The under-25 young driver fee runs roughly $25 to $27 per day at most major US rental companies — but in New York it reaches $68.75 to $84 a day for drivers aged 18–20, and four big brands don’t publish a figure at all. Because the same 22-year-old can pay wildly different amounts at the same airport depending on the brand, comparing suppliers on DiscoverCars is the only reliable way to find the cheapest option for your age.
Key Takeaways
- Most US companies charge roughly $25–$27/day for drivers 21–24.
- Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Sixt publish no US figure – you only see it at checkout.
- New York is the most expensive state by far: $68.75–$84/day for ages 18–20.
- No major US brand publishes a per-rental cap – assume the fee accrues every single day.
- Under-25 renters are also blocked from luxury, premium SUV and passenger van classes.
Under-25 Young Driver Fee by Rental Company
Here is what each major US company actually charges drivers aged 21–24, based on their own published policies as of September 2026. Note how many simply don’t tell you:
| Company | Minimum age | Young driver fee (21–24) |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | 21 (18 in MI/NY) | ~$25/day, varies by location |
| National | 21 (18 in MI/NY) | ~$25/day average |
| Alamo | 21 (18 in MI/NY) | ~$25/day average |
| Budget | 21 (18 in MI/NY) | $27/day at most locations |
| Avis | 21 (18 in MI/NY) | Surcharge applies; no flat US figure published |
| Hertz | 20 (19 AL/NE; 18 MI/NY) | Not published (’Age Differential Charge’) |
| Thrifty | 20 (18 in MI/NY) | Not published – varies by location and car class |
| Dollar | 20 (18 in MI/NY) | Not published |
| Sixt | 21 (18 in NY) | Not published – shown at booking only |
That four of the nine biggest brands refuse to publish a number is the single most useful thing to know here. Hertz calls it an ’Age Differential Charge’ without a figure; Thrifty says only that it ’varies based on renting location and car class’. For those brands the fee is genuinely unknowable until you reach a quote screen.
Here is the part most guides skip: no booking site can remove a young driver fee — the surcharge is set by the rental company and collected at the counter. What comparing suppliers actually does is show you, side by side, which company charges the least for your age at your exact pickup location. At a New York airport the gap between suppliers for the same 19-year-old exceeds $30 per day — over $200 on a week’s rental. That spread is real money, and it is invisible until you compare. Checking DiscoverCars puts every supplier’s total in one list before you commit.
Where the Fee Gets Expensive: New York and Michigan
New York and Michigan are the only two states that require companies to rent to drivers as young as 18 — and because neither caps what companies may charge for the extra risk, they also carry the highest surcharges in the country. These are published figures, so they are worth stating precisely:
| Company | New York 18–20 | New York 21–24 | Michigan 18–20 | Michigan 21–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise / National / Alamo | $68.75/day | $33.25/day | $34.00/day | $15.50/day |
| Avis | $84.00/day | $35.00/day | $41.00/day | $28.00/day |
A correction worth making, because most articles get it wrong: the widely-quoted ’$121.50 New York Enterprise fee’ is the truck and van rate, not the car rate. The car rate for ages 18–20 is $68.75/day. If you see $121.50 quoted for a car, the source has confused the two tables.
Michigan is dramatically cheaper than New York for the same age — $34 versus $68.75 at Enterprise for an 18-year-old. Since these are the only two states where 18–20 renting is possible at all, that difference matters if your trip could start in either. Compare both on DiscoverCars before deciding which airport to fly into.
Which Cars Can Under-25 Drivers Actually Rent?
The fee isn’t the only restriction. Every major company also limits which vehicle classes you may take, and these limits are published:
- Avis — under-25 renters are excluded from Full-Size SUVs, Luxury, Minivans, Passenger Vans, Premium SUVs and Specialty vehicles.
- Enterprise — ages 21–24 are limited to economy through full-size cars, cargo vans, minivans, pickups, and compact/small/standard SUVs up to 5 passengers.
- Hertz — excludes the Prestige, Adrenaline and Dream Car collections.
If you need a large SUV or a van for a group trip, this is often a harder blocker than the fee itself — and it varies by brand, which is another reason to compare rather than default to one company.
Is There a Cap on the Young Driver Fee?
No major US brand publishes a per-rental cap. You’ll see figures like ’$280 maximum’ repeated online, but no official rental-company source confirms any specific cap in the US market. Plan on the basis that the fee accrues every day of the rental: at $27/day, a ten-day trip adds $270 before tax.
This is exactly why the daily amount matters so much, and why a $2–$3 daily difference between brands is worth ten minutes of comparing. For the full picture on age rules see our rental car age requirements guide, and for the legitimate ways to get the fee removed entirely, see how to avoid the young driver fee.
Paying a young driver fee? See who charges least.
DiscoverCars compares Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Sixt, Thrifty and more in one search — so you can see whose young driver fee is lowest at your pickup location before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the under-25 car rental fee?
Roughly $25 to $27 per day at most major US companies: Budget publishes $27/day, and Enterprise, National and Alamo average about $25/day. New York is far higher at $68.75 to $84/day for ages 18 to 20. Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Sixt publish no US figure at all.
Which rental company is cheapest for under-25 drivers?
It depends entirely on your pickup location, because every company describes its fee as location-dependent. Enterprise, National and Alamo average slightly less than Budget’s $27/day, but the only reliable answer is to compare suppliers for your specific airport and dates, since the spread can exceed $30/day in New York.
Is there a maximum young driver fee per rental?
No major US rental brand publishes a per-rental cap, so you should assume the fee is charged for every day of your rental. Figures like a ‘$280 cap’ circulate online but are not confirmed by any official rental-company source.
Why won’t Hertz or Thrifty tell me their under-25 fee?
Both describe the charge without a figure: Hertz calls it an Age Differential Charge, and Thrifty says it varies by renting location and car class. For these brands the amount only appears once you reach a quote, which is why comparing several suppliers side by side is the practical workaround.
Can under-25 drivers rent an SUV or minivan?
Only some classes. Avis excludes full-size SUVs, luxury cars, minivans, passenger vans, premium SUVs and specialty vehicles for under-25 renters. Enterprise limits 21 to 24-year-olds to economy through full-size cars plus compact to standard SUVs up to 5 passengers.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to DiscoverCars. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Fees verified September 2026 — rental companies change them without notice, so always confirm the total at booking.