Car Hire for U21's -- Waived Young Drivers Fee?
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SFO, LHR, MOW
Programs: AA Plat, TK*G, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, etc
Posts: 86
Car hire at LHR for U21's?
Hi there,
I'm looking for a way of renting a car at LHR (I'm 20) without the appalling age differential fees some companies charge. I'm licensed in CA, FWIW.
In the US, Hertz will happily waive the fee with the USAA CDP, as will Avis and Budget, with a little prodding. These codes don't seem to work for rentals originating outside the US/Canada/Mex.
I've yet to find a working way to get the fee waived -- and it can be up to 40GBP a day (Avis, I'm looking at you).
Any advice is much appreciated! Apologies for the OT-ness, but I thought you friendly folk would know best.
I'm looking for a way of renting a car at LHR (I'm 20) without the appalling age differential fees some companies charge. I'm licensed in CA, FWIW.
In the US, Hertz will happily waive the fee with the USAA CDP, as will Avis and Budget, with a little prodding. These codes don't seem to work for rentals originating outside the US/Canada/Mex.
I've yet to find a working way to get the fee waived -- and it can be up to 40GBP a day (Avis, I'm looking at you).
Any advice is much appreciated! Apologies for the OT-ness, but I thought you friendly folk would know best.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Tampa, FL and Northumberland, England
Programs: BAEC Bronze; IHG
Posts: 372
You may well struggle, most UK companies charge a 'young driver' fee for those between 21 and 25, I've not heard of any that rent to under 21s as a matter of course. They will probably be less likely to waive fees than US companies will.
I've often been bribed into being a driver for various activities at my last university because I was older than most of the other students and therefore the only person able to be named as a driver with various rental companies.
I've often been bribed into being a driver for various activities at my last university because I was older than most of the other students and therefore the only person able to be named as a driver with various rental companies.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SFO, LHR, MOW
Programs: AA Plat, TK*G, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, etc
Posts: 86
I think that's the first time I've seen one of jerry's posts without links to the answer in other parts of flyertalk
Hertz have a pretty detailed U25 rental thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...0-21-24-a.html), but the trickery only works in the US. Same for most of the other major rental places. Was thinking some people on the BA board might have their own personal experiences to share.
Hertz have a pretty detailed U25 rental thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz...0-21-24-a.html), but the trickery only works in the US. Same for most of the other major rental places. Was thinking some people on the BA board might have their own personal experiences to share.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: *A
Posts: 1,390
The vast majority of car rental agencies in the UK don't rent to under 21s. So consider yourself lucky that acids only want 45.
The theory is the high insurance costs, especially as insurance in the UK is on the driver, not the car.
The theory is the high insurance costs, especially as insurance in the UK is on the driver, not the car.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,147
According to this Money Saving Expert page, the typical cost for a year's insurance for a 17-22 year-old is 1,158. Given that you're not used to driving on the left, you've not had that many years experience of driving, and that the costs for a local of your age insuring their own car is so high, about 40 quid a day seems slightly high but not unreasonable.
When I was at uni, I couldn't get any of the main chains to rent to me. There were a couple of medium sized independent places (3-5 locations) who would for a surcharge. Might be worth ringing round a few of those near where you want to rent, and see what they can do? Expect to pay some surcharge, but maybe a bit lower, especially on a longer rental.
Otherwise, if your trip is anything to do with your uni, see if they have any insurance that'll cover you. Cheapest rentals I ever managed as a student were for sports fixtures, where we'd get a coverage letter from the sports department then one (but only one) of the local hire places would rent vehicles to us for the "normal" rate (no surcharge)
When I was at uni, I couldn't get any of the main chains to rent to me. There were a couple of medium sized independent places (3-5 locations) who would for a surcharge. Might be worth ringing round a few of those near where you want to rent, and see what they can do? Expect to pay some surcharge, but maybe a bit lower, especially on a longer rental.
Otherwise, if your trip is anything to do with your uni, see if they have any insurance that'll cover you. Cheapest rentals I ever managed as a student were for sports fixtures, where we'd get a coverage letter from the sports department then one (but only one) of the local hire places would rent vehicles to us for the "normal" rate (no surcharge)
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze card, NHS Blood Donor silver card
Posts: 1,617
Not sure if it'll be of any use, but if you're a member of Zipcar (their website suggests that under-21s can join through their university), then your membership will be valid in the UK. They've got cars based at LHR - obviously they're not as cost-effective for longer hires, but might be better than not being able to hire a car at all.