Rental Car for Under 21

[PatsGirl]

Hi Everyone. I thought I might have better luck here than on transportation so...DS will be home on leave/RAP for 24 days (most of May) and will need to rent a car while he is here because I am a one-car girl and need it for work, etc. every day. I looked at our local rent-a-wreck but min age is 25 to rent and 21 to drive. I would most likely be renting it for him because I am insured through my own car but is the min age to drive 21 with all the companies? Does anyone have experience with this? TIA

 

[RUDisney]

If you are renting the car for him, why don't you drive the rental and give him your car to take? At least that negates a fight with the rental car company if something should happen to it with a young driver behind the wheel.

IMO, if he isn't reliable enough to drive my own car, he's not reliable enough to drive a rental that I get for him.

 

[PatsGirl]

That is an option but he really wanted to rent something a little "cooler" than my RAV4 since he hasn't had a car to drive in 18 months and is headed to Japan where again he will not have a car for at least 2 years. He's thinking convertible or sporty and since he's shelling out the $$, who am I to question his choice

 

[PixieTopaz]

Actually-that is the way it is.
On the Name Brand car rental companies-you pay a daily premium for 21-24 years old

You have to switch vehicles-too bad its not "cool' enough for him

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That is an option but he really wanted to rent something a little "cooler" than my RAV4 since he hasn't had a car to drive in 18 months and is headed to Japan where again he will not have a car for at least 2 years. He's thinking convertible or sporty and since he's shelling out the $$, who am I to question his choice

He is not old enough, you have to be 21. You are going to have to rain on his parade and tell him that.

 

[PatsGirl]

If that is the case, then so be it. I do understand his wish to drive something a bit cooler than my middle-age Rav4 though. I've contacted the local rent-a-wreck that has the older version Pontiac G5 and am awaiting their response. I was really hoping that being military might have helped a bit, maybe able to get a waiver or something like that. Wonder what all these kids do for the three years while they are traveling all over the place from 18-21?