No, an 18-year-old in Florida cannot typically rent a car from major rental companies. The standard minimum age to rent a vehicle in the United States is 25. While Florida state law allows individuals aged 18 and older to enter into a legal contract, rental car companies set their own stricter age policies to mitigate the higher insurance risks associated with younger, less experienced drivers. Finding a rental at 18 is extremely difficult and, if possible, comes with significant challenges and costs.
The primary barrier is the young renter fee or underage surcharge. For drivers under 25 who are accepted by a company (usually starting at age 21), this fee can add a substantial daily cost to the rental. For an 18-year-old, this fee would be prohibitively high, if the option even exists. Some smaller, local rental agencies or peer-to-peer car-sharing services like Turo might offer rentals to 18-year-olds, but they are the exception, not the rule, and their policies vary widely.
Your most realistic alternatives are:
- Renting with a major company that allows 21-24 year-olds and paying the associated young renter fee. This is the most common path for young adults.
- Using a car-sharing service like Turo, where you can filter searches by owner policies. Some Turo owners may rent to 18-year-olds, but expect strict requirements and higher costs.
- Exploring other transportation options like ridesharing, public transit, or having a parent or guardian over 25 rent the car on your behalf.
| Rental Company | Standard Minimum Age | Minimum Age with Young Renter Fee | Estimated Daily Underage Fee (for 21-24) |
|---|
| Enterprise | 25 | 21 | $20 - $30 |
| Hertz | 25 | 20 (in some NY locations) / typically 21 | $25 - $35 |
| Avis | 25 | 21 | $27 - $37 |
| Budget | 25 | 21 | $27 - $37 |
| Turo (Varies by owner) | 18 (in most states) | N/A | N/A (Price reflected in listing) |
Ultimately, while not illegal, it's practically unfeasible for an 18-year-old to walk into a major rental agency in Florida and drive away with a car. Your energy is better spent researching Turo listings or planning around the 21-year-old threshold.
