How to hire a car if you’re under 25
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A young driver that wants to hire a car may not seem like an unreasonable request, but it seems that many car hire companies attach a stigma to younger drivers that makes it difficult for the age group.
Regardless of age, hiring a vehicle can be a fun experience, yet young people should be aware that they may come across a few barriers in their quest to find a rental car.
Some companies have a strict over 25 policy but at Green Motion, we aim to make hiring a car for those under the age of 25 as easy as possible. Whether you need a car for a university outing, a road trip with friends or an unexpected visit home to the family, our car rental can help drivers between 21 and 25 years of age.
How old must you be to hire a car?
To rent a car in the UK, as well as most other countries, you must be at least 21 years old and have held your driving licence for a minimum of one year. Drivers aged 21-24 will have a limited range of cars and vans available to hire and will not be able to drive estate vehicles.
Drivers aged below 25 will also have to pay a young person surcharge.
What is a young driver surcharge?
If you’re under 25, you will need to pay a small surcharge on top of the cost of your car rental. Insurance requirements mean that car rental companies need to pay a surcharge in order to allow young people to hire a car with them. Here at Green Motion we charge £38.50 (including vat) per day for drivers aged between 21 and 24.
Once this has been paid, you’ll be out on the road!
Rental cars available for 21 to 25 year olds
While under 25 year olds are not able to rent all of our vehicles, there is a wide selection available with a modern, environmentally friendly car option for every type of trip.
Luxury cars and larger vehicles may not be possible due to minimum age requirements but at Green Motion, young drivers are able to drive manual vehicles up to and including cars in our 1G group. Some examples of the vehicles that are available to hire for drivers under 25 are:
- Volkswagen Polo
- Ford Fiesta
- Fiat 500
- Kia Picanto
- Peugeot 108
Limitations may vary from branch to branch so it’s best to check on our online booking system or by contacting your local rental branch for more detail.
Car rental for under 25 year olds
The simplest solution for young drivers looking to lower their rental cost is to have someone in your travel group that is willing to drive that is over 25. Many car hire bookings involve groups and if they are the sole driver, a young person surcharge will not be incurred.
