Can I rent a car if I am 18?
Where can I rent a car if I am 18 years old?
Although there are some countries where it can be tough to rent a car as an 18 year old, there are a number of popular travel destinations where renting a car at 18 is common and a stress-free rental process. Some of these top international destinations include:
- Renting a Car in France
- Renting a Car in Germany
- Renting a Car in Italy
- Renting a Car in Portugal
- Renting a Car in Sweden
- Renting a Car in the United Kingdom
For a more inclusive list of European Countries with their minimum and maximum rental age requirements, see our rental age requirement table.
Is there an additional fee for drivers renting a car who are 18 years old?
Renters who are 18 years old will almost always have to pay an additional daily fee on top of the cost of their rental. With most suppliers, a young driver fee is applied to any renter who is under the age of 25 and will range between $10-$20 USD per day. For many suppliers there is a cap on the total number of days you can be charged this fee but that number can vary by supplier. When you rent a car the young driver fee is paid locally once you pick-up your vehicle but Auto Europe does inform renters of what the fee will be in the booking process on our site.
Are there ways to avoid a young driver fee?
Travelers trying to avoid paying a young driver fee may have a few options. Auto Europe partners with Citroën and Peugeot to offer short term car leases in popular European countries including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The short term lease is only available for bookings 17 days or more but is available to drivers as young as 18 with no additional fee. There are a number of benefits for drivers including a brand new vehicle and full insurance coverage. Learn more about Auto Europe's short term leasing program in Europe.
AAA partners with Hertz so members between the ages of 20-24 who meet standard rental qualifications can have the young driver fee waived for their rental with Hertz. Although this doesn't help the 18 year old renter, there may be other memberships that offer benefits for young drivers to seek out.
What classes of cars are available to renters who are 18 years old?
It is true that most suppliers provide a limited fleet of cars available to rent for drivers who are 18. In most cases, the car classes available will include smaller cars like minis, economy and compact car classes. Your options to rent larger car categories, luxury vehicles and sports cars may be limited, or refused due to car rental minimum age requirements. If you are looking for a larger vehicle that is available, we urge you to give us a call at 1-888-223-5555 to see if we can help find you the ideal vehicle.
Why you should rent a car at 18 with Auto Europe?
After 60 years as a travel industry leader, Auto Europe's dedication to providing the lowest car rental rates is rivaled only by our high-quality customer service. We're committed to providing you relevant recommendations on everything from creating an epic study abroad experience to save on a car rental under 25 years of age. As you're making plans for your next international trip, contact Auto Europe's team of car rental specialists toll-free at 1-888-223-5555, or make your reservation using our secure, online booking engine.
At the age of 18, on the cusp of adulthood, the world is your oyster, burgeoning with potential. There is an exceptional array of professional, international programs that recruit from the crop of recent post high school grads to explore, not to mention the abundance of general travel opportunities. You have more freedom at this age, than you will for many years (if not decades) to come with the inevitable obligations to school, family and a career. Take this time to savor the life-changing experiences that come through being a global traveler as a teen.
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