Policies and requirements for renting cars from Car Rental companies vary from one company to another, the same way they vary from one state to another.
Eligibility for renting cars from rental companies in California will differ from that of Texas, Las Vegas, Florida, and other states. Therefore, in terms of age, how old do you have to be to rent a car in Florida?
You must be 21 years old and above to rent a car in Florida. You must also show the rental company your driving license with your photo and proof of your age.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car in Florida?
The statutory age to rent a car in the state of Florida is 21 years old. As long as you are 21 years and above, you will be allowed to rent a car in Florida.
Although, it is important to note that since the minimum required age acceptable in the United States as a whole to rent a car from a rental company is 25, renters between the age of 21 and 25 years in Florida are expected to pay a certain fee called a surcharge.
The surcharge is a fee paid to protect the company, because being aged below 25 and renting a car, you are considered underage, and so, you have to pay an extra underage driver fee.
This is because, since you are below 25 years, you are considered a young driver, and the general assumption is that, the younger the driver, the riskier he is as a renter.
So, the rental company charges a “risk amount”, known as the “Young driver fee“, or the “underage driver fee”. Depending on how risky they consider the driver to be, the surcharge can range between fifteen dollars ($15) and seventy dollars ($70) in a day.
Also, there are several requirements you must meet, asides from paying the rental fee, and the additional surcharge as a young driver.
What are the Requirements to Rent a Car in Florida?
The requirements to rent a car in Florida are:
1. You must be at least 21 years of Age
The age requirement to rent a car in Florida is 21 years old minimum. A driver who is below 21 years old cannot rent a car in Florida, except if he or she is in the military force, and is on a military assignment or duty. He must show proof of this.
2. You must Own a Driver’s License
To drive in Florida, or any state whatsoever, you must have a driver’s license with a clear picture of you and your name boldly written in it to prove that it belongs to you.
Without a driver’s license, you will not be able to rent a car legally in Florida, or anywhere in the United States.
3. You Should Have a Valid Means of Identification
Although your driver’s license can stand in as a valid ID card, you are required to have another valid ID card that shows your face in a clear picture, your name boldly, and that confirms your age.
Since there are certain driver’s licenses that do not include your age, rental companies might need another identification that will stand as proof of your age, to make sure you are not below 21 years old.
Also, even if your driver’s license does show your age, they might want another identification card to be double sure, in cases where they have reasons to doubt.
4. You must Show Your Credit/Debit Card
You must show a major credit or debit card in your name that states that you have enough credit in the account to offset any damage that might be caused by you.
This requirement is impressive for every renter, and even more so for a young driver, as young drivers are regarded as high-risk clients.
This is why presenting a major credit or debit card in your name is important for the car rental company.
If you do not have a card, rental companies ask for other means of payment that will qualify you to rent their car.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car in Florida from the Airport?
The minimum age you have to be to rent a car from the airport in Florida is 21 years old, and you have to provide all the necessary documents required for you to be eligible to rent the car.
Documents such as driver’s license, proof of age, proof of credit in your credit card, and a surcharge for your young age.
Renting cars from the airport is usually more expensive than renting elsewhere, and so, the surcharge will invariably be more than the usual $15 – $70.
Can an 18-Year-Old Rent a Car in Florida?
Although the minimum age required to rent a car in Florida is 21 years, there are certain states and certain rental companies—in Florida, even—that allow 18-year-old drivers to rent a car.
These 18-year-old drivers would have to provide all the necessary documents, provide proof of insurance, and would have to pay more in surcharges than older people.
Except it is extremely necessary and important, in the end, it is better to not rent a car at that age because of the overwhelming surcharges.
What Car Rental Companies Let 18-year-olds drive in Florida?
The major car rental companies that let 18-year-olds drive in Florida are:
- E-Z Rent A Car: You can rent a car at E-Z if you are 18 years old. This is the most popular car rental for 18-year-olds in several states, including Florida. Their young driver fee is $25 only.
- Alamo Rental: Alamo also offers car rental services to 18-year-olds in the state of Florida. However, their surcharge for drivers between 18 and 20 years of age is $49.37 only.
Other companies that offer rental services to 18-year-olds are; Enterprise Rent-A-Car, LR Miamo Exotics, Avis Rent-A-Car, Dollar Car Rental, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Sixt Rent-A-Car, Fox Rent-A-Car, among others.
Conclusion
To rent a car in Florida, you have to be at least 21 years old and meet all the requirements. This way, the only trouble you would encounter is the surcharge you have to pay as a young driver.
Also, if you are 18 years old, even though the general minimum age to rent a car in Florida is 21, you can always get a rental company that offers services to 18-year-olds, charging more fees to offset any possible risk.