Our Young Driver’s Car Hire Package with Alamo and National in the USA, completely eliminates the need to pay a local surcharge for up to 3 drivers aged 21 to 24 years on one rental.
Drivers aged under 25 years old are considered a greater risk than drivers 25 years or over in the United States. Drivers aged 21 – 24, therefore, face a surcharge from the car hire companies.
Without a Young Driver’s Package you pay this surcharge on arrival, at between $25 – $47 per day (dependent on supplier). It is important to realise that this fee is simply a surcharge, not additional insurance. Your insurance levels will not be any different to that of the drivers aged 25 or more. Please take a moment to read our FAQ’s at the bottom of this page.
Please note: The YDP is not available at all downtown locations. The availability of fuel nearby will dictate if a location will offer the Premium and Young Driver packages. You may have to choose a nearby airport as your collection location. However, you can return a hire to a downtown locations. This is true of all downtown locations in San Francisco and Seattle.
In Canada, there is no Young Driver’s Package. Please see our article Driving In Canada – 5 Essential Tips for Drivers under 25 for more information about driving in Canada when under 25 years.
Booking the Young Driver’s Car Hire Package for the USA
Tick the box ‘I am aged 21-24’ before you press search. The results show a complete price from Alamo or National which includes the Young Driver’s Car Hire Package. This is the total rate with nothing else to pay on arrival.
Also included within your car rental will be:
- Unlimited Mileage,
- Zero Excess
- CDW,
- Up to $1 Million Liability Cover,
- Sales Tax,
- State Tax,
- Airport Fees,
- CFC (Subject to location),
- Mechanical Assistance,
- Initial tank of fuel
- Up to 3 additional drivers over 25
- Or, 2 more drivers aged 21 – 24 years, making 3 drivers under 25 in total.
Alamo/National Credit and Debit Card Policy:
ALAMO/NATIONAL DEBIT CARD POLICY: Debit cards are considered to be any non-credit card bearing the VISA or MasterCard logo. Any other non-credit card without one of these logos is not accepted. Please review the following guidelines: When renting in the US, a credit card in the name of the renter must be presented at the time of rental; otherwise, Debit cards are accepted at most locations along with proof of a confirmed round trip travel ticket (airline, cruise ship or train confirming your departure on the day of return of the car). Without proof of round-trip ticket, debit cards will not be accepted for the security deposit. For one-way rentals this does not apply and a credit card must be presented. $100 USD will be blocked per rental week when using a debit card
Under 21 years?
The states of New York and Michigan permit drivers under 21 years to hire a car. Elsewhere in the USA it is down to the supplier to make individual decisions on the minimum age of rental. Our dedicated Young Driver’s Package is not suitable for drivers under 21 years. However, an option is available if you are prepared to pay the daily surcharge locally.
Dollar and Thrifty:
UNDERAGE DRIVER FEE: The Renter and any additional Authorised Driver drivers must be in possession of a valid driver’s license issued by their respective jurisdictions of residence and must be at least twenty (20) years of age, unless otherwise required by law. Drivers that are at least twenty years of age, but less than twenty-five years of age will be subject to a supplemental charge of $29 USD per day plus tax in all States except New York which is $35.00 – $45.00 USD and Michigan $25.00 – $35.00 USD , unless prohibited by state law. Prices vary by car class and rental location.
Rentals in New York, Michigan, and the Province of Quebec – The minimum rental age is 18 with an Age Differential charge. Renters age 18 – 19 may rent under the following conditions:
- Car classes A – F only is $52.00 per day.
- In Michigan individuals between ages 18-24 may be signed on as Additional Authorised Operators only
Young Driver’s Car Hire Package – FAQ’s
Does this Young Driver’s Package mean that I don’t have to pay $25 per day when I get there?
Yes, absolutely.
When I collect the vehicle will I have to pay any additional charges?
The Young Driver’s Package includes all the insurances and waivers required to drive legally – so – as long as you don’t sign up for any optional extras such as Sat Nav, Enhanced Roadside assistance or an upgrade for instance, you will have no other charges when you arrive.
Can my friend drive for free?
Yes, you can have up to 3* drivers aged 21 – 24 at no additional charge. You can also have drivers aged 25 or over at no additional charge as long as the total number of drivers is only 4 people.
I want to use this package so my son/daughter can be an additional driver of my car, will that work?
It will not work. A Young Driver aged 21-24 must be the lead driver. Any other drivers become additional drivers.
What does ‘First tank of fuel free’ mean?
This means that you will receive the car with a full tank of fuel and can return the car as empty as possible.
Do I pay now, later, or on arrival?
We issue a pre-paid rental voucher which you exchange for the vehicle when you arrive. That means that you must pay the full balance before you travel to release the voucher. The full balance is payable at the time of reservation when you book online. To delay payment to 6 weeks before travel, please email reservations@thecarhireteam.co.uk.
Potential Restrictions
How long must I have held my driving licence to hire a car?
You must have held a driving licence for a minimum of 12 months before you can hire a car with our Young Driver Package in the USA.
Is there a restriction on the car category I can hire?
Some states have legal restrictions for the size of car young drivers may hire. New York State does not permit the hire of anything larger than a Full Size car. Our system works by only displaying the cars that you can drive when a young driver.
Does the price include the one-way fee?
No, one-way fees are payable directly to the desk on arrival. It cannot be pre-paid.