In 48 US states the minimum rental age is 21, set by company policy rather than law. Only New York and Michigan require companies to rent to drivers as young as 18 — and neither caps the surcharge, which is why they carry the country’s highest young driver fees. Because the rules come from company policy in most states, the same age can be accepted at one brand and refused at another, so comparing suppliers on DiscoverCars matters more than most renters realise.
Key Takeaways
- 48 states default to age 21 – that floor is company policy, not state law.
- New York and Michigan are the only states requiring rentals from 18, by civil-rights and consumer law.
- Neither NY nor MI caps the fee – hence the highest surcharges in the US.
- Alabama and Nebraska at 19 is Hertz company policy, not state law – other brands still require 21 there.
- There is no federal minimum rental age in the United States.
Minimum Rental Age by State: The Real Picture
| Where | Minimum age | What sets the rule |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 18 | State law (GBL § 391-g) makes age-only refusal of 18+ unlawful |
| Michigan | 18 | Civil-rights law (Elliott-Larsen Act) as applied by the courts |
| Alabama / Nebraska | 19 at Hertz only | Hertz company policy, not state law |
| All other 46 states + DC | 21 (20 at Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty) | Company policy – no state or federal statute |
Two widespread errors worth correcting here, because almost every competing article repeats them:
- Alabama and Nebraska are not ’19-year-old states’. That 19 minimum is Hertz’s own rental policy. Enterprise, Avis and Budget still enforce 21 in both states, so a 19-year-old in Alabama can rent from Hertz and be turned away elsewhere.
- Neither New York nor Michigan caps the young driver fee. New York’s statute allows companies to pass through the actual extra insurance cost attributable to age — a cost-justification standard, not a dollar limit. That is precisely why New York fees are the highest in the country.
New York: You Can Rent at 18, But It Costs the Most
New York General Business Law § 391-g makes it unlawful to refuse to rent to anyone aged 18 or over solely because of age, provided insurance for that age is available. The New York Court of Appeals upheld this in People v. Alamo Rent A Car (1997), and a knowing violation carries a $500 penalty.
What the law does not do is limit the surcharge. Companies may recover the genuine additional insurance cost, which produces figures like $68.75/day at Enterprise and $84/day at Avis for ages 18–20. An 18-year-old renting for a week in New York can pay more in surcharge than in base rate — which makes comparing suppliers there unusually valuable.
Michigan: The Cheaper Way to Rent Under 21
Michigan has no rental-specific statute. The age-18 floor comes from the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act’s public-accommodation provisions, applied to car rental by the Michigan courts and a state Attorney General opinion. So it is accurate to say Michigan requires rentals from 18 — but it comes from civil-rights law, not a rental statute.
Practically, Michigan is far cheaper than New York for the same young driver: $34/day versus $68.75/day at Enterprise for ages 18–20, and $15.50 versus $33.25 for ages 21–24. If your trip could plausibly start in either state, that difference is worth planning around. Compare Michigan and New York pickups on DiscoverCars to see the real totals side by side.
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. Because the floor is company policy in 48 states, a 20-year-old refused by Enterprise may be accepted by Hertz, Dollar or Thrifty at the very same airport. 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.
Can a Rental Company Refuse an Under-25 Driver?
Outside New York and Michigan, yes. With no federal minimum-age law and no state statute in the other 48 states, companies may set any minimum they choose — and in practice they refuse under-21 renters almost everywhere (under-20 at Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty).
Vehicle-class refusals are legal everywhere, including New York and Michigan. Even where the law compels a company to rent to an 18-year-old, it does not compel them to hand over a premium SUV. For the full fee breakdown by brand see our under-25 fees by company comparison, and for the age basics see the rental car age requirements guide.
Renting under 25? Find suppliers that accept your age.
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
What is the minimum age to rent a car in the US?
In 48 states the minimum is 21, set by company policy rather than law (Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty start at 20). Only New York and Michigan require companies to rent to drivers aged 18 and over. There is no federal minimum rental age in the United States.
Which states let you rent a car at 18?
Only New York and Michigan. New York’s General Business Law makes age-only refusal of renters 18 and over unlawful, while Michigan’s age-18 floor comes from its civil-rights law as applied by the courts. Both carry high young driver surcharges as a result.
Can you rent a car at 19 in Alabama or Nebraska?
At Hertz, yes, because Hertz company policy sets 19 as the minimum in those two states. This is not a state law, so Enterprise, Avis and Budget still require 21 in Alabama and Nebraska. The same 19-year-old can be accepted at one brand and refused at another.
Do New York and Michigan cap the young driver fee?
No. Neither state caps the surcharge. New York’s statute allows companies to pass through the actual additional insurance cost attributable to age, a cost-justification standard rather than a dollar limit, which is why New York has the highest young driver fees in the country.
Can a rental company legally refuse someone under 25?
Outside New York and Michigan, yes: companies may set any minimum age, and most refuse under-21 renters. Restrictions on which vehicle classes under-25 drivers may rent are legal in every state, including New York and Michigan.
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.