Can I hire a car being under the age of 21?

If you’re between 18 and 21 years of age, you’re more than ready to explore the world alone or with fellow travellers. Luckily, there are numerous low-cost methods to travelling internationally, from volunteering at an organic farm (WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities for organic farms)), to teaching English or being an au pair – the options seem limitless. Unsurprisingly, many openings are based in Europe or the Americas. Wherever you decide to go, Auto Europe is here to help you with all your car hire needs. Consult our travel tips section to find out more about hiring a car as a young driver.

Car hire for those under the age of 21

Generally, it’s not difficult to rent a car whilst under the age of 21. Many countries have a legal age of 18 to be able to drive, whilst many car hire suppliers have a minimum period of one year that a driving licence must be held. Meaning that to hire a car shouldn’t be too problematic. The drawback is that as you’re still considered an inexperienced young driver – meaning greater risk for the car rental supplier. This has obliged suppliers to adopt their own age limits and conditions when renting to young drivers. Unfortunately, up until 26 years of age, you’ll still be considered a young driver internationally, and an appropriate young driver fee added to your rental.

The young driver surcharge is charged directly by the local supplier daily. The fee amount is determined by the supplier, the location, the duration of the rental and car type. Due to this, it is important to familiarise yourself with all the car hire offers available and any promotions running. Auto Europe acts as an intermediary and gathers all the best quotations for you to view. With our tools and filters, you can narrow down your search and find the very best car hire rate for your budget. We offer transparency in an otherwise complex market, providing details on any additional taxes, fuel policies and young or senior driver surcharges. When you conduct your search using our website, you’ll be able to access any young driver surcharge information by clicking on the blue information icon. The fee is also normally presented under the rental rate on the right-hand side. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to read the terms and conditions fully, including any age limits, conditions and applicable fees.

Through us you can view, compare and book any rental offers easily. Rental conditions for young drives vary substantially even between locations with the same rental supplier. For example, while an Auto Europe partner rental company in Rome may have a set minimum rental age of 18, the same supplier in Barcelona may have a different minimum age limit. Likewise, the daily young driver fee may differ between locations. For example, if the minimum age to rent a car is 21 years of age, the young driver surcharge is the same amount, but with a different maximum limit per rental for drivers aged between 21 and 24 years.

Additional Driver Fee

When consulting the information icon to obtain further details on fees and conditions, it may also be useful to know that rental suppliers also charge a daily fee for any additional drivers named on the rental. Additional driver fees vary between locations and suppliers. If you’re thinking of sharing the joy of driving with your friends, this is another important fee that needs to be compared and taken into consideration with your final rental rate. We therefore advise to not only look at your basic rental rate, but also at what supplier offers the cheapest additional driver fee.

Age limits and Fleet availability

If you haven’t decided yet on what car type you’d like to rent, then let Auto Europe help you. Its nice to dream of hiring a high-class sports car, or a glamorous luxury vehicle – but the reality is that car categories are sometimes restricted for younger drivers. A car hire for those under 21 years of age can be difficult if you have your mind set on a high-end car. Normally, only mini, economy or compact vehicles are rented out to young drivers. For those who wish to rent a luxury car, we advise contacting our specialist luxury car hire team.

Extra insurance for those hiring a car whilst under the age of 21

Generally, insurance requirements are the same for all drivers. However, some rental suppliers will request young drivers purchase extra insurance to cover the added risks. When renting a car whilst under the age of 21 in Germany, it is compulsory to purchase extra insurance. Although, some suppliers will accept insurances provided by credit cards instead.

Notifying the main drivers correct age

Regardless of how you book your car hire – online or by phone – it is a requirement to inform us of your correct age at the time of booking. This information is important to allow us to provide rental rates from suppliers that only rent to your age group. Failure to inform us could result in additional fees afterwards, or the inability to pick-up your vehicle.

How long must you have held your driving licence?

Generally, when hiring a car as a young driver, you must have held a full driving licence for at least one year. This varies between countries. In the Republic of Ireland for instance, young drivers must have held a full driving licence for at least two years in order to hire a car. Please consult the bookings terms and conditions and the validity of your current driving licence. Provisional driving licences are not accepted.

Do I need an International Driving Licence?

An International Driving Licence is a translation into several languages of your current full driving licence. Some countries require an International Driving Licence to accompany your full driving licence for it to be valid. Consult the International Driving Licence section for up-to-date information on this subject.

Hire a car whilst under 21 years of age with Auto Europe

If you have decided that a car hire is the best option for your next trip – then Auto Europe is here to help, make your rental a success. No matter where you are travelling too, we have partnered with many local, national and international car hire suppliers to provide the very best choice and offers. With convenient global locations and regular promotions, utilise our secure online booking engine or give us a call to discuss your car hire needs whilst under the age of 21.