Aug 18, 2014, 8:25 pm
Last edit by: AutoSlash
Current underage fee waiver code quick reference:
Use either a CDP or a PC:
CDPs
AAA: various codes listed here - fee now waived for AAA members age 20-24 as confirmed here
USAA: 77694 - for USAA members age 18-24
Hertz Gold Family: 1826991 - Technically only for those who signed up for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (free) through this link: http://hertz.com/goldfamily, though not likely enforced - Seems to no longer work in U.S. but continues to work in Canada
PCs
Current underage fee wavier PC: 106934 - fee reduced to $9.99/day through 3/31 (possibly no longer valid as of 3/4?)
Please add one if anything comes up in the future!
Are there other CDPs? If you find them, please post them in this thread.
Alternative companies and options
USAA member discount at other companies: Avis: A177232, Budget: Y126501, Enterprise: ALNCWBA
Avis: reports are that the Visa cardholders discount (B204400) removes the underage fee--do a test booking at Avis.com to check
Budget: If renting in Canada, the Costco Executive Member code appears to waive the underage driver fee (source)
Dollar: reduced underage driver fee of $9.99/day through 3/31 when booking with coupon code 101080
Summary of the situation
Here's what we've discussed/researched/experienced so far:
1) Will the USAA CDP work for limited members?
USAA is an organization for US military, veterans, and their families. You must meet this qualification in order to get USAA insurance. But anybody can join USAA for free as a limited member.
What has yet to be reported here is if the limited membership qualifies for all the USAA Hertz benefits, which includes the under age fee being waived. And of course anybody could use USAA CDP and hope their membership isn't verified, but what if there were a bad accident? Things could get ugly and lawyers would certainly get involved.
In practice, Hertz seems not to discriminate between limited and full members of USAA. Actually, Hertz almost never even asks for identification to prove USAA membership, but in the event they do, providing your USAA number, a screenshot of the USAA page, or something else showing affiliation should be sufficient. Consequences after the fact if damage is involved remain unclear, though.
2) Are there any states/locations beside NY and MI that rent to under 20?
Per roymustang: "USAA members may rent as young as 18 years old, except where prohibited by state law, such as the aforementioned Mississippi. Front-line employees may resist but managers should be aware of this perk."
3) What about outside of the USA?
Per GW McLintock: "The underage PC only works in the USA and Canada. CDP waivers I believe will work outside of the US, but it may be best to get in touch with the location or customer service beforehand just to confirm. I would expect to be given a hard time especially at licensed franchises abroad."
Additional places to look for PCs
- The coupon sticky thread: PC and RQ Registry - Promotion Codes and Rate Codes only
- Hertz.com- Facebook
- Twitter
- Email and snailmail from Hertz
- All around the interwebs
- When you find new codes, be sure to post them in the coupon sticky thread
Originally based on material posted by Rut Dog; used by permission
Use either a CDP or a PC:
CDPs
AAA: various codes listed here - fee now waived for AAA members age 20-24 as confirmed here
USAA: 77694 - for USAA members age 18-24
PCs
Please add one if anything comes up in the future!
Are there other CDPs? If you find them, please post them in this thread.
Alternative companies and options
USAA member discount at other companies: Avis: A177232, Budget: Y126501, Enterprise: ALNCWBA
Avis: reports are that the Visa cardholders discount (B204400) removes the underage fee--do a test booking at Avis.com to check
Budget: If renting in Canada, the Costco Executive Member code appears to waive the underage driver fee (source)
Dollar: reduced underage driver fee of $9.99/day through 3/31 when booking with coupon code 101080
Summary of the situation
Here's what we've discussed/researched/experienced so far:
Age 21-24
Age 18-20
- Daily "Age Differential Charge"
- Lower daily charge - varies by location, approx $15 - Classes A, B, C, D, F, G, J
- Higher daily charge - varies by location, approx $25 - all others except Prestige & Adrenaline
- Daily fee is easily waived with a PC or these CDPs: Hertz Gold Family, USAA.
