Car Rental for those under 25



Posted: Saturday, March 14, 2009

by
Car Rental Guide

By their early twenties, young adults are considered old enough to vote, drink and hold down a full time job, but may still run into difficulties if they wish to rent a car. Nationwide, the customary "guaranteed rental age" is twenty five years old. Car rental companies set this policy based on statistics from auto insurance companies on submitted claims. Younger drivers are considered to be at greater risk for accidents and high risk driving behaviors.

Over time, car rental agencies began to recognize that they were painting with a broad brush to their own disadvantage. Many young adults drive safely and responsibly and have driving records which reflect that. Companies began to realize that a young, responsible driver with a positive experience of a rental company could become a lifelong customer. About ten years ago, agencies began accepting younger drivers as renters, with the provision that these "under 25" drivers pay a surcharge for the privilege of car rental. This surcharge varies by company and location, so the savvy renter has to do a little research to get the best deal. Generally speaking, the younger driver can expect to pay fifteen to thirty dollars more per day than Mom or Dad might fork out for the same car. Exceptions abound, so this is one area where a little legwork could save you big bucks.

Drivers under twenty-five looking to rent a vehicle can begin by checking internet travel search engines such as Priceline, Hotwire and Sidestep to get an overview of prices and policies. Age requirement may vary by destination, and some cities and states have specific rules about car rental. In general, drivers age 21 to 24 will be able to rent a car if they are willing to part with the extra cash. In some cases, younger drivers may also quality to rent. New York City, for example, allows car rentals to any driver over age 18. If you choose to book your car online, rates will be calculated based on the age you give as you register. (Keep in mind that you will be required to show your driver's license at pick-up and verify your age).

Consumers who are less comfortable making rental arrangements online can visit the rental companies' websites for quick links to policies and to toll free telephone numbers. National customer service agents are happy to track down the specific policies of the location you are interested in, and the associated rental rates.

If you have a full-time job at an established company or with the US government or military, another option is to check with your human relations department to see if your company has an agreement with one or more rental companies. If you are traveling for business and such an arrangement exists, you may not only find the age requirement waived, but the fee may be lower than you could get independently. Active duty military personnel may be able to rent at a discount with some companies beginning at age 18.

Renting a car if you are under twenty five is not impossible; it just takes patience to track down the best deal.
 
 
Richard Edmunds worked as a manager of a big name Car Rental Agency for the past 20 years before retiring. He now spends his time writing his car rental guide for you about such topics as Rental Car Government Discount Codes and How to Negotiate the Best Car Rental Deal
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by jothi from india 2 years 331 days ago.
because i already got a lesson i have never trusted someone who wanted to lend us a money. One friend asks if she can borrow some amount and we refuse coz we don't have that much money and we have doubt if she can pay us in the time that we needed it,and to my surprised she get angry, she starts talking bad things against us. Do you think it's a right? Do we really do bad things to her? Please share your idea.
 
Happy posting and myLoting.
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