Minimum Age to Rent a Car in Each State

Short Answer — The minimum age requirement for car rental depends on the state in which you’re renting and the rental company you choose. In most cases, the minimum age is between 18 and 21, with additional fees for renters under the age of 25.

Minimum Age to Rent a Car

The minimum age to rent a car varies by state and rental company but is generally between 18 and 21 years old.

In the table below, we list the minimum age requirements for each U.S. state. We contacted transportation authorities and rental company representatives in every state and viewed state legal codes to confirm this information.

Note that there is an exception to the standard limits for government employees, who generally only need to be 18 years old regardless of where they’re renting.^[1]

Young Driver Fees

Renters under the age of 25 can expect to pay a young driver fee at most rental agencies.

The fee generally ranges from $20 to $50 per day, though it may be higher or lower depending on the location and rental company.^[2][3][4]

Some rental companies, including Enterprise, waive this fee for government employees.^[5]

USAA members are also eligible to waive this fee at many major rental agencies, including Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise.^[6][7]

See our related research to find out more about under-25 fees and how to avoid them.

Other Restrictions

Young renters must follow all of the rental agency’s standard driver qualifications and rental policies. For instance, you can’t rent a car without a valid license (as previously reported).

Rental agencies may also restrict renters under the age of 25 from renting certain vehicle classes. Alamo Rent a Car, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, and Hertz are some of the agencies that don’t allow young renters to drive specialty vehicles.^{[8][9][10][3]}