If you are under 25 and renting a car in the United States, you may see a Hertz young driver fee, officially described as a Young Renter Fee or Age Differential Charge. As of August 2026, Hertz’s current US Young Renters page lists the fee at $19 per day for renters under 25. The minimum rental age is generally 20, although lower minimum ages apply in several states.
Your actual eligibility, rental price and available vehicles can depend on the pickup location, age, rate, membership benefits and rental terms. Always check the final quote and current Hertz terms before confirming a reservation.
How Much Is the Hertz Young Driver Fee?
Hertz currently states that its US Young Renter Fee is $19 per day for renters under 25. The charge is added to the rental cost rather than replacing the normal daily vehicle rate.
That means a low advertised vehicle rate may not represent the complete amount a renter under 25 will pay.
Taxes, optional products, location-related charges, fuel arrangements, additional drivers and other booking-specific items may also affect the final total. For that reason, check the complete price breakdown shown during the Hertz booking process rather than relying only on an advertised daily rate.
Policies and prices can change. The current Hertz quote and rental agreement should therefore take priority over an older blog post, screenshot or third-party price estimate.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent From Hertz?
At most Hertz locations in the United States, the minimum rental age is currently 20 years old. Hertz lists several important state exceptions:
| Location | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Most US locations | 20 |
| New York | 18 |
| Michigan | 18 |
| Alabama | 19 |
| Nebraska | 19 |
Being old enough to rent does not automatically remove the young-renter surcharge. Drivers under 25 may still be subject to the applicable fee unless a valid rate, membership program or other qualifying arrangement waives it.
Hertz also requires renters to meet its standard rental qualifications. Its current young-renter information specifies a valid driver’s license and a valid debit or credit card, while noting that some neighborhood locations may require a credit card.
Because payment and qualification rules can depend on the location and reservation, verify them before traveling to the counter.
Can You Avoid the Hertz Young Driver Fee?
Sometimes.
Certain qualifying membership arrangements can waive the Young Renter Fee, but you should not assume that simply holding a membership automatically changes an existing reservation.
AAA Members
Hertz currently advertises a waived Young Renter Fee for qualifying AAA members ages 20–24. Its AAA offer information says the appropriate AAA Club Discount Code must be included in the reservation and that the young renter must meet standard rental qualifications.
If you intend to use this benefit, confirm that:
- your AAA membership is eligible;
- the correct membership or discount information is attached to the booking;
- your rate qualifies;
- the pickup location participates;
- you meet all normal rental requirements.
Do this before pickup where possible rather than assuming the rental counter can retroactively change the rate.
USAA Members
Hertz also currently publishes a USAA offer that includes no young renter fee for qualifying USAA members. Eligibility for USAA itself is restricted, and Hertz’s applicable terms and booking requirements still matter.
Check the current official USAA/Hertz offer conditions before booking because membership benefits and terms can change.
Other Discounts or Corporate Rates
Some business, government, organization or negotiated rates may have their own rental conditions.
Do not assume that a promotional code automatically eliminates the under-25 surcharge. Review the rate terms and ask Hertz through an official channel when the booking does not clearly explain whether the Young Renter Fee is included or waived.
What Cars Can Hertz Renters Under 25 Drive?
Young renters are not necessarily limited to only the smallest cars.
Hertz currently says renters under 25 can choose from a broad range of vehicle classes, including options from economy vehicles through SUVs. However, young renters are excluded from certain specialty vehicles and the Dream Car, Prestige and Adrenaline collections.
Availability can still differ by location and travel date.
Therefore, the safest approach is to enter the renter’s correct age when searching for a vehicle. This allows the booking system to show options more closely aligned with the renter’s qualifications.
Is the Young Driver Fee the Same as an Additional Driver Fee?
No.
These charges address different things.
The Young Renter Fee relates to age. An Additional Driver fee may apply when another person is authorized to drive the rental vehicle.
Hertz says an additional driver who is under 25 may also be subject to a Young Renter Fee, depending on the circumstances. Hertz also requires additional drivers to meet its standard rental requirements.
This distinction matters when two young adults plan to share the driving.
Before accepting the rental, ask for the pricing breakdown if it is unclear whether you are seeing an age-related charge, an additional-driver charge, or both.
Quick Decision Guide: Where Should You Get Help?
