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Car Rental Without an Under-25 Fee: Where to Go & How to Avoid Fees
https://firstquarterfinance.com/car-rental-without-under-25-fee/
William Lipovsky | Verified & Updated May 31, 2019
Disclosure: FQF is reader-supported. When you buy/reserve/sign up through a link, we may earn a commission. Editorial Policy
Short Answer: It's difficult but not impossible to rent a car without paying an under-25 fee. Many car rental companies tack on an under-25 surcharge to protect themselves from the increased chance of an inexperienced driver getting into an accident. In most cases, fees for young drivers are around $25 to $35 per day, with higher fees imposed on those under 21.
In recent years, nontraditional car rental companies have made it more affordable for young adults to rent a car without fees. So if you're young, in need of a rental car, and don't want to pay a ton in unnecessary fees, we have a few solutions for you in this article.
Why Car Rental Companies Charge an Under-25 Fee
How to Get Around the Under-25 Fee
Companies That Don't Charge an Underage Driver Fee
Getaround
Silvercar by Audi
Companies That Charge an Underage Driver Fee
ACE Rent a Car
U-Save Car and Truck Rental
It may seem unfair for a car rental company to charge you extra fees — or not to rent to you at all — just because you're under 25. But, it all comes down to numbers. Car rental companies base these strict rules and higher rates on statistics, and truthfully, young drivers are much more likely to get into accidents.
For car rental companies, these statistics show that it's riskier to put their cars on the road with younger drivers at the wheel. For this reason, companies often restrict their rental options or charge extra fees for renters under the age of 25. Young driver fees under $25 per day are generally on the lower end.
One thing to note is that in Michigan and New York, the minimum required age to rent a car is 18. Even if a rental company has a minimum age of 21, for example, in all other states, exceptions may be made in Michigan and New York. It's important to keep in mind that most car rental companies also impose much higher underage driver fees on renters between the ages of 18 and 20; in rare cases, as high as $150 per day.
If you're under 25 and want to rent a car without paying age-based fees, it can be done, although your options are limited. You cannot get around the fee by having a friend or relative over age 25 rent the car for you. All drivers must meet the company's rental requirements. Even if you are an additional (rather than the primary) driver, you will generally still be charged the young driver fee.
That being said, in certain circumstances, you may be able to get the extra charge waived. If you're a U.S. government employee on official government business or active duty military personnel on orders, many rental companies will not charge you the young driver fee. Hertz will waive underage driver fees for AAA members age 20 or older. If you don't fall into one of these categories, you can still avoid the fee by renting from one of the few companies that don't charge any young driver fees. For your benefit, we've listed these companies below.
Currently, the companies that rent to young drivers without any additional charges are newer alternatives to traditional car rentals. Ridesharing services like Getaround and Zipcar, which allow individuals to rent out their own vehicles by the day or hour, have grown in popularity over recent years. As these new services gain traction, larger car rental companies will hopefully follow suit in abandoning or lowering the under-25 fee.
Minimum age requirement: 19 for most rentals; 25 or older for "Specialty" vehicles
Other limitations: Drivers must have been licensed for at least two years with no more than two violations or accidents combined in the past three years. Drivers under 21 must have a completely clean driving record of at least three years. No DUI or drug-related violations are allowed within the past seven years.
Locations: Getaround currently operates in Atlanta, Berkeley, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
Reserve a car with Getaround
Minimum age requirement: 22 in most states; 18 in New York with a young driver fee of $75
Other limitations: The first time you rent, you'll need to show your driver's license and credit card, but your license information will be saved for subsequent rentals. The credit card you use must be in your name.
Locations: Silvercar is available at major airports in Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York City, Orange County, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington D.C.
Reserve a car with Silvercar by Audi
Note: Silvercar by Audi also offers free satellite radio, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
Minimum age requirement: 18 if you're a student; 21 for non-students. See our article for more Zipcar driver eligibility requirements.
Other limitations: Zipcar requires a $7 monthly membership to use. Students and teachers get a discount. To rent, you'll need to apply for membership and wait for verification. You should receive your Zipcard in the mail in a few days.
