Car Rentals For The Young Adult

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.

Car Rentals Under 25

Gradually the car rental companies realized they were stereotyping young adults and thus missing out on a lucrative market segment. Quite a few young adults are safe and responsible drivers, as their driving records attest. Car rental agencies understood that a responsible young driver was worth cultivating as a permanent customer. Ten years or so ago, the agencies began renting to these drivers, provided that such "under 25" drivers pay a higher rate than more mature drivers. These higher rates vary by company and locale, so the astute young customer needs to do some research to ensure the best possible deal. In most cases, a driver under age 25 will pay an extra 15 to 30 dollars per day. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, so a little extra effort can yield some big savings.

Internet travel search engines, such as Priceline, Hotwire, and Sidestep can help drivers under twenty-five who are looking to rent a car. At these sites, drivers under twenty-five can get an overview of costs and rental policies, since age requirements may vary by destination. Some states, and even some cities, have specific rules regarding who may rent a car. As a general rule, drivers age 21 to 24 may rent a car, but they will be required to pay more for the rental. Some areas allow drivers younger than twenty-one to rent a car. New York City permits any driver over age 18 to rent a car. If you are booking your car rental online, your rates are based on the age you enter on the website. (You will be required to verify your age when you pick up your car rental. An agent will need to see your driver's license.)

The consumers can look into the websites of rental companies and can contact with toll free telephone numbers in order for less comfortable rental arrangements online.The tracking of specific policies of the location and the rental amount were done by the National customer service agents and they are happy with the work.

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.

It is not out of the realm of possibility to be able to rent a vehicle if one is under the age of 25; it will simply require some amount of patience to locate the best possible deal available.