Hiring A Car Under 25

Car hire is growing in popularity throughout the UK. Rental cars offer the convenience of owning a private vehicle for less cost. 

The minimum age to hire a car in the UK is 21 - providing you have held your driver's licence for more than one year. However, hiring a car under the age of 25 can present barriers. 

The good news is that some car hire companies are lowering these barriers to give younger drivers the opportunity to ‘squeal some wheels.’ 

You should still expect to be charged an ‘under 25 fee’ though. 

Why Is Hiring A Car Under 25 More Expensive?

Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are more likely to be involved in an accident. The government estimates that drivers aged between 17 and 24 cause £14.7 billion worth of damage a year due to accidents on the road. 

A higher rate of road accidents in this age group naturally increases the risk for car rental companies. The Young Driver Surcharge helps them to minimise the risk. 

What Is The Premium For Under 25s?

Typical premiums vary depending on the policy of the car hire company, but you can expect to pay anywhere between £6 to £40 a day extra for under 25 surcharges.

Where Can Under 25’s Hire A Rental Car? 

Every car hire company will rent to drivers under 25s but you will need to shop around for the best deals. Some car hire firms have different age limits (up to 23) and the type of car you hire could lower the Young Driver surcharge. 

At the time of writing, the most young-driver friendly rental firms in the UK are listed below:

Sixt - even offers 5% discount for students

Enterprise - 20% discount for students

Avis 

Thrifty

Europcar

Inter Rent

It should be noted that some rules do not apply for non-UK residents visiting the UK on holiday. For more details, check out the comments on the Lonely Planet forum.

Is There Any Car Hire Firms That Are Infamous For Ripping You Off? 

Whilst car hire companies do offer a convenient and cost-effective means of getting out and about, the benefits can be quickly wiped out by dodgy deals. 

Unfortunately, rental firms are notorious for adding unexpected, and often unexplained, charges for a variety of reasons. 

A report published by The Guardian based on research conducted by consumer watchdog Which? reveals that the major car hire companies admit to not carrying out repairs despite making customers pay for them. 

A drop in profit margins is believed to prompt car hire companies to create new income streams at the expense of their customers. Europcar, Sixt and Goldcar are rated amongst the worst in Europe. 

Visit the Which website for more details. 

Car Hire Excess 

A common car hire scam is to charge customers for existing bumps or scratches that have not previously been repaired.

Unexpected charges can cost anywhere in the region of £100-£2000. To avoid being ripped off, the best option is to take out car hire excess insurance.

Bettersafe cover you up to a maximum of £2000. For more details, contact a member of our friendly team on +44 (0) 20 3740 4431 or email us at enquiries@bettersafe.com.