If you want to rent a car, you should be aware that car rental agencies have some requirements that you must meet before being eligible to rent a vehicle. This is done to help minimize their risk of financial loss due to damage to the vehicles that they rent out. While the rules may vary according to the agency, the location and the type of vehicle that you intend to rent, they are pretty similar throughout the whole industry.

The first requirement that you should be aware of is any relevant age restrictions. Although in most jurisdictions, an 18 year old can legally hold a drivers license and sign a contract, the minimum age to rent a car is usually higher and varies between 21 to 25 years of age. One of the primary reasons why rental agencies impose age restrictions is that statistically, younger drivers are more prone to be involved in an automobile accident. This in turn, would present a higher potential for loss to the rental agency. Some places do rent to younger drivers, however they may require them to purchase additional insurance coverage and or pay a higher rate for the rental, which could sometimes mean an additional amount of $20 to $75 per day.

Obviously, to rent a car, you would need to have a valid drivers license. Some businesses require that you have held a drivers license for a certain amount of years. If you come from out of the country, it is strongly recommended that you also get an international drivers license, even if local laws may not require it in all places. An international drivers license is simply a document that translates your drivers license into many different languages and certifies that you hold a valid drivers license in your home country. Some rental agencies in the United States also verify the driving record of their first time customers with the Department of Motor Vehicles. This check serves to confirm whether your license is valid and to look at any traffic violations that you may have committed recently. Agencies reserve the right to refuse rental to a customer who has a history of bad driving, such as being cited numerous times for speeding or failing to stop at a red light. A recent conviction for drinking and driving, even if your license has been reinstated, could also disqualify you from renting a car.

Most rental agencies require that you give them a credit card number at the time of rental. They will then place a hold on the card for a certain amount, which can range from $500 to $1000. This is to ensure that the rental cost will be paid and also as a deposit in case of damage to the car or if the vehicle receives any parking tickets. While some agencies will let you rent a car without a credit card, they will often require you to leave a significant deposit in cash instead, which will vary according to the agency and the type of vehicle that you rent.

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