How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car in the US in 2026?

In the US you usually have to be 20 or 21 to rent a car, and 18 in New York and Michigan, so check the age rule, pick your car, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Budget says its minimum age is 21 in most states, and Hertz says it rents to customers aged 20 and above. Drivers under 25 usually pay a daily young renter fee, $27 a day at most Budget locations at the time of writing. AAA members aged 20 to 24 can have the Hertz fee waived.

ShopBack US is a free app and website. Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same booking, at the same rental company: open the company's page on ShopBack, then book as normal. Join ShopBack US for free, then start your next rental from Enterprise on ShopBack, Hertz on ShopBack or Budget on ShopBack.

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How old do you have to be to rent a car?

For most US rentals, 20 or 21 is the minimum, and 25 is the age at which the extra fee usually stops. Here is what the companies say on their own pages at the time of writing:

	Budget	Hertz
Minimum age in most US states	21	20
New York and Michigan	18	18
Young renter fee	Daily surcharge for all drivers under 25; $27 a day at most corporate-operated locations	Young Renter daily fee for anyone under 25
Age with no surcharge	25	25
Fee waiver	Some government, military, corporate, disability and insurance replacement renters	AAA members aged 20 to 24, with conditions

Hertz also notes that some states set their own rules, for example a minimum of 21 in Mississippi. Rules can differ at franchise or licensee locations, so the rental terms for your exact pickup branch are what counts. Budget says its licensee-owned US locations set their own age rules, though most add a surcharge for renters under 25.

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How can under-25 drivers avoid the young driver fee?

You can't avoid it on a standard rate, but several memberships and rate types remove it. These are the options the rental companies themselves describe:

1. Join AAA and rent from Hertz. Hertz lists a waived Young Renter fee for AAA members aged 20 to 24. The conditions: put the AAA club discount code (CDP) in the reservation, book at least 24 hours ahead, rent at a participating location in the US, Canada or Puerto Rico, and have a credit card in your own name. Hertz says AAA is open to anyone.
2. Check USAA if you are eligible. Hertz says the fee could be waived for USAA members at companies that accept the association. USAA is for US military members and their families.
3. Travel on official government orders. Budget says US government staff, military and civilian, with a government purchase order or travel order can rent at 18 with no underage surcharge. For leisure trips, the surcharge still applies, though Budget says a special military rate may be available.
4. Use your employer's rate on business trips. Budget says select corporate customers may be exempt from the underage fee. Ask your company's travel team.
5. Insurance replacement rentals. Budget says the age limit doesn't apply to renters 18 and older getting a replacement car through certain insurers, including Allstate, Progressive and State Farm.
6. Let a driver aged 25 or over rent and drive. If someone in your group is 25 or older, they can rent without the surcharge. At Budget, any added driver must also be 25 or older, so the under-25 traveler wouldn't drive on that rental.

If none of these fit, the fee is part of the price, so compare the full cost including it.

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How old do you have to be to rent a car in 2026: the details that trip people up

The age rule is only half of it, because under-25 renters face extra conditions on payment, car class and added drivers.

• Credit card, not debit. Budget says renters aged 21 to 24 need an accepted credit card and a valid driver's license.
• The fee isn't in the online price. Budget says the surcharge isn't included in online rates, because age isn't checked during online booking. If you choose Pay Now, you pay the surcharge when you return the car.
• Car classes are limited. Budget lists economy, compact, midsize, standard, full-size and premium cars, midsize and standard SUVs and convertibles for renters under 25. Hertz says under-25 renters can't rent from its Dream Car, Prestige or Adrenaline collections, though some sports models such as a Camaro, Charger or Mustang may be available.
• Added drivers. Budget says any added driver must be 25 or older. With Hertz and AAA, an additional driver is free, but must also be a AAA member.
• Insurance. Hertz says extra insurance isn't required for under-25 renters, but recommends having personal auto insurance and checking whether it covers rentals.

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Hertz vs Enterprise: how old do you have to be to rent a car, and which costs less?

The cheaper company for a young driver depends on your dates, city and car, so compare the total with the fee included. Here is a simple way to compare Hertz, Enterprise and Budget in 2026:

1. Search the same pickup branch, dates and car class on each site.
2. Add the young renter fee. Online rates often leave it out, so multiply the daily fee by your rental days and add it.
3. Apply any membership you have. A AAA membership can remove the fee at Hertz, which can change which company is cheapest.
4. Check the payment rules for under-25 renters, such as needing a credit card.
5. Go through ShopBack before you book with the company you choose.

Enterprise sets its own age rules and young renter fees, which can differ by location, so read them on Enterprise's site during step 1 rather than assuming they match Hertz or Budget.

Example (illustrative prices only): a 22-year-old rents a midsize car from Budget for 3 days at a base rate of $50 a day, so $150. At $27 a day, the surcharge adds $81, so the rental costs $231 before taxes. Going through ShopBack before you book lowers that further: your effective price is the total minus the Cashback, at the rate shown on Budget's ShopBack page.

