Quick Summary
- In most US states you can rent a car from age 21, but drivers aged 21 to 24 almost always pay a daily young driver surcharge.
- New York and Michigan are special cases where some brands rent from 18, often with even higher daily fees for 18 to 20 year olds.
- Hola Car Rentals helps you see under 25 fees in the total price so you can budget, compare suppliers and decide whether the rental still beats rideshares.
Typical US age rules for 21 to 24 year olds
For most of the United States, rental companies set 21 as the standard minimum age. Big brands like Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo and Dollar publish similar rules. If you are between 21 and 24 you are usually allowed to rent economy through full size cars, but you will pay an underage surcharge and may not be able to book luxury, performance or large SUV categories.
New York and Michigan are notable exceptions. State law there forces major suppliers to accept renters from age 18, but they also allow higher young driver fees. Example figures published by brands show daily surcharges that can reach over US$60 for 18 to 20 year olds and around US$25 to US$35 per day for 21 to 24 year olds in those states. Elsewhere in the US, a typical young driver fee for 21 to 24 year olds sits closer to US$20 to US$30 per day, but it still adds up quickly on longer trips.
How young driver fees affect your budget
Young driver surcharges are normally added on top of the base daily rate, taxes and airport fees. Imagine planning a week of desert drives starting with car hire in Las Vegas. If the base rate for a compact car is US$45 per day and the young driver fee is US$25 per day, your pre tax total jumps from US$315 to US$490 before you have even factored in fuel, parking and tolls.
The effect is even stronger when you add extra drivers because many suppliers charge the underage fee per named young driver. Two 23 year olds sharing the driving can easily double the surcharge line on the invoice. Understanding how those numbers work helps you decide whether to keep the car for the whole stay, cut the rental to just a few key days or shift parts of the journey to train, bus or rideshare.
Planning trips around age restrictions
Age rules also affect where you pick up the vehicle. Airport locations often have the widest choice of cars but sometimes stricter age and card policies. City branches can occasionally be more flexible, especially if you use a credit card instead of debit. If you are under 25 and flying into California, collecting from Los Angeles Airport at the start and returning there at the end is usually your simplest option. Families meeting up in Florida might prefer a people carrier reserved through Orlando minivan offers so everyone can share costs.
Whatever the route, it pays to read conditions carefully. Some brands do not allow drivers under 25 to cross borders into Canada or Mexico, some restrict towing and others limit certain premium models to older drivers only. These rules sit alongside the surcharge, so they can quietly change which routes are practical.
How Hola Car Rentals makes costs clearer
Booking through Hola Car Rentals gives you a clearer picture of total cost before you commit. The platform shows whether a young driver fee applies for your age and location and rolls this into the displayed estimate where possible. You can filter for All Inclusive packages with maximum liability coverage, free travel insurance and cashback on tolls, making it easier to see what you really get for each dollar.
It is also easy to compare against going car free for part of the trip. The Hola Car Rentals article on a week in Los Angeles with or without a rental car walks through this kind of decision, helping you weigh daily surcharges, parking and fuel against app based rides and public transport.
Practical budgeting tips for 21 to 24 year olds
A few simple tactics can keep the numbers under control. Sharing the car with older friends or relatives can sometimes remove the young driver fee altogether if they are happy to be the named renter. Keeping the rental to the core driving days and using taxis or shuttles on arrival and departure days limits how many times the surcharge is applied. Choosing a mainstream saloon instead of a premium SUV can also reduce both the base rate and any extra age based checks.
Once you have a rough daily budget in mind, use Hola Car Rentals to test different pick up points, dates and car classes. Seeing the full price including under 25 fees, insurance and taxes makes it easier to decide whether to stretch your budget, tweak your route or delay the road trip until after your 25th birthday.
FAQs
- Is 21 always enough to rent a car in the US? Not quite. Many locations will rent to 21 year olds, but some smaller branches and high end brands only accept drivers aged 25 and above. New York and Michigan are unusual in allowing rentals from 18, but those who are 18 to 20 usually pay higher daily surcharges.
- Can I avoid young driver fees with a membership or employer deal? Some loyalty programmes, student groups and corporate contracts waive or reduce the under 25 fee for eligible travellers. If you have such a benefit, compare it against Hola Car Rentals offers to see whether the overall package still represents the best value.
- Do under 25 rules apply to additional drivers too? Yes. Every named driver on the contract must meet the age rules and each young driver can attract a separate daily surcharge. Limiting the number of named drivers is a simple way to keep costs down.
- Will I pay the fee if I turn 25 during the rental? Policies vary, but many brands apply age rules based on your age at pick up. If you are 24 when you collect the car you should expect the young driver fee to apply for the whole booking, even if you celebrate your 25th birthday on the road.
