Dear
Anita,
"I am having difficulty renting a car since I am 22 years old. Is it legal for the car companies to turn me down even though I have a good driving record? "
Sarah Feltom
Omaha, Nebraska |
Dear Sarah,
Yes, it is legal as age discrimination is not considered illegal. The main reason for this strict policy is due to drivers in this age bracket having more accidents. Clearly, this is not fair to someone such as yourself who has been a responsible driver. Most car rental companies do not rent to anyone under 21 and in some cases 25, unless that person is an employee using a corporate account or military personnel traveling on orders. Nevertheless, there are car rental companies that do rent to people as young as 21 as long as the driver has a valid credit card in their name. These drivers are charged a hefty additional daily fee ranging from $15.00 to $25.00. Another option is to travel with someone over 25 and be placed on the rental agreement as an additional driver. If you can't rent with someone over 25, your best option is to shop around regarding the surcharge fee to see if you can save some money.
I hope I've been helpful. Happy Travels!
Anita Dunham-Potter
Back to archive index