How to Rent a Car When Under 25

Renting a Car at 18

18 is the hardest age to rent a car in the US. Most major agencies set their minimum at 21, and the few exceptions are either state-mandated or limited to specific circumstances. Here are your options:

State Law Exceptions

In the following states and provinces, rental agencies are legally required to rent to drivers aged 18 and older:

• New York: All major agencies must rent to 18+ year olds. Underage surcharges apply and are among the highest in the country — expect $64–$84/day at most agencies on top of the base rate.
• Michigan: All major agencies must rent to 18+ year olds, with underage surcharges. Fees are typically lower than New York but still significant.
• Minnesota: State law requires agencies to rent to 18+ year olds.
• Quebec and Saskatchewan (Canada): Provincial law requires rental to 18+ year olds at most agencies.

Turo — 18+ Nationwide

Turo is the most accessible rental option for 18 year olds outside of mandated states. As a peer-to-peer platform, Turo sets a minimum age of 18 across the US. Key restrictions to know:

• Young driver fee: $50/day for renters aged 18–20.
• Vehicle restrictions: Must be 21+ to book vehicles worth over $20,000; 25+ for Deluxe category vehicles; 30+ for Super Deluxe or specialty vehicles.
• Protection plan: Drivers aged 18–20 must purchase a mandatory Turo protection plan.
• Host discretion: Individual hosts may set higher minimum ages for their vehicles — always check the listing before booking.

Military and Government Employees

US government employees and active-duty military personnel with official orders may be able to rent at 18 at select agencies regardless of state. This exception varies by agency — check the specific terms for your rental location before relying on it.

Corporate and Education Discounts

Certain corporate accounts and educational institution discount programs allow 18 year olds to rent. If your employer or university has a corporate rental agreement with an agency, check with your travel coordinator or HR department to see if an underage waiver applies.

Renting a Car at 19

19 year olds have slightly more options than 18 year olds, but the landscape is still limited outside of state-mandated locations.

State Law Exceptions

• New York, Michigan, Minnesota: Same rules as for 18 year olds — all agencies must rent to 19+ year olds in these states.
• Quebec (Canada): 19+ year olds can rent at most agencies.
• Alabama and Nebraska: State law requires agencies to rent to drivers aged 19 and older.

Fox Rent A Car — 19+ Nationwide

Fox Rent A Car is the only major traditional agency that rents to 19 year olds across the US without a state law requirement. An underage surcharge applies and is collected at pickup — check your specific location's terms and conditions for the exact fee amount.

Turo — 19+ Nationwide

Turo remains the most accessible nationwide option for 19 year olds. The young driver fee drops slightly as you age — check Turo's current fee schedule at booking. The same vehicle restrictions apply as for 18 year olds.

Military, Government, and Corporate Exceptions

Same as for 18 year olds — US government and military personnel with official orders, and renters with qualifying corporate or education discount accounts, may be able to rent at 19 at select agencies. Verify with your specific rental location before booking.

Renting a Car at 20–24

At 20, your options expand significantly — several major agencies rent to 20 year olds, and at 21 almost all agencies are open to you. The underage surcharge still applies until you turn 25, but the fee is lower than for 18–19 year olds and there are legitimate ways to have it waived.

Minimum Age by Agency

Underage Surcharge Fees by Agency

Underage surcharges are charged per day on top of your base rental rate. They are collected at pickup — not online — so they won't appear in the rate you see when booking. Always factor these into your total cost before comparing agencies.

How to Avoid the Underage Fee

The underage surcharge isn't always unavoidable. Here are the legitimate ways to have it waived:

AAA Members — Hertz (Age 20+)

AAA members aged 20 and older renting through Hertz can have the underage surcharge waived entirely. This is one of the most valuable and least-known AAA benefits in car rental. Both the renter and the AAA membership must be in good standing, and you must apply the AAA discount code when booking through CarRentalSavers.com.

Military and Government Employees

Active-duty US military personnel and government employees presenting official orders may qualify for underage fee waivers at select agencies. This varies by agency and location — confirm directly with your rental location before relying on this exception.

Corporate and Educational Discount Accounts

Some employer corporate rental agreements and university discount programs include underage fee waivers for qualifying renters. Check with your employer's travel desk or your university's transportation office to see if your account includes this benefit.

Insurance Replacement Rentals

If you're renting as a replacement vehicle through an insurance claim, most agencies waive the underage surcharge regardless of your age. Check with your insurance provider and the rental agency to confirm this applies to your specific situation.

Vehicle Class Restrictions for Under-25 Renters

Even when agencies allow under-25 renters, they typically restrict which vehicle classes are available. Premium, luxury, and large SUVs are commonly off-limits. Here's what you can generally expect:

• Available to most 21–24 renters: Economy, Compact, Intermediate, Standard, Full-Size, Minivans, Compact and Standard SUVs, Pickup Trucks.
• Typically restricted (21–24): Premium SUVs (large, full-size), Luxury vehicles, Convertibles, Sport/performance vehicles, Passenger vans.
• Turo restrictions: Standard vehicles available at 18+; vehicles over $20,000 require 21+; Deluxe category requires 25+; Super Deluxe and specialty vehicles require 30+.