- Fee is also waived for US Government Employees and Military (travelling at leisure or on orders, ID and orders authorizing car rental required or paying with a federal government-issued credit card).
- Prestige and Adrenaline are never rentable under 25.
- In Mississippi the minimum age is 21 by law.
Age 18-20
- Mandated by law in NY, MI and also allowed in QC. Age Differential Charge is $41 per day and could vary. (Underage fee waiver by PC and Hertz Gold Family CDP is for 21-24 only.)
- USAA members 18-20 years old can rent anywhwere in the United States with no fee.
- USAA "program benefits apply only at participating locations in the United States. They do not apply to international rentals or if the rental agreement terms have been violated."
- "Reminder: You may be requested to present your USAA-Hertz Discount Card or USAA Member Card for identification at the time and place of rental."
- US Government Employees/Military 18-20 years old travelling on orders (ID and orders authorizing car rental required or paying with a federal government-issued credit card) are also able to rent with no fee.
- Only vehicles available are classes A, B, C, D, F.
To read the Hertz policy at a specific location:
1) Click this link for Rental Requirements.
2) Select the location.
3) Click the name of the location when found.
4) Select "Age Requirements" from the drop down box.
Outstanding questions1) Click this link for Rental Requirements.
2) Select the location.
3) Click the name of the location when found.
4) Select "Age Requirements" from the drop down box.
1) Will the USAA CDP work for limited members?
USAA is an organization for US military, veterans, and their families. You must meet this qualification in order to get USAA insurance. But anybody can join USAA for free as a limited member.
What has yet to be reported here is if the limited membership qualifies for all the USAA Hertz benefits, which includes the under age fee being waived. And of course anybody could use USAA CDP and hope their membership isn't verified, but what if there were a bad accident? Things could get ugly and lawyers would certainly get involved.
In practice, Hertz seems not to discriminate between limited and full members of USAA. Actually, Hertz almost never even asks for identification to prove USAA membership, but in the event they do, providing your USAA number, a screenshot of the USAA page, or something else showing affiliation should be sufficient. Consequences after the fact if damage is involved remain unclear, though.
2) Are there any states/locations beside NY and MI that rent to under 20?
Per roymustang: "USAA members may rent as young as 18 years old, except where prohibited by state law, such as the aforementioned Mississippi. Front-line employees may resist but managers should be aware of this perk."
3) What about outside of the USA?
Per GW McLintock: "The underage PC only works in the USA and Canada. CDP waivers I believe will work outside of the US, but it may be best to get in touch with the location or customer service beforehand just to confirm. I would expect to be given a hard time especially at licensed franchises abroad."
Additional places to look for PCs
- The coupon sticky thread: PC and RQ Registry - Promotion Codes and Rate Codes only
- Hertz.com- Facebook
- Email and snailmail from Hertz
- All around the interwebs
- When you find new codes, be sure to post them in the coupon sticky thread
Originally based on material posted by Rut Dog; used by permission
The Definitive Young Renters Thread: 18-20, 21-24
Nov 28, 2012 | 11:02 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: TXL
Posts: 291
Nov 28, 2012 | 8:43 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Choice Plat, BW DS, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards
Posts: 19,893
Nov 29, 2012 | 4:56 am
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: HHonors Gold since '02, Hertz President's Circle since '07
Posts: 3,228
This was answered a few posts up.
According to the experiences of some Germans, you don't need to be a US citizen to get USAA membership:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...ly-2013-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...ly-2013-a.html
Dec 9, 2012 | 1:19 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: AA PPro SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt GLB
Posts: 1,256
To follow up I was not charged a the fee and was able to get my rate down to $14.99 per day. Wish I would've dumped it a day earlier to avoid parking, oh well. Thanks again.
Dec 9, 2012 | 2:12 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Choice Plat, BW DS, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards
Posts: 19,893
Adrenaline rental workaround?
