Driving Age in California
Replies: 11 - Last Post: Dec 11, 2012 12:19 PM Last Post By: JerryRister
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Driving Age in California
Hi All,One quick and easy question:
I will be 24 when I come to California next year. I will want to hire a car. On the Visit California website it states you need to be at least 25 to rent a car. However, others have told me I will be okay aged 24. Having looked at hire car websites, it appears I just need to pay more for insurance, being under 25.
Could it be clarified if I need to be 25 to drive in California and hire a car, or will I be okay only aged 24? The mixed information is getting confusing!
Thank you All!
2
Welcome to the land of state's rights (as well as county and municipal rights) and free enterprise. You have been reading a statewide tourism site: they try to be generic, and consequently they oversimplify their information. As you have found, once you start inquiring with different car rental companies and/or car rental brokers (those who may work with more than one rental company) things get much more confusing.#1 is spot-on: if a company has the type(s) of vehicle(s) you want, charges a rental rate you find reasonable, offers extra services you want (break-down assistance, GPS, etc.) at a reasonable rate, and doesn't appear to be some fly-by-night outfit that steals tourists' credit cards, go ahead and book with them.
3
One not so quick and easy answer, the legal driving age in CA is 16. HOWEVER, care rental companies set their own policies about at what age someone can rent a car. As #1 and #2 noted if you can afford the extra monies you will be charged then go ahead an book with a reputable agency. Welcome to the Late Great State of California.4
There are a few companies that will rent to people under 25 without a surcharge. Many have limits on where you can drive, for example, you can't take the car outside of the country where the rental office is located. Sometimes you have to prove that you have your won car insurance.Occasionally, a company will have a special del. Hertz is now waiving the underage fee until January 31, 2013. Save $25 a day You have to use a special promotional code.
6
Egad! Typo! I meant "county." It's usually "counties," plural, but I didn't want to have to explain. For example, an LA location might restrict you to Los Angeles and Orange counties.8
In southern California I wouldn't be surprised to see a "no driving in Mexico" clause in the rental contract.9
In southern California I wouldn't be surprised to see a "no driving in Mexico" clause in the rental contract.
That's a standard clause in most rental contracts. Border-town rental companies will often allow you to go a short distance into Mexico--provided you pay an extra fee to cover Mexican insurance.
10
From what I understand you will be able to rent from a car rental company but you will be most likely be paying an underage fee (as long as you have your license of course).What you want to make sure you have when you book with these companies is a rental code that exempts you from this charge.
National Car Contract ID: 5000491 is perfect for this.
For the rest of the codes that I've collected over the years check out: http://goingawesomeplaces.com/2012/11/15/car-rental-coupon-codes/
