The minimum age for hiring a car can vary from country to country according to local regulations. Different companies within the same country can also have varying regulations as some prefer to raise the minimum driving age.
How old do you have to be to hire a car?
The minimum age for hiring a car depends on the regulations of the country you are in, but it also varies according to the supplier and their policy preference.
In the UK, for example, while the minimum driving age in your own car is 17, some car hire companies have set their lower age limit to drivers who are 21 or 23, because they are not likely to hire their cars out to young drivers.
Most companies will add a daily surcharge for drivers who are under 25, and some will only provide a limited choice of smaller vehicles to choose from. In the rest of Europe the minimum age for hiring a car varies between 18 and 21, while in the USA the minimum age for car hire is generally 21.
Age requirements for car hire in different countries
The age requirement for hiring a car abroad will vary depending on the regulations of the country you are in. Most countries have set the minimum age for hiring a car at 21 years, including Ireland, Greece the Netherlands and Australia. Others allow drivers as young as 18 years to hire cars, such as Italy, Sweden, Germany and Morocco. On the other hand, a few countries have increased the minimum limit, such as Malaysia, which only allows car hire to customers aged 23 years and over.
Please note that the figures stated in the above are for reference only and may vary. Ages, for example, may differ depending on the company you hire from. In some countries in the EU, the minimum age may well be 18 years, however, it is very frequently required that the driver(s) in question must have held their license for longer than one year. In the US and Canada, there may also be different provincial and state restrictions depending on where you are. We, therefore, highly recommend that you check well in advance with the company from which you are hiring to avoid any additional costs or refusal to hire based on age restrictions.
Car hire age requirements in Europe
The minimum age for hiring a car in Europe varies between 18 and 21 depending on the country. In the UK, however, the minimum age is set to 21, with some companies such as Enterprise UK even requiring hirers to be at least 25 years old. Most European countries including the UK do not have a maximum age for car hire. For those that do, the limit can be as low as 70, such as in Bulgaria, or as high as 97, such as in Finland.
Please note that the figures stated in the above are for reference only and may vary depending on provider.
Car hire under 25 – Car hire for young drivers
Young drivers under 25 have an additional set of conditions they need to follow if they want to hire a car. They must have a full driving licence and most car hire companies require them to have held it for at least a year, though others do not have this restriction.
In addition to the driving licence, they must bring proof of ID (such as a valid Passport or National ID Card for EU citizens) as well as proof of car insurance and a credit card to pay for the car hire. An International Driving Permit might be required overseas, depending on the country.
Some car hire companies require drivers under 25 to take out the car insurance policy that they offer, even if the driver is already covered with an external policy, and in some cases a higher excess fee is charged if the car is damaged. Most companies also add a daily ‘young driver surcharge’ in addition to the regular hire fee, and some offer a more limited choice of vehicles for drivers under 25.
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Car hire age regulations – FAQ
For most car hire companies you need to be 21 years old or over to hire out a car in the United Kingdom. Bear in mind that drivers under 25 will be subject to a so-called ‘young driver surcharge’ when hiring.
In most countries you can hire a car if you’re under 25, but you might have different hire conditions than older drivers.
In order to hire a car in the US you must be 21 years old or over, though some states such as New York and Michigan have a lower age limit of 18.
In order to hire a car in Canada you must be 21 years old or over. This does, however, differ on a provincial level so be sure to check in advance.
In order to hire a car in France you must be 18 years old or over. Please be sure to check well in advance with your provider as this number is for reference only and there may be added stipulations to consider.
In order to hire a car in Spain you must be 21 years old or over. Please be sure to check well in advance with your provider as this number is for reference only and there may be added stipulations to consider.
