Hi, I'm going to the United States next year and looking for cheap deals on car rental. The main driver is 25 year old plus and I am filling in as an additional driver, but I am only on my red P's and 18 years old of age. Can any of you ozbargainers help me find some cheap deals out there?
around the 15th of Jan and going for two weeks. thanks
Car Rental - San Francisco (18 year old additional driver)
TRD on 26/08/2014 - 13:54
Comments
Not going to happen. If you were over 21 you could join Hertz Gold Rewards and have under-25 fees waived for any rental. This is what I did when I did a 3 month trip of the US last year (when I was 23). Received the other Hertz Gold benefits too (such as free upgrades and a right to swap your assigned car for any car in Hertz' "Gold Choice" lineup).
You will also find that other countries will be very reluctant to let you drive on a 'restricted' drivers licence such as the 'Provisional' licences we have in Australia. This system is not replicated in the US and is only replicated in one province of Canada (British Columbia).
I unfortunately faced this issue when I first tried to do my planned US road trip at the end of my university studies (I was 20 when I graduated). Decided to hold off for a few years until I was 25, then discovered the Hertz Gold Class option (by which point I was already over 21).
Check out National car hire's UK website for USA car hire.
http://www.nationalcar.co.uk/free-additional-driver-usaright now I have found rental companies not allowing 18 year olds to drive the vehicle at all, but the thing is the main driver is over 25 years old and I am just a secondary driver taking the main drivers spot while going to other cities.
You will struggle to find any car rental companies which will allow anyone under 25 to drive.