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Compare car rental for under 25s Compare car rental excess insurance for under 25
Yes, you can. While the minimum age at which you can rent a car is mandated by each country, it's then up to individual car rental providers to decide whether to keep that minimum or choose a higher minimum age limit.
So if you're under the age of 25 and you need to rent a car on a holiday or business trip, the good news is that you should be able to find a provider willing to let you hire a car.
In Australia, the following companies rent vehicles to drivers aged from 21 to 24 years who hold an open licence:
One of the unfortunate facts of hiring a car as a young driver is that you'll need to pay more than drivers over the age of 25. Rental companies impose what is known as a young driver surcharge or an age surcharge, which is an additional fee imposed on drivers under 25 years of age. This fee is typically applied daily, so it can significantly increase the total cost of your rental.
For example, Hertz Australia requires renters aged between 21 and 24 (inclusive) to pay a $16.50 (including GST) daily young renter surcharge. This surcharge is capped at 7 days per 30 days rental period, but if you want to hire a car for a week you're still looking at an extra $115.50 when compared to a driver who's 25 or older.
Check the table below for details of the young driver surcharges imposed by some major rental companies in Australia.
Brands | Applies to drivers aged | Daily young driver surcharge |
---|---|---|
Avis | 21 to 24 | $27.50 |
Budget | 21 to 24 | $16.50 |
Europcar | 21 to 24 | $30.25 |
Hertz | 21 to 24 | $16.50 |
Redspot | 21 to 24 | $15.40 |
Thrifty | 21 to 24 | $27.50 |
Most drivers under 25 might not fully understand what car rental excess insurance is, or might not think it's worth it. What if we told you that you could be out-of-pocket by $4,000 minimum if you had an accident in a rental car? If you're someone who'd rather keep that $4,000, then you might be interested in car rental excess insurance.
Name | Minimum age | International or domestic | Features | Starting price (per day) | Apply |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 19 years | Both |
| $9.48 ($0 excess) | Get quote |
![]() | 21 years | Both |
| $9.30 ($0 excess) | Get quote |
![]() | 21 years | Both |
| $5.68 (with a $300 excess payable) | Get quote |
*Always read through the product disclosure statement (PDS) to make sure the product is suitable for you.
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