Avis & Budget Alter Lower Rental Ages

Two Cendant-owned rental car companies, Avis and Budget, are lowering the minimum age for renting cars from 25 to 21.  With lots of exceptions and additional charges of at least $25 a day.  For example, in some locations such as Washington, DC, Iowa, Idaho, Connecticut, and parts of New Jersey, the new rules don't apply.  Cendant blames something called "vicarious liability" laws in those regions as the reason they can't make this a blanket policy in the US. And in New York City, that surchrage tops out at a whopping $110 a day, more than the cost of the basic rental of a car in almost all cases.

Of course, National and and Alamo have long rented to 21-24 year olds for a $25 daily surcharge, and Enterprise does the same with a lower surcharge of $5-$10 a day.  And other rental car companies, including Hertz, have rented to young adults who work for companies that have corporate contracts.  Shop around if you're a young adult looking to rent wheels.