I have a friend who is visiting the country later this year. She wants us to rent something from the Adrenaline Collection for a day However, I'm not 25. Her aunt is way over 25 though. If I made the reservation and made her aunt an additional driver, would they let us rent the car (perhaps if she drove it off the lot)? This would be at LGA or JFK; I'm only asking because I'm not familiar with the staff there (i.e., out here in SLC I wouldn't have a problem since I know everyone).
(Why doesn't she make the reservation? Because I can get better discounts
)
-J.
However, I'm not 25. Her aunt is way over 25 though. If I made the reservation and made her aunt an additional driver, would they let us rent the car (perhaps if she drove it off the lot)? This would be at LGA or JFK; I'm only asking because I'm not familiar with the staff there (i.e., out here in SLC I wouldn't have a problem since I know everyone).(Why doesn't she make the reservation? Because I can get better discounts
)-J.
Jan 2, 2013 | 6:28 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 14
I've just updated the opening post.
From the new opening post, as found on the Hertz USAA page, with bolding added:
It's going to be hit or miss, but since the consequences would be so severe for you, I'd recommend you have something showing your USAA affiliation with you.
The thing is I don't think USAA ever sent me an official ID card. I have credit cards, atm cards, insurance cards, but no official member card.
From the new opening post, as found on the Hertz USAA page, with bolding added:
It's going to be hit or miss, but since the consequences would be so severe for you, I'd recommend you have something showing your USAA affiliation with you.
The thing is I don't think USAA ever sent me an official ID card. I have credit cards, atm cards, insurance cards, but no official member card.
Everything went perfect for me. I'm 18 and rented with USAA deal at South San Francisco HLE. They did not check my card at all. Reserved for compact car and received 12 Nissan Versa 5D but I hated that car so I drove to SFO to change and received 12 Toyota Corolla.
At day 5, I decided to try something new and went to PDX, received 12 Chevy Cruze LTZ. It was the nice car and a lot better than a Corolla. Overall MPG is 30 for the Cruze, which is not bad at all
Jan 3, 2013 | 4:43 am
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: HHonors Gold since '02, Hertz President's Circle since '07
Posts: 3,228
Everything went perfect for me. I'm 18 and rented with USAA deal at South San Francisco HLE. They did not check my card at all. Reserved for compact car and received 12 Nissan Versa 5D but I hated that car so I drove to SFO to change and received 12 Toyota Corolla.
At day 5, I decided to try something new and went to PDX, received 12 Chevy Cruze LTZ. It was the nice car and a lot better than a Corolla. Overall MPG is 30 for the Cruze, which is not bad at all
At day 5, I decided to try something new and went to PDX, received 12 Chevy Cruze LTZ. It was the nice car and a lot better than a Corolla. Overall MPG is 30 for the Cruze, which is not bad at all
Jan 3, 2013 | 12:16 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 420
I've booked a car on UK website (for rental in CA) using promo code 168593, which is supposed to waive underage fee. That code is not being accepted on US website and I just wanted to make sure it's gonna work... Is there any difference between PC I used and 144314 (currently advertised on hertz.com)?
Jan 6, 2013 | 1:52 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Choice Plat, BW DS, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards
Posts: 19,893
I've booked a car on UK website (for rental in CA) using promo code 168593, which is supposed to waive underage fee. That code is not being accepted on US website and I just wanted to make sure it's gonna work... Is there any difference between PC I used and 144314 (currently advertised on hertz.com)?
-J.
Mar 28, 2013 | 7:54 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,360
Hertz never had that exclusion with the underage coupon before. My guess is it's one of three things:
1) A mistake. Whoever typed that may have been used to doing so for most other coupons.
2) A new trial balloon, to see if they can still get young renters at similar frequencies as before, but this time paying the underage fee. If so, they are mistaken. Hertz rates tend to be higher than competitors. When there is no underage fee, higher rate + no fee can still be cheaper than lower rate + underage fee. But higher rate + fee >> lower rate + similar fee. Especially when 35k mi Hertz car ~= 35k mi Enterprise, Fox, or Rent a Wreck car. Duh.
