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Car Rental Tips

Car Rental Under 25: Young Driver Fees and Age Rules Explained

Renting a car under 25 is often possible. Here is how age limits and young driver fees work, which cars you can book and what to bring to the desk.

Driver with an arm out of the car window on a coastal road above the Pacific in California, USA
Photo by Johannes Mändle on Unsplash

You're under 25, you've found a car for your trip, and now one question keeps nagging you: will the rental desk actually hand you the keys? Maybe a friend warned you about a young driver fee, or the words "minimum age" in the rental conditions left you unsure.

Here's the good news. Car rental under 25 (or car hire under 25, if you're reading in the UK) is very common. It just comes with a few extra rules, and they're much less scary once you know where to look.

This guide covers how age limits work, what the young driver fee is, which cars you can book, and what to bring to the desk so pickup goes smoothly.

Can you rent a car under 25?

Often, yes. The minimum age depends on the rental company and location, a few suppliers and countries allow it from 18, and drivers under 25 often pay a young driver fee. If that fee applies, it appears in the booking summary before you book, so you're not left guessing.

There's no single worldwide rule. Each rental company sets its own age limits for each location and car type, within local law. That's why the details of your actual booking matter more than any general advice.

When you book through Northbound, the minimum age is shown before you confirm. If you're under 25, check that line first, then read the rest of the driver requirements. Our Help Center has the short version on how old you have to be to rent a car.

Minimum age to rent a car: what age can you rent?

Spoiler: it depends, but in a useful way.

So what age can you rent a car? The rental car age limit can move up or down depending on where you pick up and what you drive.

  • Location: different countries, and even different desks in the same country, can set different limits.
  • Car type: premium or luxury cars may need you to be 30 or older.
  • Driving experience: your license usually needs to have been held for at least 1 year, and sometimes 2. More on that below.

The US: the New York exception

In most US states, the minimum rental age is a business decision by the rental company. New York is the clearest exception.

Under New York General Business Law § 391-g, a rental company can't refuse to rent to anyone 18 or older solely because of their age, as long as insurance for drivers that age is available. The law also lets the company pass on any actual extra insurance cost linked to the renter's age. That's why young drivers in New York can still see a surcharge.

Flying in? Check the driver requirements on car rental at New York JFK before you book.

Renting in California, Florida or another state? The age limit and any fee in your booking's rental conditions are the ones that count.

Europe: one license, many rental rules

If your driving license was issued in an EU country, you can use it anywhere in the EU, as the EU's official Your Europe site explains. You can't drive in another country on a provisional license, though.

What the EU doesn't set is a single age for young driver car hire. Each rental company and location decides, and the requirements are shown when you book.

Can you rent a car at 18, 19, 20 or 21?

Sometimes. In your early twenties you can often rent, though you may pay a young driver fee and have a narrower choice of cars.

At 18, 19 or 20, expect fewer locations and fewer car classes to be open to you. A few suppliers and countries allow rentals from 18, so check the conditions for your exact pickup location. If that's you, search early and compare a couple of locations.

Young woman holding up a car key in front of a white car by the sea Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

How the young driver fee works

A young driver fee is an extra charge some rental companies add when the driver is young. It's generally tied to the insurance cost of younger drivers. New York's law, for example, talks about passing on the "actual extra cost for insurance."

Here's what to know before you book:

  • The fee and its terms are set by the rental company and appear in the rental conditions. They can vary by country, location and car class.
  • It's shown before you book. When a young driver fee applies, you'll see it in the booking summary on Northbound before you confirm.
  • Per day or per rental depends on the rental company. Check the rental conditions to see how your fee is charged.
  • A second driver is a separate question. Whether the fee also applies to an additional driver under 25 depends on the rental company, so read the conditions before you add one.

How much is it to rent a car under 25? We don't quote amounts, because fees vary by rental company and location. The number that counts is the one in your own booking summary.

The booking summary is where the small print finally gets a price tag.

Which cars you can book under 25

Small and midsize cars are the safest bet for young drivers. Premium and luxury cars may need you to be at least 30, so that convertible daydream might have to wait a few years.