Locations: Available in cities across the U.S. and internationally
Reserve a car with Zipcar
Before automatically booking one of the above car rental companies without an under-25 fee, you should compare pricing against some of the traditional car rental companies that do impose a fee. In some cases, it may still be cheaper to rent through a company that charges an age-based fee. For more information, see our car rental selection tool.
Although some companies won't rent to you at all if you're under 25, they are gradually becoming the minority. More car rental companies now rent to "underage" drivers if they are simply willing to pay an additional surcharge. In the course of our research, some of the cheapest options we found include Enterprise and National Car Rental at around $20 per day for drivers age 21-24. Of course, exact fees can vary based on location, type of rental car, and age, even within the same car rental chain. Always be sure to do your own research to find the best price and options.
Note: If you also need lodging and want to save money on your trip, you can get $35 toward your first Airbnb stay with our referral link (credit amount subject to change). Anyone age 18 or older can book an Airbnb.
Minimum age requirement: 25; select locations will rent to drivers under 25
Other limitations: Vehicle restrictions may apply for drivers under 25
Underage driver fee: Fees vary by location. Contact your nearest ACE Rent a Car for details on its individual policy.
Reserve a car with ACE Rent a Car
Minimum age requirement: 21
Other limitations: Drivers under 25 may not rent certain large or luxury vehicles
Underage driver fee: Around $25 per day; exact fees vary by location
Reserve a car with Alamo
For details on the Alamo rental hold and credit card deposit, see our article.
Other limitations: If between the ages of 21 and 24, you'll need to pay with a credit card and show your driver's license at the reservation time. Renters under 24 can't rent full-size SUVs, luxury vehicles, minivans, passenger vans, premium SUVs, or Signature Series vehicles.
Underage driver fee: Around $27 per day for drivers 21-24. If renting in Michigan or New York State where the minimum rental age is 18, the fee is around $52 per day for drivers 18-20.
Reserve a car with Avis
Other limitations: If you're between the ages of 21 and 24, you'll need to pay by credit card, and Budget will check your driving record. Young drivers cannot rent luxury cars, minivans, 12-passenger vans, full-size or premium SUVs, or specialty vehicles.
Underage driver fee: Around $27 per day in most states. Fees are higher in Michigan and New York State where minimum age requirements are lower. In Michigan, drivers 21-24 must pay an additional $28 per day, while those 18-20 must pay an additional $41 per day. In New York, the 21-24 fee is $35 per day, while the fee is $52 per day for those age 18-20.
Reserve a car with Budget
Minimum age requirement: 20 at most locations
Other limitations: You'll need to show your driver's license and a valid credit card in the same name as your license. Some locations may have geographic restrictions regarding where you are allowed to drive the car.
Underage driver fee: Amount varies by location
Reserve a car with Dollar Rent a Car
Other limitations: Only specific car classes may be available to renters age 21 through 24. If you're using a debit card, you may need to show proof of return (at airport locations) or show additional proof of identification.
Underage driver fee: Around $20 per day at most locations. In New York, drivers 18-20 pay a surcharge of around $57 per day. In Michigan, the 18-20 surcharge is around $40 per day.
Reserve a car with Enterprise
See our article for information about getting an Enterprise student discount.
Minimum age requirement: 19 at most locations; some locations are restricted to 21+ or 25+
Other limitations: Your reservation must be made at least 24 hours ahead of pick-up to use a debit card, and you must be at least 21. All other young renters will need to pay with a credit card.
Underage driver fee: Around $20 to $30 per day, depending on the driver's age. Exact fees vary by location.
Reserve a car with Fox Rent a Car
Other limitations: Only certain classes of vehicle are available to young renters.
Underage driver fee: Around $35 to $45 per day for drivers 20-24, which is waived for AAA members. For other places where you can get a AAA rental discount, see our article. In states where drivers can rent at 18, the surcharge is around $52 per day.
Reserve a car with Hertz
For details on Hertz's credit check policy, see our article.
Underage driver fee: Around $20 to $25 per day for drivers 21-24, though exact fees vary by location. Renters age 18-20 in Michigan and New York State pay around $40 and $57 per day, respectively.