But Hertz doesn't always get it. In fact, they tried something like this a few years ago. They eliminated the underage coupon for a few months, presumably thinking Hertz demand is inelastic. Never mind that many retail customers, and young customers especially, have been conditioned to assume that Hertz is always expensive. Many don't even bother checking Hertz's rates before gravitating towards discount brands.
Many underage customers stopped renting, in favor of their old ways of doing things: Enterprise, mass transit, their own car, etc. Some of these, at least judging by the comments on Hertz's Facebook page at that time, had worked their way up to high status, before coming to a sudden stop. At some point, Hertz got the message and reinstated the underage coupon.
3) Hertz suddenly and miraculously has a very large number of new customers, surprisingly mostly in the NY metro area and nowhere else. So in NY Hertz doesn't need underage customers anymore, and since younger drivers pose at least a moderately higher risk, don't really want them to begin with.
My advice in the interim would be to use free Gold Family, hertz.com/goldfamily. The CDP automatically waives the underage fee. Stack a coupon with it for good measure.
And while you're at it, ask Hertz nice and loud on their Facebook page what's up with the underage coupon. The last time somebody did, the rep didn't even have a clue that such a coupon was out there.
1) A mistake. Whoever typed that may have been used to doing so for most other coupons.
2) A new trial balloon, to see if they can still get young renters at similar frequencies as before, but this time paying the underage fee. If so, they are mistaken. Hertz rates tend to be higher than competitors. When there is no underage fee, higher rate + no fee can still be cheaper than lower rate + underage fee. But higher rate + fee >> lower rate + similar fee. Especially when 35k mi Hertz car ~= 35k mi Enterprise, Fox, or Rent a Wreck car. Duh.
But Hertz doesn't always get it. In fact, they tried something like this a few years ago. They eliminated the underage coupon for a few months, presumably thinking Hertz demand is inelastic. Never mind that many retail customers, and young customers especially, have been conditioned to assume that Hertz is always expensive. Many don't even bother checking Hertz's rates before gravitating towards discount brands.
Many underage customers stopped renting, in favor of their old ways of doing things: Enterprise, mass transit, their own car, etc. Some of these, at least judging by the comments on Hertz's Facebook page at that time, had worked their way up to high status, before coming to a sudden stop. At some point, Hertz got the message and reinstated the underage coupon.
3) Hertz suddenly and miraculously has a very large number of new customers, surprisingly mostly in the NY metro area and nowhere else. So in NY Hertz doesn't need underage customers anymore, and since younger drivers pose at least a moderately higher risk, don't really want them to begin with.
My advice in the interim would be to use free Gold Family, hertz.com/goldfamily. The CDP automatically waives the underage fee. Stack a coupon with it for good measure.
And while you're at it, ask Hertz nice and loud on their Facebook page what's up with the underage coupon. The last time somebody did, the rep didn't even have a clue that such a coupon was out there.
Mar 30, 2013 | 7:51 pm
#43
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1
Have a super quick question. I rented a car through hotwire. 19 years old and got a great deal on a convertible. However, the car is not going to be driven by me. It's going to be driven by my boyfriend who is 25. Besides the 200 dollar deposit, do we get that underage surcharge?
Mar 31, 2013 | 10:33 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
Posts: 4,360
You may get bounced at the counter if you booked the car in your name. Hotwire opaque rates explicitly state rates are for 25 year olds and up. And most partner companies may not rent to under 20 year olds, let alone list them as the primary driver and charge them a very high fee.
Mar 31, 2013 | 11:49 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: National Exec, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 171
Have a super quick question. I rented a car through hotwire. 19 years old and got a great deal on a convertible. However, the car is not going to be driven by me. It's going to be driven by my boyfriend who is 25. Besides the 200 dollar deposit, do we get that underage surcharge?
Agreed on sticky-ing the thread, also.