I'm 18 and need to rent a car.

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
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Is there anything stopping my parents from renting a car, giving it to me, then having me return it? Nobody is gonna care who returns the car, right?

I need to rent from a major company since I plan on dropping it off in a different city, so I can't use the smaller local companies that will rent to an 18 year old.
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
they have to list you as a driver, if the company lets them list you as a driver, then that will work
 

HyTekJosh

Golden Member
Jan 20, 2001
1,500
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Only time I have heard of a rental in the U.S.A. for that age is if its for business purposes (corporate rental). There was a nominal fee added on as well.
 

RbSX

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
8,351
1
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At 18 you can't.

At 21-24 you have to pay a nominal fee to rent.

The consequences: You're not insured.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: ElFenix
rent a uhaul if nothing else.

I just need to get my stuff home from college. My parents can't come get me and my friends are all going home way before I am.

I have a final the last day of finals week and the dorm closes at 9am the next day. So my options are kinda slim. I gotta move out and go home that day. My dad is gonna be flying through the airport in Austin on the day anyway for a business trip, so I thought he could rent me a car while he was there.
 

RbSX

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
8,351
1
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Originally posted by: jimmyjam
Hertz or Budget, I forget which, will rent to people under 25 for an extra fee.

Yeah but you still have to be over 21.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Leros
Is there anything stopping my parents from renting a car, giving it to me, then having me return it? Nobody is gonna care who returns the car, right?

I need to rent from a major company since I plan on dropping it off in a different city, so I can't use the smaller local companies that will rent to an 18 year old.

I don't think your insurance would cover you...
 

DarkThinker

Platinum Member
Mar 17, 2007
2,822
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At that age once I was in car accident, I needed a car, pretty much all the car rental agencies told me that 25 is their age minimum, there was only 1 freaking agency that had 18 as a minimum and it charged dicks and balls per day I had no option I needed to go to school and to work so I had to face reality, and it sucked :(
 

PHiuR

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
9,539
2
76
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: ElFenix
rent a uhaul if nothing else.

I just need to get my stuff home from college. My parents can't come get me and my friends are all going home way before I am.

I have a final the last day of finals week and the dorm closes at 9am the next day. So my options are kinda slim. I gotta move out and go home that day.

1. Move your stuff to storage and carry as much as you can onto an airplane/train/bus.
2. Rent a U-Haul. You don't have to be over 21.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: DarkThinker
At that age once I was in car accident, I needed a car, pretty much all the car rental agencies told me that 25 is their age minimum, there was only 1 freaking agency that had 18 as a minimum and it charged dicks and balls per day I had no option I needed to go to school and to work so I had to face reality, and it sucked :(

When I was 16 I needed a rental. There was a local place that rented to 16+ for $35 a day. They had a few hundred 2 year old slightly damaged Chevy Cavaliers. Not the best cars, but it was good for a few days while my car was in the shop.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: PHiuR
Originally posted by: Leros
Originally posted by: ElFenix
rent a uhaul if nothing else.

I just need to get my stuff home from college. My parents can't come get me and my friends are all going home way before I am.

I have a final the last day of finals week and the dorm closes at 9am the next day. So my options are kinda slim. I gotta move out and go home that day.

1. Move your stuff to storage and carry as much as you can onto an airplane/train/bus.
2. Rent a U-Haul. You don't have to be over 21.

That would end up being more expensive than renting a car, but it would technically work. Agh, stupid rules.
 

AmigaMan

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,644
1
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this is so stupid. Sure we'll let you go die for our country, but you can't rent a car because of liability concerns. We'll let you have an M16 and train you how to kill someone, but don't take that sip of beer because you're not responsible enough. Sorry, rant-mode off, please continue with your regularly scheduled ATOT discussion.
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: AmigaMan
this is so stupid. Sure we'll let you go die for our country, but you can't rent a car because of liability concerns. We'll let you have an M16 and train you how to kill someone, but don't take that sip of beer because you're not responsible enough. Sorry, rant-mode off, please continue with your regularly scheduled ATOT discussion.

