Can an 18 year old drive a Hertz rental car?

[Olive]

No, an 18-year-old cannot rent a car from Hertz in most of the United States and Canada. The standard minimum age to rent is 20. The only exceptions are in the U.S. states of Michigan and New York, and the Canadian province of Quebec, where the minimum age is 18. However, renters aged 18-24 in these locations and those aged 20-24 elsewhere face a mandatory "Young Renter Fee" and are restricted to specific vehicle classes.

Hertz's age policy is strict and non-negotiable. Attempting to rent as an 18-year-old outside the three exception regions will result in a denied rental. The policy is clearly stated in Hertz's terms and conditions. For renters who do meet the age requirement in their location, verification with a valid driver's license and a major credit card in the renter's name is mandatory. Debit cards or prepaid cards are generally not accepted for the initial reservation and security hold.

The financial implications are significant. The Young Renter Fee is a daily surcharge, not a one-time cost. Industry data indicates this fee typically ranges from $19 to $35 per day, depending on the rental location and vehicle type. For a week-long rental, this can add over $200 to the total cost. This fee applies to all renters under 25, even in low-age jurisdictions.

Vehicle choice is severely limited for drivers under 25. Hertz restricts these renters to Class B (Intermediate) or Class C (Standard) vehicles, such as a Toyota Corolla or Hyundai Elantra. Premium sedans, SUVs, minivans, luxury vehicles, and all specialty cars are explicitly excluded. This policy is designed to manage insurance risk and is uniformly enforced.

The following table summarizes the key policy details by region:

Region / Jurisdiction	Minimum Rental Age	Young Renter Fee (Under 25)	Common Vehicle Class Restriction
Most U.S. & Canada	20 years old	Applies (approx. $19-$35/day)	Intermediate/Standard (Class B/C)
Michigan, USA	18 years old	Applies (approx. $19-$35/day)	Intermediate/Standard (Class B/C)
New York, USA	18 years old	Applies (approx. $19-$35/day)	Intermediate/Standard (Class B/C)
Quebec, Canada	18 years old	Applies (approx. $19-$35/day)	Intermediate/Standard (Class B/C)

Before planning a trip, always check the specific location's policy on the Hertz website. Some airport locations or franchises may have additional restrictions. Your best course of action is to have all required documents—a valid, unexpired driver's license and a major credit card—ready and to budget for the daily young renter fee if you are under 25.

[MacZachary]

I tried to rent from Hertz in California last month when I was 18. I had my license and a debit card, thinking I was all set. The agent at the counter told me straight up: “We can’t rent to anyone under 20 here.” No exceptions. I had to scramble to find another way to get to my cousin’s wedding. My advice? Don’t just assume—call the exact branch you plan to use or check online. Even if you’re 18 in a place like New York, they’ll still hit you with a huge daily “young driver” charge on top of the rental cost. It’s a tough rule, but they don’t bend it.

[MacJames]

As a travel advisor, I guide many young clients through car rental logistics. For Hertz, the age question is the first hurdle. If you’re 18, your rental is geographically limited to Michigan, New York, or Quebec. Once confirmed, the real planning begins.

You must use a major credit card for the security hold; debit cards are not accepted for the initial transaction. Budget for the Young Renter Fee, which is a daily surcharge that can increase your total cost by 25% or more. Furthermore, your vehicle options will be basic economy or compact cars. Sports cars, larger SUVs, and even many midsize sedans are off the table.

Always book directly through Hertz’s official channels to see the full breakdown of fees for your age bracket. Confirm the total with all surcharges before you commit.

[JamesonLynn]

Working the counter at a Hertz location, I enforce these policies daily. The system automatically flags any renter under 25. If your license shows you’re 18 and our branch isn’t in Michigan, New York, or Quebec, I cannot proceed with the rental—the software won’t allow it.

For the 18-year-olds who are eligible, the process is the same as for older renters but with automatic add-ons. The Young Renter Fee is applied per day. The contract will also list only the approved vehicle classes you can take. We also do a meticulous check that the credit card presented is valid, matches your ID, and has sufficient available credit for the hold. Our goal is clarity, so there are no surprises at pickup.

[Brenda]

We learned this lesson when helping our son rent a car for a college trip. He was 19, so even in a state where the minimum age was 20, he wasn’t eligible. We explored the option of renting it in our name and adding him as a driver, but Hertz still charges the Young Renter Fee for any driver under 25 on the contract. The fee made it prohibitively expensive.

For parents, the practical takeaway is that if your under-25 child needs a rental car, they must be in one of the three low-age regions. Even then, you’re looking at substantial extra costs and limited car choices. It’s often more economical to compare alternatives like peer-to-peer car sharing services, which sometimes have more flexible age policies, or to simply budget for ride-sharing and public transit instead. Hertz’s rules are fixed, so planning around them is essential.