How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car? 2026 Age Requirements and Under 25 Rules

Last Updated: August 24

The usual minimum age to rent a car is 21. Drivers under 25 can still rent almost everywhere but pay a young driver surcharge and face possible vehicle restrictions. Hertz allows renters as young as 20, and New York and Michigan legally require rentals to 18 year olds. The exact requirement depends on the company, location, and vehicle class.

The car rental age requirement depends on the company, the pickup location, and sometimes the vehicle class. This guide covers what age can you rent a car, why the 21 to 25 gap costs extra, and how to avoid paying more than you need to.

Key takeaways

• The standard minimum age to rent a car in the U.S. is 21. Drivers 25 and older rent without a young driver surcharge.

• New York and Michigan require rental companies to rent to 18 year olds by state law, but the surcharge is steep, often $40 to $85 per day.

• Young driver fees typically run $15 to $35 per day for renters aged 21 to 24, and rise sharply for renters aged 18 to 20.

• Luxury cars, passenger vans, and specialty vehicles are usually off limits to renters under 25, regardless of state.

• A valid driver’s license held for at least one year, a credit card in the renter’s name, and, for international trips, an International Driving Permit, are the standard entry requirements.

Table of Contents

1. What are the age requirements to rent a car

2. Why do car rental companies restrict age

3. Car rental age requirements by country

4. Car rental company age policies in 2026

5. New York and Michigan: the 18 year old exception

6. Can you rent a car at 18

7. Can you get a car rental under 25

8. Is there a maximum age to rent a car

9. Tips for young renters

10. Mistakes young renters make

11. Frequently asked questions

12. Quick summary

What are the age requirements to rent a car?

Most companies set the minimum rental car age at 21, and drivers under 25 pay more for the same car. There is no U.S. federal law setting a minimum rental age. Each company sets its own floor based on internal risk and insurance calculations, which is why the car rental age limit shifts from one brand to the next.

Here is how the standard age brackets break down.

25 and older. Most companies rent to this group without a young driver surcharge and without vehicle class restrictions. This is the baseline every rental price is quoted against.

21 to 24 years old. Nearly every major rental company will rent to you in this bracket, but expect a young driver surcharge, usually $15 to $35 per day depending on the company and location. Certain vehicle categories, including luxury sedans, large SUVs, and passenger vans, may be off the table.

18 to 20 years old. This is where car rental age restrictions get narrow. Federal law does not require any company to rent to you at 18, but New York and Michigan mandate it by state law, and a few companies extend that age nationally in specific states like Alabama and Nebraska. The surcharge at this age is the steepest of the three brackets.

Quick facts table

Why do car rental companies restrict age?

Rental companies restrict age because younger drivers file more claims, not because of a company preference. The car rental age requirement exists to manage that risk, and the data behind it is well documented.

Crash risk drops sharply with age and experience. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that the crash rate per mile driven for 16 to 17 year olds runs roughly 3.7 times higher than for drivers 20 and older. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that drivers in their late teens face a fatal crash rate close to three times that of drivers aged 20 and up, largely due to inexperience rather than recklessness alone.

The young driver surcharge covers real financial exposure. A young driver car rental fee, usually $15 to $35 per day and higher in NY and MI, offsets the rental company’s higher insurance cost and claims risk for that age group. It is a pricing adjustment tied to actuarial data, not a penalty.

Vehicle class limits reduce severity, not just frequency. Blocking renters under 25 from high performance or luxury vehicles lowers the average cost of a claim if one happens, which is why those restrictions apply even to 21 to 24 year olds with a clean license.

Pro tip:

If you are 21 to 24 and renting for a business trip, ask whether your employer has a corporate account. Many corporate rates waive the young driver surcharge entirely, something a personal booking never gets by default.

Car rental age requirements by country

Car hire age rules shift outside the U.S. too. If you are planning a trip abroad, check both the minimum age and the license history requirement. Most countries want proof you have held a license for at least a year, and several expect an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your home license.

Albania

• Minimum age: 21 (18 with a young driver surcharge at some companies)

• Young driver surcharge: roughly €10 to €20 per day for renters under 25

• License requirement: valid license held at least one year

• Insurance: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and theft protection are usually bundled. Confirm what is included before you sign.

If you are road tripping through the country, it helps to know which regions work best by car. Car rental destinations in Albania can help you decide where having a rental makes more sense than relying on public transport.

