• The pickup location — airport vs. off-airport, and which state
• The vehicle class — economy and midsize cars are most accessible; premium and specialty vehicles are most restricted
• Length of rental — surcharges compound daily, so cost impact grows on longer trips
• Whether you have a credit card with surcharge waivers — rare but worth checking

The same driver, same age, and same destination can yield different availability and pricing depending entirely on which company and which location they book through. That gap — between general policy and what applies at the specific counter you'll stand at — is the piece only your own research can fill.