Different young-driver issues are better handled through different Hertz channels.
| Your Issue | Generally Best Place to Start |
|---|---|
| Checking the fee before booking | Official Hertz booking page and Young Renters policy |
| Age eligibility question | Hertz rental qualifications/support information |
| Adding AAA or another qualifying rate | Reservation or booking management channel |
| Existing booking shows an unexpected fee | Official Hertz support or reservation management |
| Problem appears during pickup | Rental counter at the pickup location |
| Vehicle class unavailable because of age | Pickup location or reservation support |
| Fee appears on the final rental bill | Official billing/customer-support channel |
Hertz provides an online support area and also offers booking-management functions through its website and app.
Because specific contact methods can change, use Hertz’s current official Contact Us or Support section rather than relying on an old phone number or email address copied from another website.
What to Prepare Before Contacting Hertz
A clear support request is easier to review when the relevant information is ready.
Depending on the problem, prepare:
- reservation or rental agreement number;
- full name on the reservation;
- renter’s age and date of birth where required for verification;
- pickup and return locations;
- pickup and return dates;
- vehicle or car-class information;
- payment method used;
- membership details if requesting a qualifying benefit;
- screenshots of the booking price when relevant;
- receipts or final rental documents;
- a short explanation of the fee or problem.
Avoid sending sensitive payment-card information through an unofficial channel.
What If the Young Driver Fee Was Unexpected?
First, determine where the charge appears.
If it is shown before booking, review the rate details and verify whether your age and any eligible membership information were entered correctly.
If it appears during pickup, ask the rental-counter representative to explain the charge before signing the final rental agreement.
If it appears after the rental, keep the reservation confirmation, rental agreement and final receipt. Compare the documents and identify exactly which charge you are questioning before contacting Hertz.
Do not simply state that the total is “wrong.” A clearer request would identify the charge by name, amount and date and explain why you believe the reservation terms did not match it.
That makes the issue easier to understand without assuming Hertz will remove or refund the charge.
Document a Fee Dispute Carefully
If you believe an age-related fee was charged incorrectly, preserve the supporting records.
Useful evidence may include:
- original reservation confirmation;
- quoted price;
- membership or discount information entered at booking;
- screenshots showing the rate terms;
- pickup paperwork;
- rental agreement;
- final receipt;
- correspondence with Hertz.
Avoid altering screenshots or documents.
Also separate the Young Renter Fee from unrelated charges such as fuel, tolls, additional drivers, optional protection products or vehicle-related charges. Combining several unrelated billing questions into one vague complaint can make the issue harder to explain.
Common Mistakes Young Renters Should Avoid
One common mistake is entering an older driver’s age while searching simply to see a lower price. The actual renter must meet the rental requirements at pickup, so use the correct age when obtaining a quote.
Another mistake is assuming “under 25” means Hertz will not rent to you. Hertz currently allows rentals beginning at age 20 at most US locations, with lower minimum ages in New York, Michigan, Alabama and Nebraska.
Also avoid assuming an AAA or USAA benefit will be added automatically after booking. Check that the qualifying membership information and applicable rate are properly connected to the reservation.
Finally, do not rely on an old search result for the fee amount. Hertz policies, promotional arrangements and pricing can change.
Check the Final Price Before Pickup
For a young renter, the most useful figure is not simply the advertised base rate. It is the complete estimated rental total for the specific renter, location, vehicle and dates.
Before confirming a reservation:
- Enter the renter’s real age.
- Check the pickup location’s age requirements.
- Review the Young Renter Fee.
- Add only membership benefits you genuinely qualify for.
- Check vehicle restrictions.
- Review taxes, fees and optional extras.
- Save the reservation confirmation and rate terms.
That gives you a much clearer record if a pricing question comes up later.
Final Takeaway
The Hertz young driver fee currently listed on Hertz’s US Young Renters page is $19 per day for renters under 25. Most US Hertz locations allow rentals beginning at age 20, while New York and Michigan allow renters from age 18 and Alabama and Nebraska from age 19.
Qualifying AAA and USAA members may be able to have the young-renter charge waived, subject to the applicable program and rental requirements.
Because rates, eligibility rules and location-specific terms can change, verify your age requirements, fee and final rental total directly through Hertz’s official website, app or current support channels before booking.
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