Greece

• Minimum age: 21

• Young driver surcharge: approximately €15 to €25 per day for renters under 25

• License requirement: license held at least one year; non EU residents typically need an IDP

• Insurance: basic coverage is usually included, with optional upgrades at the counter

Greece’s mainland roads and island ferry connections both factor into how much car you actually need. Driving in Greece as a visitor can also involve different considerations depending on your route, ferry plans, and destination.

Morocco

• Minimum age: 21

• Young driver surcharge: around MAD 150 to 200 (roughly $15 to $20) per day for renters under 25

• License requirement: license held at least one year; an IDP is strongly recommended, even where not strictly mandatory

• Insurance: basic coverage is standard; comprehensive coverage is worth adding for mountain or desert routes.

Renters under 25 planning to head into the Atlas Mountains or along the coast should consider the terrain and driving conditions in Morocco, particularly when choosing a rental vehicle.

Mexico

• Minimum age: 21

• Young driver surcharge: roughly $10 to $20 per day for renters under 25

• License requirement: license held at least one year; an IDP is recommended but not always required

• Insurance: liability coverage is mandatory by law; CDW and theft protection are optional add ons worth taking

Age rules can vary by pickup city, so it is worth checking car rental locations in Mexico guide before locking in a destination.

Car rental company age policies in 2026

Company policy, not state law, is what most renters actually run into. Here is how the minimum age and young driver surcharge compare across the major U.S. brands as of 2026. Fees vary by location and change over time, so confirm the exact number at booking.

To compare current pricing across brands in one place, you can book your next car rental with FinalRentals and filter by age eligible vehicles before you commit to a reservation.

New York and Michigan: the 18 year old exception

New York and Michigan are the only two U.S. states that legally require rental companies to rent to 18 year olds. Every other state leaves the minimum age up to the company. The trade off is cost: the surcharge in these two states is the highest in the country.

A driver’s license held for less than a year, or a debit card instead of a credit card, can still block a rental even where the age itself qualifies. Check both requirements before you book.

Can you rent a car at 18?

Yes, but only in specific situations. Outside New York and Michigan, renting at 18 generally requires one of these exceptions.

1. Government or military orders. Most companies rent to 18 year old government employees or active duty military traveling on official orders, with documentation required at the counter.

2. State mandated locations. New York and Michigan, plus Quebec in Canada.

3. Select state exceptions. A few companies extend an 18 to 19 floor in states like Alabama and Nebraska.

If none of those apply, 21 is the realistic floor almost everywhere in the U.S.

Can you get a car rental under 25?

Yes. Most companies rent to drivers aged 21 to 24 without issue, but expect a young driver surcharge on top of the base rate and possible limits on which vehicle classes you can book. A car rental under 25 is routine, not an exception, as long as you meet the standard entry requirements.

Those requirements are consistent across most companies and countries:

• A valid driver’s license held for at least one year

• A credit card in the renter’s own name, not a debit card, at most locations

• A government issued photo ID matching the license

• An International Driving Permit for international rentals, in addition to your home license

The surcharge itself is not fixed. It depends on the company, the state or country, and sometimes the season, which is why comparing two or three companies before booking under 25 can save real money on the same trip.

Is there a maximum age to rent a car?

There is generally no universal maximum age to rent a car in the United States. Most major companies do not cap the upper age for domestic rentals. Some countries and individual rental companies outside the U.S. do apply maximum age policies, and older drivers may be asked for additional documentation or insurance depending on the location.

Because these policies vary by country and by company, renters should confirm the specific age policy directly with the rental provider before booking, particularly for international trips or specialty vehicle categories.

Tips for young renters

Compare brands before you book. Surcharge structures differ enough between companies that the same trip can cost $30 to $50 more per day depending on which one you pick. Comparing prices upfront on a platform like FinalRentals.com is the fastest way to see the age adjusted total, not just the base rate.

Check membership discounts. AAA members frequently get the young driver surcharge waived entirely at select companies. Active duty military, National Guard, reserves, and veterans through USAA often qualify for the same waiver. If you belong to either, ask specifically, since it is rarely applied automatically.

Use a credit card with rental benefits. Several credit cards include secondary or primary rental car coverage as a cardholder perk, which can reduce what you would otherwise pay for a Collision Damage Waiver at the counter. Credit cards with rental car benefits can vary in what they cover and exclude, so check the terms before relying on the coverage..

