Most major car rental companies in the United States set 21 as the minimum age to rent, though Hertz allows renters as young as 20 at most locations, and a small number of states legally require agencies to rent to drivers 18 and older. Car rental age requirements are set by each company, not by federal law, so the specific rules and fees you’ll face depend on the brand, the pickup location, and whether you qualify for any exemption. If you’re between 21 and 24, plan on a daily surcharge of roughly $25 to $35 on top of the base rate; for 18- to 20-year-olds renting in states that allow it, the surcharge can run past $80 a day.
Minimum Rental Ages at Major Companies
Enterprise and Avis both require renters to be at least 21 in most states.1Enterprise. Car Rental Under 252Avis. Minimum Age to Rent a Car Budget holds to the same 21-year floor at its corporate-operated locations.3Budget. Age Requirements to Rent a Car Hertz is the outlier: its minimum is 20 at most U.S. locations, though that extra year of eligibility comes with an age-based surcharge.4Hertz. Age Restrictions and Exceptions
Whichever chain you choose, 25 is the age where standard terms apply. Below that, you’re in a different pricing tier with a smaller pool of vehicles available to you.
What the Under-25 Surcharge Costs
The young renter fee is charged per day and stacks on top of the base rate. Budget charges $27 per day for renters aged 21 to 24.5Budget. Requirements for Renting Enterprise averages around $25 per day nationally, with variation by location.1Enterprise. Car Rental Under 25 Avis runs $35 per day for the 21-to-24 bracket in several markets.2Avis. Minimum Age to Rent a Car
For 18- to 20-year-olds renting in states that require companies to serve them, the fees climb sharply. Budget charges $41 to $52 per day for that age group depending on the state, and Avis goes as high as $84 per day in some locations.5Budget. Requirements for Renting2Avis. Minimum Age to Rent a Car A $35 daily surcharge alone adds $245 to a week-long rental before taxes. The fee often isn’t shown prominently until checkout, and if you prepay online, it’s typically tacked on at the counter rather than included in the quoted price.
How to Waive or Reduce the Young Renter Fee
The surcharge isn’t always locked in. A few membership programs and employer arrangements can cut it or eliminate it entirely.
AAA Through Hertz
AAA members aged 20 to 24 can have the young renter fee waived completely when booking Hertz with a valid AAA CDP code on the reservation. At pickup, bring proof of AAA membership, a driver’s license you’ve held for at least a year, and a credit card in the same name as the license.6Hertz. Hertz AAA Offers Basic AAA membership costs less annually than a single week of surcharges.
USAA Through National
USAA insurance-eligible members aged 21 to 24 pay no underage driver fee when renting through National Car Rental under the USAA program. Bring proof of USAA membership or a military ID.7National Car Rental. USAA Car Rental Frequently Asked Questions The minimum age under this program is 21, so members aged 18 to 20 aren’t covered by the waiver.
Corporate Accounts
Some employer-negotiated corporate rates waive the underage fee for business travel. Budget notes that select corporate customers and insurance replacement customers may be exempt, though the minimum age with a corporate rate is still 21.3Budget. Age Requirements to Rent a Car If your employer has a rental agreement, ask whether the underage waiver is part of it before booking on your own.
Vehicle and Payment Rules That Still Apply
Meeting the age minimum doesn’t unlock the full fleet. Renters under 25 are typically blocked from luxury, performance, and specialty vehicles. Hertz excludes younger renters from its Dream Car, Prestige, and Adrenaline collections even when the age fee is waived through a membership deal.6Hertz. Hertz AAA Offers USAA-program renters aged 21 to 24 face similar class restrictions at National.7National Car Rental. USAA Car Rental Frequently Asked Questions
Large passenger vans have their own hard cutoff. Enterprise requires renters to be at least 25 to reserve a 12- or 15-passenger van, with no exceptions.8Enterprise. Can I Rent a 12 or 15 Passenger Van from Enterprise If you’re under 25 and planning a group trip, you’ll need to look at smaller SUVs or rent two vehicles.
Payment methods narrow, too. Budget prohibits renters under 25 from paying with a debit card and requires a credit card instead.9Budget. Rent with Debit Card Some Enterprise locations do the same for younger renters, even though Enterprise generally accepts debit cards from renters 25 and up.1Enterprise. Car Rental Under 25 Budget also places a hold at pickup equal to the estimated total plus 25 percent or $200, whichever is greater, which can tie up available credit for the length of the rental and a few days after.5Budget. Requirements for Renting
State Laws That Lower the Minimum Age
A small number of states require rental companies to serve drivers younger than the companies’ standard minimum. The most significant laws mandate that agencies in two states rent to anyone 18 or older when age-appropriate insurance is available, and a couple of additional states set the floor at 19.4Hertz. Age Restrictions and Exceptions Every major chain adjusts its policies in these jurisdictions.
The legal right to rent doesn’t translate to affordable access. Companies can still charge substantial daily surcharges, and the fees for 18- to 20-year-olds in these states are among the highest in the country, sometimes topping $80 per day. The surcharge alone often makes the rental far more expensive than the base rate suggests.
Government and Military Exceptions
Federal government employees on official travel can rent at 18 through companies that hold government contracts. Enterprise confirms that any U.S. government employee can rent at 18 with official travel orders, though 18- to 20-year-old government renters may still face an underage surcharge.1Enterprise. Car Rental Under 2510Enterprise. Military and Government Car Rental Discounts
Military personnel using the Defense Travel Management Office rental car program pay no additional charge for drivers 21 and older, meaning no underage fee for the 21-to-24 bracket. Drivers 18 to 20 may still be charged a young driver fee, but it’s reimbursable through the travel system.11Defense Travel Management Office. Rental Car Program These exceptions apply only to official duty travel, not personal rentals on leave, and you’ll need matching documentation at the counter.
Options if You’re Under 21
If you’re under 21 and not renting in a state that mandates lower minimums, traditional agencies won’t rent to you. Peer-to-peer platforms are the main alternative. Turo accepts renters as young as 18 across the United States, with no blanket young renter surcharge built into the platform, though individual vehicle owners can set their own restrictions.12Turo. How Turo Works
Zipcar’s standard consumer accounts require members to be 21 or older, but university-affiliated accounts drop the minimum to 18.13Zipcar. Am I Eligible to Join Zipcar For college students without access to traditional rentals, a university Zipcar membership can work for shorter trips. Neither platform is a full substitute for a week-long traditional rental, but for occasional needs they’re worth a look.