Renting a car when you’re 22 feels a bit like trying to get into an exclusive club with a fake ID, except the ID is real and the "bouncer" at the Hertz counter just wants an extra $30 a day from you. It’s frustrating. You have a license, you have a credit card, and you probably drive every single day. Yet, the industry treats anyone under 25 like a high-risk liability.
The Hertz young renter fee is basically a "youth tax." If you are between the ages of 20 and 24, Hertz (and almost every other major agency) adds a daily surcharge to your bill. It’s not a one-time thing. It’s every. Single. Day.
Honestly, it can easily double the price of a weekend trip. But there are ways around it that most people—and even some rental agents—don’t actually tell you about.
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The Math Behind the Surcharge
Let’s talk numbers. Typically, the Hertz young renter fee hovers around $19 to $29 per day, depending on where you are picking up the car.
Imagine you find a "great deal" for $40 a day. You click through to the checkout page, and suddenly that $40 turns into $70 because of your birth year. If you’re renting for a week, you’re looking at an extra $200 just for the privilege of existing while young.
Hertz justification? Statistics. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says drivers under 25 are statistically more likely to get into scraps. Hertz isn't being mean; they're being actuarial. But that doesn't make your wallet feel any better.
Where 18-Year-Olds Can Actually Rent
Most people think 21 is the magic number. At Hertz, the floor is usually 20. However, state laws in New York and Michigan force rental companies to lower that bar to 18.
If you’re 18 and renting in Manhattan or Detroit, be prepared: the fee is often much higher for the 18-20 bracket than the 21-24 bracket. You’ll also be restricted to basic cars. No "Dream Collection" Corvettes for you. You’re looking at a Chevy Malibu or a Toyota Corolla, tops.
How to Make the Hertz Young Renter Fee Disappear
This is the part most people miss. You don't actually have to pay this fee if you belong to the right "clubs."
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The AAA Loophole (The Holy Grail)
The most reliable way to dodge the fee is a AAA membership. Hertz and AAA have a long-standing partnership. If you are a AAA member between the ages of 20 and 24, Hertz waives the young renter fee entirely at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s why this is a no-brainer:
- A basic AAA membership costs roughly $60 a year.
- The Hertz fee is about $25 a day.
- If you rent a car for just three days, the membership has already paid for itself.
You have to make sure the AAA CDP code (Discount Code) is applied to your reservation. If you walk up to the counter without that code on your booking, the agent might try to charge you anyway. Always show your physical or digital AAA card when you pick up the keys.
The USAA Option
If you or a family member are in the military, USAA is another powerhouse. USAA members can often get the fee waived starting at age 21 (and sometimes age 18 for certain military orders). The discount codes for USAA are notoriously good, sometimes cutting 25% off the base rate in addition to killing the underage fee.
Corporate and University Codes
Are you traveling for work? Or maybe you're a grad student at a big university? Check your internal benefits portal. Large companies like Deloitte, Amazon, or even state universities have negotiated contracts where the Hertz young renter fee is waived for employees or students on official business. Sometimes these codes even work for "leisure" travel, but you have to check the fine print of your specific corporate agreement.
Vehicles You Simply Can’t Rent
Even if you have all the money in the world and a AAA membership, Hertz still won't give a 22-year-old the keys to everything on the lot. They have "collections" that are strictly 25+.
- The Dream Collection: This is the high-end stuff. Think Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and high-performance Range Rovers.
- The Prestige Collection: Luxury sedans and SUVs.
- The Adrenaline Collection: Muscle cars like the Ford Mustang 5.0 or high-performance Camaros.
Basically, if the car has a "Sport" button that actually does something, you probably can't rent it until you're 25. You are mostly stuck with the Standard, Compact, and Midsize SUV categories.
Real-World Gotchas: The Debit Card Struggle
Hertz is picky about how you pay, especially if you're under 25. While they do accept debit cards at many locations, they often run a "soft" credit check or require a massive hold on your funds (sometimes $500+ plus the cost of the rental).
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If you're a young renter, use a credit card if you have one. It makes the process infinitely smoother and avoids the awkward "available balance" dance at the counter. Plus, many credit cards—like the Chase Sapphire Preferred—offer primary rental car insurance, which saves you another $20 a day on the collision damage waiver.
What to Do Before You Book
Don't just go to Hertz.com and hit "Reserve." That is how you end up paying the maximum price.
- Check your memberships. If you aren't in AAA, join before you book. It's a math equation that almost always ends in your favor.
- Verify the CDP. Ensure the discount code for AAA (or USAA/Corporate) is actually active in the "Discount" field.
- Read the "Rental Terms" link. Every Hertz location has slightly different rules. Some airport locations have higher fees than neighborhood spots.
- Confirm the age in your profile. If your Gold Plus Rewards profile says you're 23 but you don't have a waiver code, the system will automatically bake that fee into the "estimated total."
The "estimated total" is your best friend. If that number looks suspiciously high, look at the line-item breakdown. If you see "Underage Surcharge" or "Age Differential," you haven't successfully bypassed the fee yet.
Actionable Insight:
Before your next trip, sign up for a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account (it's free) and add your AAA membership number to your profile. This "hardcodes" the fee waiver into your account so you don't have to argue with a tired gate agent at 11:00 PM after a delayed flight. It also lets you skip the counter entirely at most major airports, meaning you just walk to your car and drive away—no fee, no questions asked.