Ask about corporate rates. If you are renting for work, a corporate account can waive the young driver surcharge outright. For example, a standard under 25 rate of $75/day ($50 base plus a $25 surcharge) might drop to $45/day under a corporate agreement with the surcharge waived, a $30/day difference on a routine business trip. Check with HR or your company intranet for a corporate code before booking.

Read the fine print on insurance. Read the fine print on insurance. Age affects more than the base rate. It can affect what coverage is even offered to you. Understanding how car rental insurance works can help you choose the right protection, especially when you are already paying an underage surcharge.

Mistakes young renters make

Travelers researching this topic on forums like Reddit repeatedly run into the same handful of problems. Recognizing them ahead of time avoids a rejected reservation at the counter.

• Assuming a debit card works the same as a credit card. Most companies require a credit card in the renter’s name for anyone under 25. A debit card often is not accepted even if the age requirement is met.

• Not checking vehicle class restrictions before booking. Reserving a luxury or passenger van rental, then discovering at pickup that renters under 25 cannot take that class, is one of the most common under 25 complaints online.

• Booking through a third party without confirming the age policy transfers. Some booking sites do not clearly flag a location’s under 25 restrictions until checkout, or after payment.

• Forgetting the license history requirement. Meeting the minimum age does not help if the license itself is less than a year old. This trips up new drivers more than the age rule does.

• Not asking about the surcharge before arriving. The young driver fee is rarely included in the advertised base rate, so renters are often surprised by a total that is $20 to $80 higher per day than expected.

Before signing anything at the counter, it is worth knowing the common car rental mistakes that can lead to unexpected fees or problems at pickup, since many of the issues young renters face apply to other travelers too.

Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be to rent a car?

21 at most companies. Hertz allows 20 at most U.S. and Canada locations, and New York and Michigan require companies to rent to 18 year olds by law.

Can you rent a car at 25 or 26?

Yes. At 25, the young driver surcharge disappears at nearly every company, and vehicle class restrictions are lifted.

What states allow 18 year olds to rent cars?

New York and Michigan, by state law. A few companies also rent to 18 to 19 year olds in Alabama and Nebraska, and to government or military renters on official orders nationwide.

How much is the young driver fee?

Typically $15 to $35 per day for renters aged 21 to 24. Renters aged 18 to 20 in New York or Michigan can see $40 to $85 per day.

Can you rent a car under 21?

At most companies, no. A handful of companies and the New York and Michigan state mandates allow renters as young as 18, but availability at 18 to 20 is limited compared to the 21 and up market.

Does an International Driving Permit lower the age requirement abroad?

No.An International Driving Permit supplements your license for international rentals. It does not change the minimum age set by the country or company.

Quick summary

• The real minimum age to rent a car is 21 almost everywhere in the U.S., with Hertz at 20 and New York/Michigan mandating 18 by law.

• Under 25 surcharges run $15 to $35/day normally, spiking to $40 to $85/day for 18 to 20 year olds in NY and MI.

• Vehicle class restrictions apply to nearly every renter under 25, not just those under 21.

• AAA, USAA, and corporate accounts are the three most reliable ways to waive the surcharge.

• There is no universal maximum age to rent in the U.S., though some countries and companies apply their own upper age policies.

• Outside the U.S., expect a 21 year minimum in most popular destinations, plus a one year license history requirement and sometimes an IDP.

Final words

Renting a car under 25 is more common than most young travelers assume. The real obstacle is usually the surcharge, not the age itself. Compare brands, check for a AAA, USAA, or corporate waiver, and confirm the vehicle class before you book so the total at pickup matches what you expected online.

Always enter the correct age of the primary driver when booking with FinalRentals. We will flag any age related restriction that applies to your reservation before you pay, so there are no surprises at the counter.

Sources & methodology

Figures on crash risk are drawn from published research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Company specific age policies and surcharges reflect published rental terms as of 2026 and are subject to change by location. Confirm current fees directly with the rental company at the time of booking.

Primary source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Teenagers

About the author

Final Rentals Editorial Team

Final Rentals Editorial Team is a group of travel researchers and mobility experts dedicated to creating accurate, practical, and up-to-date travel content for drivers worldwide. Our articles are based on official tourism resources, local driving regulations, and destination research to help travelers plan safer and more enjoyable journeys.