Reserve a car with National Car Rental
Other limitations: You must have a clean driving record and valid credit card in your name. You may only rent economy, intermediate, standard, full-sized cars, and minivans if you are under 25.
Reserve a car with Payless Car Rental
Minimum age requirement: 21 at most Rent-A-Wreck locations
Other limitations: Drivers 21-24 may only rent economy through full-size vehicles, intermediate SUVs, minivans, work pick-up trucks, cargo vans, and cargo trucks
Reserve a car with Rent-A-Wreck
Other limitations: Drivers under 25 may not rent certain specialty or large vehicles. Driver's license requirements may also vary based on the location and type of vehicle being rented.
Reserve a car with Sixt
Other limitations: Thrifty may check the driving record and license of all authorized drivers. Debit cards are only accepted if the reservation is made at least 24 hours in advance.
Reserve a car with Thrifty Car Rental
Other limitations: Renters under 25 must have been driving for at least two years. You'll also need a text-enabled mobile phone in your name and Social Security number to rent from Turo.
Underage driver fee: Drivers under 25 are subject to a fee of 30% of the trip price or up to $15 per day, whichever is greater.
Reserve a car with Turo
See a comparison of Turo vs Getaround in our article.
Age restrictions: 21
Other limitations: Not all vehicles are available to young renters, and you cannot use a debit card to pay your rental deposit.
Underage driver fee: Varies by location. It's around $15 to $50 per day for drivers age 21-24. In Michigan and New York State, fees for renters age 18-20 can reach as high as $150 per day.
Reserve a car with U-Save Car and Truck Rental
Car rental without an under-25 fee is difficult, but not impossible. Newer services like Getaround, Silvercar by Audi, and Zipcar have paved the way for young adults to rent a vehicle without an age-based surcharge. For other car rental companies, fees of around $20 per day are considered reasonable. Remember that fees can vary widely based on a number of different factors. In some instances, it may even be cheaper to use a traditional rental car company and pay the surcharge than to rent with a no-fee company. Always do your research before booking.
See more articles about Car Rentals
Where to Rent a Car Under 25: 19 Options Listed (+ Their Underage Fees)
Where to Rent a Car Under 21: Policies Listed by Rental Company
Costco Car Rental Cancellation Policy: Fees, Cancellation Process Shown
Picking Up a Rental Car Late: Fees at Enterprise, Hertz, Budget, etc
Car Rental Selection Tool: Find the Best/Cheapest Car Rental
Can You Smoke in a Rental Car? Answers for All Major Rental Companies
Can You Return a Rental Car Early? Policies Listed by Rental Company
9 Places to Rent a Car at 19: Restrictions, Fees, etc Detailed
The Cheapest Ways to Rent a Car Detailed: Discounts, Rewards, etc
Rental Car Additional Driver Policies (Spouse, etc) for All Major Companies
14 Car Rental Companies With Unlimited Mileage (Even Out of State)
3 Car Rental Companies That Don't Do Credit Checks (+ Those That Do)
15 Rental Car Companies That Pick You Up, Drop You Off, & Deliver Cars
Car Rental by the Hour: 5 Companies to Choose From
Victoriana says:
This article saved me so much money for my trip, thank you
Lindsey Desmet says:
You're welcome, Victoriana! We're glad to hear that our article was helpful to you!
AAA Members under 25 can get the fee waived at Hertz.
Rebecca Turley says:
Thanks for this valuable information! We double-checked with Hertz and found out that yes, drivers between the ages of 20-24 can get the under age fee waived with proof of AAA membership. We updated the article to reflect this. Thanks again!
Luke R says:
If you're not a member, the AAA membership would be WELL worth obtaining it if you have a Hertz nearby to rent from. It's going to save me $600 in fees on a two-week rental. Thanks for the tip!
Luke,
Yes, I completely agree! So glad you are able to avoid underage fees. Happy traveling, Luke!
Where to Rent a Car Under 25: 19 Options Listed (+…
Where to Rent a Car Under 21: Policies Listed by…
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