Hah... 99 times out of 100 the person saying this is under 21.

You think this is 100% accurate? Join the military, go to the bar in a military town and flash your military ID. See if you get rejected. You'll bitch about how you can't have a beer, but you have no intention of ever joining the military. Where's your argument?


And for the record, yeah, 18 isn't responsible enough. Hell, most 21 year olds aren't responsible enough.

As far as car rentals go... you know, there IS a reason that when you turn 25 your insurance rates drop. It's all in the statistics. How many studies have YOU done to support your ranting?

OP: what sort of distance is between you and school? Maybe post a Craigslist ad seeing if anyone can help you? Maybe an old friend from your hometown would be willing to pick you up for like... cost of gas and $50 or something. U-Haul sounds like your best bet though. Never know about them until you ask.
 

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2003
7,987
93
91
As others above mentioned, a hole-in-the-wall rental place is more likely to rent to you. But if you're doing a one-way rental, that's not a viable option.

Here's a crazy idea that just might work: Buy a cheap used car, and sell it when you're done.
 

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
73
91
Good luck ...

When dealing with rental car companies they like to hear that you are 25 or older.

BTW, I wish I had your problems ... and I was 18 again!
 

cavingjan

Golden Member
Nov 15, 1999
1,719
0
0
Be aware that dropping off a rental car in a different city usually has a large penalty fee. A Uhaul will probably be your cheaper and easier bet. The only thing you can do is call various places and find out.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: AmigaMan
this is so stupid. Sure we'll let you go die for our country, but you can't rent a car because of liability concerns. We'll let you have an M16 and train you how to kill someone, but don't take that sip of beer because you're not responsible enough. Sorry, rant-mode off, please continue with your regularly scheduled ATOT discussion.

How many times have you volunteered for the military?

Also, does the government regulate the age of car renters?
 

Winchester

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2003
4,965
0
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Originally posted by: Injury

As far as car rentals go... you know, there IS a reason that when you turn 25 your insurance rates drop. It's all in the statistics. How many studies have YOU done to support your ranting?


The new age is 28-29. They changed it over the past year or so. I turned 25 this year and called my insurance company(Progressive, even now with Hartford) (spotless record) and they said that they raised the age for insurance drops. So now I guess in 3-4 years they will raise it to 32 ;).



 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: Winchester
Originally posted by: Injury

As far as car rentals go... you know, there IS a reason that when you turn 25 your insurance rates drop. It's all in the statistics. How many studies have YOU done to support your ranting?


The new age is 28-29. They changed it over the past year or so. I turned 25 this year and called my insurance company(Progressive, even now with Hartford) (spotless record) and they said that they raised the age for insurance drops. So now I guess in 3-4 years they will raise it to 32 ;).

hah. salty.
 

jai6638

Golden Member
Apr 9, 2004
1,790
0
0
Hey OP.. I feel your pain man... Although its worse for me.. Needed a rental car in Michigan.. Turns out National or Alamo rent cars to 18 year olds in Michigan for an extra fee.. The problem? I'm 17 years old and have 8 months to go until I turn 18.. Argh! Sucks! Such is life though..
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
Originally posted by: voodoojc
I think Enterprise will rent to 18 year olds.. for a fee..

yeah, i think enterprise is the only company that will do this that i know of. they do charge an extra fee.

as for your dad renting it... yeah, technically you can get away with this, especially if you return it to an airport location, where they just want to get the car checked in as quickly as possible (all you need to do it sign the papers they push at you as you pull up, and you're out of there). we used to do this when i was in a band and we weren't all 25. no one ever asked me my name or to verify that i was the person who rented the car. HOWEVER, it isn't really legal for you to drive the car, and you could be in trouble if you were involved in any sort of accident. so your dad would be liable for you, and up the creek if someone hit you.