Info on renting a car if you are 18?

[D L and K's Mom]

I will make some calls tomorrow but does anyone know if you can rent a car if you are 18 reasonably? DD will be making a trip to MA with her friend and neither of their cars is trustworthy. She does not really want to drive our van if she can help it. We have AAA and are Sams members. I thought I read here once that if you are from AAA some rental places might waive the extra $$$$$ for under 18...anyone have any great ideas? Is there any legal (not me saying the car is for me etc) ways of getting the fee waived or lowered?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You will have to check with the specific agencies. Make sure they (a) are aware of her age, and (b) that she will be driving into Massachussets. They may say no, or they may just add surcharges. However, it is best to find out beforehand. Most do not want to rent to anyone under 25 without a surcharge or if it is a rental for a person on a business trip.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Hertz and AVIS both charge a surcharge if the driver is under 25. We never rent from Budget or Enterprise but since they are known to nickel and dime for any little scratch or mark left on the car, I am sure they too would charge the extra fee.

 

[monkey68]

She will have a really hard time finding an agency without paying an arm and a leg. I was around 21 when I went on med school interviews, and there was no way I could rent a car in any of the places I needed to fly to. It would have been an insane amount of money. Something like an extra $50/day on top of the rental fee for being under 25. And then if you are going to have more than one driver under 25, they might add charges onto that as well. When I interviewed in Florida, my dad came down with me since we made it a bit of a long weekend, and he rented the car in his name, but when he asked about adding me as a driver as well, they were going to add a whole bunch of charges, so I just didn't drive the car.

And if you have only one driver listed, but a different driver is driving and there is an accident, then the insurance might not cover it, I think. You need to read the fine print. Call around, but don't count on being able to get a car without fees. If they don't want to take your van, they could look into bus or train to get there if they don't need a car wherever they're going.

 

[Rora]

Every place I've ever called has said you must be 25.

 

[wdwfam]

DS has used Enterprise with no problems.

 

[M5ward]

Your signature says that you're in New York...New York has a law that says that says that car companies have to rent to anyone 18 or older; there will more than likely be a surcharge. Everywhere else you have to be at least 21 (and pay a per day surcharge). After age 25 you can rent with no surcharge. The following link outlines NY regulations:


http://www.oag.state.ny.us/bureaus/consumer_frauds/tips/auto_rental.html

 

[happygirl]

If it was me. I would rent the car and put her on as a additional driver.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

I rented from Enterprise when I was under 25 (26 now) because the underage fee was only $10 per day as opposed to the usual $25 and up. I did have to be at least 21 though. Not sure if the underage fee varies from state to state though. They also have the 50% off weekends (Friday through Monday) which is nice too

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Can I just rent the car and put her on as an additional driver? That sounds to good to be true? I will have to call around and check tomorrow. Thanks for all the info. It sort of makes me sad. She is a great driver, we get $$ off for her being a good driver and for having good grades. She just wants to drive from NY to MA to spend time with her grandparetns on the Cape and its going to cost$$$ At this rate she may have to take the train and then a bus....it will be much cheaper...

 

[HelenePA]

Can I just rent the car and put her on as an additional driver? That sounds to good to be true? I will have to call around and check tomorrow. Thanks for all the info. It sort of makes me sad. She is a great driver, we get $$ off for her being a good driver and for having good grades. She just wants to drive from NY to MA to spend time with her grandparetns on the Cape and its going to cost$$$ At this rate she may have to take the train and then a bus....it will be much cheaper...

I dont know about NY but I think to add someone as a driver in PA you have to be in the car with them while driving. I think that's how it worked about 10 yrs ago (last time we needed a rental)

 

[Nie0214]

Many places won't allow anyone under 21 to rent a car, period, unless it is on business (or as someone pointed out, you rent in NY). ALL national places charge a daily fee ($20-$30) for anyone under 25.

If you rent a car in your name and put her as a driver, they still will charge the fee and/or not let you because she's 18.

I searched this info. last weekend because we're planning a road trip. I'm 23, with a great record & credit score, but no matter how we sliced it, I'd still have to pay $25 extra a day to drive.

 

[disbridemimi]

Even if you add her as an additonal driver, you will pay the surcharge. Can her friends parents loan them a car? She is prob better off with your van or just paying the surcharge. Better safe than sorry! Or let her take hers, and get her a triple a card and a car cell phone charger. Maybe you can have your mechanic have a looksie at her car and make sure its road trip worthy.

 

[happygirl]

Can I just rent the car and put her on as an additional driver? That sounds to good to be true? I will have to call around and check tomorrow. Thanks for all the info. It sort of makes me sad. She is a great driver, we get $$ off for her being a good driver and for having good grades. She just wants to drive from NY to MA to spend time with her grandparetns on the Cape and its going to cost$$$ At this rate she may have to take the train and then a bus....it will be much cheaper...

Enterprise here will let you put whoever you want as a second driver. There have been times the person I have put down as a second driver and they weren't even with me. I think it like 8-10 more a day for a second driver.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I didnt get to check today...exam week CRAZY. I will make a few calls tomorrow. She does have AAA and a cell phone. I am in the process of getting her a emergency credit card. I still think perhaps they should take amtrack and borrow grandmas car when they get there.

 

[manning]

Hertz and AVIS both charge a surcharge if the driver is under 25. We never rent from Budget or Enterprise but since they are known to nickel and dime for any little scratch or mark left on the car, I am sure they too would charge the extra fee.

Hertz has gotten that way. I have rented from them for years. When I picked up a car this May a walk around was done and I had to sign a piece of paper verifying the existing damages before I left.