What you need to know about hiring a car if you are under 25

We explain what to look out for with car hire when you are a younger driver.

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If you are under 21, the chances are it may be the first time you have hired a car. We know that there can be some extra considerations if you are a younger person renting a car. Hopefully the information here will help but please make sure you always read all the terms and conditions of a car hire carefully before booking.

Are you looking forward to spending some time with your friends this summer? Perhaps you are hoping to relax in a beach resort in Spain or maybe you want to explore the hillside villages in picturesque Italy. Car hire gives you independence and the option to explore the wider area around your chosen destination.

There are car hire companies out there who will supply vehicles to younger drivers, some even from 18 years old, but in the majority of cases there will be specific terms and conditions that will apply.

Most of these companies will only rent out cars to people who have held a full licence (with no major endorsements) for at least a year so do make sure that you have held your licence for long enough.  The company may be willing to hire a car to you but, if you turn up at the car hire desk to collect the car and your licence is not suitable, then you could find yourself having paid for the car but not allowed to drive it.

If you are under 25 years old – or under 30 and looking to hire a larger or more powerful vehicle, there will almost certainly be Young Driver Fees. These can differ between car hire companies and they are not always included within the quote you are given. At Clarify Car Hire, our goal is to make our quotes as transparent as possible and if you enter your details for a quote then all Young Driver Fees will be included.

Generally the choice of cars for those under 25 is not as wide and you are highly unlikely to be able to hire cars from luxury ranges. Additional drivers who are also under 25 will also need to satisfy the licence requirements and will also need to pay young driver fees. They do not just apply to the lead driver!

Car hire, if it is booked through a UK company or website, will normally come with all the legally required insurances - Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection and Third Party - although you should always check the terms and conditions to be certain. If you have an incident in your hire car there will usually be an excess to pay on these insurances.

If so, and you are aged over 21, you may want to consider Car Hire Excess Insurance which is available through Clarify Car Hire. These reimbursement policies will also cover you for the windows, tyres, headlights, undercarriage and roof.

Many car hire firms will need you to leave your credit card details when you pick up your car - they use these to reserve an amount on the card just in case you have to pay out for an incident - so bear in mind your card will need to have enough space on it. If you do not possess a credit card, Clarify Car Hire enables you to search for car hire for debit card holders only.

If you have any questions please give our customer service team a call on 0330 222 0369 and we will be very happy to assist you.

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