Last Updated on July 20, 2023 by Kristin
Looking for car rental deals for college students? Remember to factor in young renter fees, which usually apply to renters under 25.. This is a big deal, since young renter fees can vary, depending on the rental car company you rent with.
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Hertz Young Renter Fee
Hertz’s young renter fee is $19 per day. Here are the details:
- Available to all renters with a minimum age of 20. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18; in AL and NE, the minium is 19.)
- Valid credit card or debit card required. (Some neighborhood locations may require a credit card).
- No official student ID required.
- Valid on economy car class and higher excluding Dream, Prestige, and Adrenaline car classes.
- Offer valid at U.S. and Canada locations only for car rentals reserved in advance.
- Standard driver and credit requirements apply.
- You can waive the young renter fee if you sign up for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.
Alamo Young Renter Fee
Alamo’s young renter fee is $25 per day, on average, but can be higher or lower based on the rental location. Here are the details:
- Available to all renters with a minimum age of 21. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18.)
- Valid credit card required.
- No official student ID required.
Enterprise Young Renter Fee
Enterprise’s young renter fee is $25 per day, on average, but can be higher or lower based on the rental location. Here are the details:
- Available to all renters with a minimum age of 21. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18.)
- Valid credit card required.
- No official student ID required.
National Young Renter Fee
National’s young renter fee is $25 per day, on average, but can be higher or lower based on the rental location. Here are the details:
- Available to all renters with a minimum age of 21. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18.)
- Valid credit card required.
- No official student ID required.
Avis Young Renter Fee
Avis’ young renter fee is $27 per day in the US and $35 per day in Canada. Here are the details:
- Available to drivers with a minimum age of 21. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18.)
- Renter must have a valid credit card (not a debit card).
- Renters between the ages of 21 and 24 may rent vehicles in all car classes, with the exception of fullsize SUVs, luxury, minivants, passenger vans, premium SUVs and select series.
Budget Young Renter Fee
Budget’s young renter fee is $27 per day. Here are the details.
- Available to drivers with a minimum age of 18.
- Renter must have a valid credit card (not a debit card).
- Valid college ID required.
- Renters age 18-24 are permitted to rent economy through fullsize cars, minivans, small pick-up trucks and intermediate SUVs.
Dollar Young Renter Fee
Dollar’s young renter fee is $25-$35 per day, depending on location. Here are the details.
- Available to drivers with a minimum age of 20. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18.)
- Renter must have a valid credit card or a debit card.
- Renters age 20-24 are permitted to rent most car classes, from compact cars to SUVs. Some specialty vehicle classes, such as the StyleSeries, are excluded.
Thrifty Young Renter Fee
Thrifty’s young renter fee is $25-$35 per day, depending on location. Here are the details.
- Available to drivers with a minimum age of 20. (In NY and MI, the minimum age is 18.)
- Renter must have a valid credit card or a debit card.
- Renters age 20-24 are permitted to rent most car classes, from compact cars to SUVs. Some specialty vehicle classes, such as the StyleSeries, are excluded.
Kyte Delivers Door-to-Door in Select Metro Areas
College student drivers in major metro areas should also take a look at Kyte, the first rental company to offer door-to-door delivery service on both ends of your trip. While you need to be 21 years old to rent with Kyte in most locations, there is one exception. In New York City, drivers as young as 18 can rent. Kyte charges drivers under 25 a young driver fee of $15 per day, which is less than most rental car companies charge.
And it gets better. Kyte has also introduced Kyte for University for drivers under 25 renters in California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington D.C., which waives the underage fee for college students with an .edu email address.
Book Early and Track Your Reservation for Price Drops
Car rental prices go up and down, so it makes sense to book when prices are at their lowest. The easiest way to snag the best price is to ask AutoSlash for a quote as soon as you know you need a rental car. We’ll scour the Internet for the best deals and apply any discounts for which you may be entitled.
Next, track your reservation right up to the moment you pick up the car. If the price drops, you can cancel your booking at no charge and rebook at the lower rate. No time to track your booking? Ask AutoSlash to do it for you and, for no charge, we’ll let you know if we find a better price. This is the way to guarantee that you never pay more than you have to for a rental car.
More Car Rental Deals for College Students
Typically if you’re under 25, most car rental companies will charge a daily fee to offset the risk of renting to younger drivers. The amount of the fee depends on your age and the rental company, but typically you can figure on paying around $25-$30 extra per day, on average.
It’s possible to avoid the young renter fee if you’re a member of certain organizations. Hertz waives the young renter fee for AAA members, and USAA members can get young driver fees waived at Hertz, Avis and Budget.
Rental car companies typically require drivers to be at least 21, but there are some exceptions. In New York and Michigan, state law allows drivers 18 and over to rent a car. However, drivers who meet those state requirements but are under the typical age minimum for the rental company tend to face higher fees that could end up being more than $50 per day.
Look for Discounts Through Student Organizations
An obvious place to look for car rental deals for college students is through student memberships. Alamo offers discounts through Student Advantage, which provides promotional prices to students for retail, movies, car-sharing services and more. You can also browse its general deals page to see which promotions are available at any given time.
Let AutoSlash Track Your Car Rental for Price Drops
Consider a Car-Sharing Service
Another option to a full-day rental is a car-sharing service, which allows you to rent a vehicle by the hour instead of a full day.
If you just need a car for just a few hours, Enterprise Car Share is a good bet. It has locations on college campuses across the U.S., and is open to students 18 or older who need to leave campus for errands or activities. Car insurance is included.
Zipcar also has a big presence at universities, offering its services at more than 600 campuses.
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