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How old do you have to be to rent a car: best deals in the US in 2026

For young drivers, the best deal usually comes from removing the fee first and then lowering the base price. The order that saves the most:

• Step 1: compare prices. Check the same car and dates at two or three companies, with the fee included.
• Step 2: look for a promo code. A AAA code at Hertz can waive the fee. Codes like this come from AAA and the rental company itself.
• Step 3: go through ShopBack. Open the rental company's ShopBack page, then book.
• Step 4: pay with your best rewards card. Check whether your card offers rental car coverage.

Our guides to the cost of renting a car for a day and the best site for cheap car rentals go deeper on base prices.

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Can you use a AAA code and ShopBack on the same rental?

A AAA code and ShopBack are separate steps. The AAA club discount code comes from AAA and Hertz, and if it removes a daily young renter fee for you, that is a saving worth taking. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.

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How ShopBack fits into renting a car

Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same booking, at the same rental company. It is a step in how you book, like comparing prices:

1. Open Enterprise, Hertz or Budget on ShopBack US.
2. Tap through to the rental company's site and book as normal.
3. The cash shows in your ShopBack US account after the rental is confirmed.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Car rental companies on ShopBack US include Enterprise, Hertz and Budget.

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Using a rewards card and ShopBack on a rental

You can usually earn card rewards and ShopBack cash on the same rental, because they come from different places. Your card issuer pays rewards on what it charges, and ShopBack pays Cashback on an eligible booking. Budget says renters under 25 need a credit card, so pick the card that earns most on travel. Many cards also include rental car coverage, so read your card terms before you decline the counter's cover. Our guide to using ShopBack with credit cards in the US explains more.

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FAQs

How old do you have to be to rent a car in the US?

Usually 20 or 21, depending on the company. Budget says the minimum age is 21 in most US states, and Hertz says it rents to customers aged 20 and above. In New York and Michigan, you can rent from age 18. Drivers under 25 usually pay a daily young renter fee.

How can under-25 drivers avoid the young driver fee?

The main ways are a membership or a qualifying rate. Hertz says AAA members aged 20 to 24 get the Young Renter fee waived when they book with the AAA discount code at participating US locations. Budget says US government staff on official orders, some corporate accounts and some insurance replacement renters are exempt. Otherwise, the fee usually stops at 25.

Can you rent a car at 18 in the US?

In New York and Michigan, yes. Budget and Hertz both say the minimum rental age is 18 in those two states. Elsewhere, Budget says renters at 18 can qualify through some insurance replacement rentals, or as US government staff with a purchase or travel order.

How much is the young driver fee?

It depends on the company and location. At the time of writing, Budget says most of its corporate-operated US locations charge an extra $27 per day for renters aged 21 to 24, with different fees in New York and Michigan. Budget also says the surcharge isn't included in online rates.

Does AAA waive the Hertz young renter fee?

Yes, according to Hertz. AAA members aged 20 to 24 get a waived Young Renter fee when the AAA club discount code (CDP) is in the reservation, the booking is made at least 24 hours ahead at a participating location, and the young renter is a AAA member with a credit card in their own name.

Can I use a debit card to rent a car under 25?

At Budget, no. Budget says renters aged 21 to 24 at its corporate-operated US locations need an accepted credit card, not a debit card, plus a valid driver's license. Other companies set their own payment rules, so check before you book.

What cars can you rent if you are under 25?

Most everyday classes. Budget lists economy through full-size and premium cars, midsize and standard SUVs and convertibles for renters under 25. Hertz says under-25 renters can't rent from its Dream Car, Prestige or Adrenaline collections, though some sports models may be available.

Can someone under 25 be an additional driver?

It depends on the company. Budget says an added driver must be 25 or older with a valid license and credit card. Hertz says AAA members can add an additional driver for free, but that driver must also be a AAA member and meet its standard rental rules.

Is Hertz or Enterprise cheaper for drivers under 25?

It changes by date, city and car class, so compare the full price for your dates, including the young renter fee, on each site. A AAA membership can change the answer at Hertz, because Hertz waives the fee for AAA members aged 20 to 24.

Can I use a AAA code and still get money back through ShopBack?

The AAA club discount code comes from AAA and Hertz, and if it waives the young renter fee for you, use it. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.

How does ShopBack lower the cost of a car rental?

Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same booking, at the same rental company. Open the company's page on ShopBack US, then book as normal. Cashback lowers what you actually pay. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount, not like points or miles.

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Key takeaways

• The minimum rental age in most US states is 21 at Budget and 20 at Hertz, and 18 in New York and Michigan.
• Under 25, expect a daily young renter fee, $27 a day at most Budget locations at the time of writing.
• AAA members aged 20 to 24 can have the Hertz fee waived; government, military, corporate and insurance replacement renters may be exempt at Budget.
• Compare the full price with the fee included, then go through ShopBack before you book.

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Related reads

Go through ShopBack before you book at: Enterprise · Hertz · Budget

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About this guide

Age rules and fees come from Budget's US age requirements page, Hertz's guide for renters under 25 and Hertz's AAA partnership page. Fees, rules and Cashback rates change and can vary by location, so this guide points to the live rate on each ShopBack page instead of quoting one.

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Rental age rules, fees and membership benefits vary by company, location and time and are subject to change. Check the rental terms for your pickup location and the live rate on each company's ShopBack US page before you book. This article is intended for general informational purposes only.