🇺🇸 United States

Renting a car in the US

Most of what looks like rental-car "law" in the US is actually rental-company policy. Age minimums, debit-card rules, and young-driver surcharges are set by Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and their competitors — not by the federal government. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates disclosure and deceptive-pricing practices, not the size of the young-driver surcharge.

Minimum age

There is no federal minimum age for car rental. Most companies in most states set it at 21, with an "under-25 driver" surcharge below that age. A few states — notably New York and Michigan — have laws requiring companies to rent to drivers 18 and older (with surcharges permitted). Everything else is industry practice, and the number on the rental company's own terms page is the rule you must live with.^[1]

Documents you'll need

• Your original home-country driver's license. See licenses.
• An IDP if your license is not in English, or the rental company requires it. (Many do.)
• Your passport.
• A credit card in the renter's name. Debit cards are often accepted but trigger a credit check, a larger hold, or in some cases a blanket refusal at the counter.

What's included in the base price — and what isn't

Under FTC consumer law, rental companies must disclose all mandatory fees (taxes, airport surcharges, mileage caps, concession recovery fees) up front. "Drip pricing" — adding mandatory charges only at checkout — is a current FTC enforcement target.^[1][2]

The base rental price typically does not include:

• Liability insurance in most states (see insurance).
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) — optional, but essential if your home policy / travel insurance / credit card doesn't cover you.
• Supplemental liability, personal accident insurance, personal effects coverage.
• Young-driver surcharge (if under 25).
• One-way drop-off fees (can be hundreds of dollars for long routes).
• Toll passes — usually a daily admin fee regardless of how many tolls you cross. See tolls.
• Fuel — always return full, or pay 2-3x market rates for the rental's refuel.

Paying by credit card vs debit card

Major companies will authorize (place a hold on) a credit card for the estimated total plus a deposit — typically a few hundred dollars above the rental cost. This hold releases after the rental ends but can take days. Debit cards are often accepted but may trigger a credit check at the counter, a larger hold (sometimes $500+), or a point-blank refusal. Always call ahead if you only have a debit card.^[1]

Common traps

• Fuel "full-to-full" vs "pre-pay": pre-paid fuel almost always costs more than driving to a gas station. Return with a full tank unless you plan to drive the tank almost empty.
• Upsold SUVs at the counter: if the company is out of your class, they owe you a free upgrade. Don't accept a "small upgrade fee."
• Airport fees: renting off-airport can save 15-25% but costs you a shuttle or rideshare.
• Unauthorized driver rule: only drivers listed on the contract can legally drive the car. If an unlisted driver crashes, all insurance and waivers are void. Add additional drivers to the contract (usually $10-15/day).
• Crossing into Mexico or Canada: most US rentals prohibit it, and insurance becomes void across the border. Verify in writing.

One-way rentals

Dropping a car off in a different city than you picked it up often incurs a drop-off fee. For short distances and popular corridors (SF to LA, Boston to NYC) it can be free; for long cross-country drops it can exceed $500. Quote both pickup locations before booking — sometimes a slight origin change removes the fee entirely.