How long you've held your license matters as much as your age. Rental companies usually ask that you've held it for at least 1 year, and some ask for 2. This rule catches a lot of 18 to 21 year olds who passed their test recently.

Got your license a few months before your trip? Check this requirement first. Our Help Center explains how long you need to have held a license.

Small vintage car parked on a cobblestone square in Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy Photo by Bjorn Agerbeek on Unsplash

What to bring to the rental desk

Pack the right card before the sunglasses.

Use this checklist:

  • [ ] Your driving license: full, valid and physical (digital licenses aren't accepted), in Latin characters. If your license uses a different script, bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well.
  • [ ] Passport or national ID.
  • [ ] A credit card in the main driver's name: most rental companies need a physical credit card to block the security deposit, and some accept debit cards. The security deposit is a hold on your card at pickup, not the price of the rental.
  • [ ] Your booking voucher.
  • [ ] Proof of address, if your rental conditions ask for it. Some desks do, so check before you travel.

The card is the item that catches people out. If you arrive without a suitable card, or with one in someone else's name, the desk can refuse the rental, require extra cover or ask for a higher security deposit, and it can be treated as a no-show.

Read what kind of card you need at pickup before you travel, and check that your card limit can handle the hold.

Renting under 25 in another country

New country, new paperwork, same you.

Traveling abroad adds a license question on top of the age question.

US travelers. The US State Department says some countries accept a US driver's license, while many others require an International Driving Permit. You can get one from AAA or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) before your trip, and you should carry your US license too. It also suggests checking whether your own auto insurance covers you abroad.

UK travelers. GOV.UK says you don't need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein if you have a photocard driving license, but check with your hire company in case it asks for one. For young driver car hire in the US, GOV.UK says to check the individual state's rules and the hire company, since you may need both your license and an IDP.

Licenses in a non Latin script. Wherever you rent through Northbound, a license that isn't in Latin characters needs an IDP alongside it.

Ending in a different city? Many rental companies allow one way rentals, such as Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and these may carry a one way fee, so check the rental conditions shown at booking. Driving into another country usually needs the rental company's permission, and doing it without permission can void your insurance.

White car driving on a curving stretch of California 1 near Mendocino, California, USA Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

How to rent a car under 25 without surprises

  1. Check the minimum age first in the booking details for your pickup location and car.
  2. Read the license requirements, including how long the license must have been held.
  3. Compare the full totals, not just the headline price. If a young driver fee applies, it shows in the booking summary before you book.
  4. Book a small or midsize car, usually the easiest classes to get as a younger driver.
  5. Bring a credit card in the main driver's name with enough room on it for the security deposit.
  6. Add any second driver properly, and check whether a young driver fee applies to them too. Only drivers named on the rental agreement should drive the car.
  7. Check the fuel policy. Most rentals are full-to-full, so plan a stop to refuel before you return the car.

Frequently asked questions

What age can you rent a car?

It depends on the rental company and location. A few allow it from 18, others set a higher minimum, and premium cars may need you to be 30 or older. The minimum age is shown before you confirm.

Can you rent a car at 18?

Sometimes. A few suppliers and countries allow it, and New York law bars refusing renters 18 or older solely because of age when insurance is available. Check the rental conditions for your pickup location.

Can you rent a car at 21?

Often, yes, though you may pay a young driver fee and have fewer car classes to choose from. Check the minimum age shown in your booking.

Can you rent a car under 25 in California?

Often, yes. The age limit and any young driver fee in your booking's rental conditions are the ones that count, so check them before you confirm.

Where can you rent a car under 25?

Rules vary by country, location and car type, so search your pickup location and check the minimum age before you book.

Plan your under 25 car rental with Northbound

Being under 25 doesn't have to mean a stressful pickup. Check the minimum age, look for any young driver fee in the booking summary, pick a small or midsize car, and bring the right license and card.

When you're ready, search on Northbound and check the age requirements before you confirm. Planning a road trip that ends somewhere else? Browse our one way car rental routes.

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