# Can a 20 year old drive a rental car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535 "2007-12-19T01:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/1 "2007-12-19T01:30:11Z")
I guess the questions speaks for itself. After getting rear ended we can get a rental car. Is a 20 year old allowed to drive it? I know they can’t rent it but can’t seem to find the answer about just driving it. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/2 "2007-12-19T01:34:57Z")
[QUOTE=dauerbach] I guess the questions speaks for itself. After getting rear ended we can get a rental car. Is a 20 year old allowed to drive it? I know they can’t rent it but can’t seem to find the answer about just driving it. [/QUOTE] Well, he won’t go to jail for it, but in every rental contract I’ve signed, I have to list every driver who is authorized to drive the car. I don’t know what companies, if any, have age restrictions for secondary drivers, but I’m sure if you didn’t list him as an authorized driver, then you might be in for some civil problems… ---
**Author:** ![pprgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pprgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pprgrl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/3 "2007-12-19T01:38:13Z")
In Florida, you can’t list a person under 24 as an authorized driver, and only authorized drivers are allowed to drive rentals. The laws probably vary from state to state. ---
**Author:** ![aptronym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47774/32.png) [@aptronym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aptronym)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/4 "2007-12-19T01:40:43Z")
In California, people between 18-25 can rent cars, but they have to pay extra. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/5 "2007-12-19T02:01:27Z")
It depends on the rental car company. Some companies will not rent to people under 25, others will. (Obviously state law also plays a factor, but I know of no state law that requires a company to rent to someone who is 20) Enterprise will rent to people under 25, Hertz won’t. [Cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=444427&highlight=rental+Thanksgiving) ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/6 "2007-12-19T02:09:43Z")
[QUOTE=pprgrl] In Florida, you can’t list a person under 24 as an authorized driver, and only authorized drivers are allowed to drive rentals. The laws probably vary from state to state. [/QUOTE] It is the law? Hertz says it will rent to 21 and above in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/7 "2007-12-19T02:16:48Z")
It is up to the rental car company. There are places like Rent-A-Wreck that probably wouldn’t have a problem with the idea at all. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/8 "2007-12-19T02:30:42Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] …(Obviously state law also plays a factor, but I know of no state law that requires a company to rent to someone who is 20)… [/QUOTE] I’ll try to find a cite, but I’ve heard that in New York rental companies aren’t allowed to refuse to rent to anyone over 18 on account of age (though I’m pretty sure they can still charge extra). ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/9 "2007-12-19T02:39:33Z")
Well, the rental will be in my wife’s name. I was just wondering if she could drive it, if they have rules about that as well. Since our car insurance will cover the rental (meaning our collision coverage) I would think that it would be OK. But I don’t really know. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/10 "2007-12-19T02:51:46Z")
Right, up to the company, unless there is some odd local/state law that sez no. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/11 "2007-12-19T03:30:51Z")
I believe it is up to the rental company, and the reason they are allowed to discriminate is because they are socked with higher insurance premiums if someone below a certain age is going to drive. This would vary from state to state, I guess. I’ve rented in Hawaii and New Mexico at different agencies and, as far as I can remember, almost always, if not always, was told I could not have a driver below age – I think it was 25 – listed. In Texas, I can’t remember but have not rented cars there very much. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/12 "2007-12-19T03:33:01Z")
[QUOTE=dauerbach] Well, the rental will be in my wife’s name. I was just wondering if she could drive it, if they have rules about that as well. Since our car insurance will cover the rental (meaning our collision coverage) I would think that it would be OK. But I don’t really know. [/QUOTE] Why would they even allow the rental to be in her name if she isn’t allowed to drive it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/13 "2007-12-19T03:40:38Z")
I didn’t rent it, but I was given a rental car as a loaner from a dealership body shop when I was exactly 20. I had to sign a contract and everything; I just didn’t have to pay. This was around Ft. Riley, KS, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/14 "2007-12-19T04:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=dauerbach] I guess the questions speaks for itself. After getting rear ended we can get a rental car. Is a 20 year old allowed to drive it? I know they can’t rent it but can’t seem to find the answer about just driving it. [/QUOTE] IME, they can at some places, but there was a $50 daily fee. This is why my wife didn’t drive on the honeymoon… ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/15 "2007-12-19T11:14:28Z")
In addition, some companies will waive/relax the age requirements or extra fees if the car is rented under a corporate rate. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/16 "2007-12-19T12:25:26Z")
FWIW, most British companies seem to add a large surcharge if you are under 23. It’s got to be due the higher statistical likelihood of younger drivers having an accident, which increases the insurance costs. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-20-year-old-drive-a-rental-car/430535/17 "2007-12-19T12:37:55Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] I’ll try to find a cite, but I’ve heard that in New York rental companies aren’t allowed to refuse to rent to anyone over 18 on account of age (though I’m pretty sure they can still charge extra). [/QUOTE] This is true (at least it was a few years ago when I rented a car in NY.)