poll: should under 21's be allowed to rent cars?

[vi edit]

zimu, it's not that simple. There are a lot of costs that the rental company would have to assume if a kid totalled a car. The company looses money because they have to meet a deductable, they loose money because they have one car less on the lot while that car is being replaced or repaired, they may have legal fees that they have to assume during the whole "who's to blame process". And I'm sure that there are many more.

I don't think that it's as simple as simply raising the price of the vehicle. If it was profitable, then people under 21 would be allowed to rent.

 

[vi edit]

Oh, and you also have to think about theft. What's to stop some 18 year old thug who stole a credit card and made a fake ID from walking up to Enterprise rental and driving away with a $25,000 car never to return again?

I think if you look at the demographics, most car thiefs would be under the age of 25.

 

[Fubak]

National Rental agencies require you to be at least 21, some of them require 25. It's rare, but sometimes you can find places that require at least 18. It really depends on the company. Just don't get in an accident when your on your own and under 21! The insurance companies DO NOT like to pay for 'non-national' rental companies, therefore you have to be 21 most of the time

sucks to be underage

 

[zimu]

but thats only cause they can't rent cars till then!
you never know, car thefts for that age population would probably decrease if younger people were allowed to drive!
i know i'd go to great lengths to drive a car, since i don't have one and can't rent one either... obviously i wouldn't steal, but i have driven rental cars illegally as someone older than 25 has rented it and i've driven it, and it doesn't bother me that beign caught by the law could land me in some serious sh!t!

 

[zimu]

<< It's rare, but sometimes you can find places that require at least 18 >>



once again the question arises...
what companies are these?d o you know of any?

 

[vi edit]

zimu, look here. Look at the deaths from age groups 15-24. They are CONSIDERABLY greater than any other age group besides the 74+.


You are dealing with young, wreckess, and inexperienced drivers.

My advice: deal with it.

 

[bigd480]

<< what is more profitable:
a) allow rentals to under 25's as well, pay the extra insurance but get much more customers (younger people)
b) stick with what they have, cheaper insurance but fewer prospective customers. >>


i agree that it sucks, especially for emergency purposess but it would be a convenience on vacation too... (i'm 21)

however this is a business, they want to make $$$... most people who rent cars are on vacation or business trips... how many people aged 16-25 would rent cars at all or even more than once a year?

 

[XCLAN]

21 and over should be able too! why? cuzz i said so

 

[zimu]

<< how many people aged 16-25 would rent cars at all or even more than once a year? >>



you'd realy be surprised. i know pretty much ALL my friends, in every state i know them in, would love to rent cars during holidays/ small weekend getaways etc. those who don't go home, if its too far, would probably rent cars to go on some small vacation nearby in a car, and lets face it- public transport is expensive and slow as heck.

 

[The Stigenator]

just to let ya know.. I rented a car at age 18.. from enterprise.

 

[zimu]

how long ago?
they've probably changed their rules more recently

 

[Fubak]

<< It's rare, but sometimes you can find places that require at least 18 >>

What company? Do you know of any?

Yes, there is ONE that I know of here in town(Greenville, SC). I was gonna rent a 2000 Firebird V8, but it was $65/day I think.

 

[zimu]

do you think they've got that company in philadelphia?
come on whats the name!!

 

[bigd480]

<< those who don't go home, if its too far, would probably rent cars to go on some small vacation nearby in a car, and lets face it- public transport is expensive and slow as heck. >>

ROFL! you could use public transport for a month for the same price as ONE DAY of renting a car! it's a major rip! business travelers can get it comped or write it off and vacation travelers have no choice... i would never rent a car unless i had no other choice...

 

[zimu]

you can rent a car at like $30 a day, max... for a mid size reasonable car....

public transport i'm speaking of state to state, not within the same city...

i mean taking amtrak for like 2 hours costs a hefty $60!

 

[PeonM]

It really just depends on which rental companies..


I know of places that will rent to people who are 18 up..


like this place new york rent a car, I believe most of their clients are NYU students. Anyways, a lot of smaller companies will in fact rent to people above 18 years of age, just that they charge a lot more.

One place wanted an extra 200 dollars a day, others want HUGE deposit...

it's availible but pricey

 

[zimu]

<< I know of places that will rent to people who are 18 up.. >>



for examples...
(this has come up a million times but people never say what these companies are)

 

[PeonM]

zimu,

I updated mah last message..

 

[zimu]

that is interesting...
but i hear NY you can rent from a number of places if you are younger...
any where in philadelphia that anyone knows of?

 

[PeonM]

you know what you should do?

just look up your local yellow pages and phone up smaller rental companies... thats how I found out...

 

[AncientPC]

I think it ought to be up to the companies to decide. If it's worth the risk to them, then go for it.

 

[zimu]

so its not illegal or anything i take it...
its just rental company policy.

but if you get caught by cops, driving a car, you're 20 years old, you're not the one who rented the car and you're not registered as an additional driver... what happens?

 

[Kitros]

You can. In Hawaii, it's 18...

costs $20 more

 

[zimu]

small problem with the hawaii idea, its a bit far away...

someone should make a site for underage drivers! i bet u you could get some advertizing for budget needs etc! i mean the net has everythign else!

 

[bigd480]

ha, how old are you kid? i just checked the Hertz website... One day rental of a Mazda 626 or similar is $45.52 WITHOUT insurance... if you're going state-to-state you only pay one fee for a roundtrip via bus/train, not per day... even with your $30 figure it's either driver there one day and come back the next, or just buy a roundtrip amtrak pass...


<< you can rent a car at like $30 a day, max... for a mid size reasonable car....

public transport i'm speaking of state to state, not within the same city...

i mean taking amtrak for like 2 hours costs a hefty $60! >>