Looking for car rental deals for college students? Remember to factor in young renter fees, which usually apply to renters under 25.. This is a big deal, since young renter fees can vary, depending on the rental car company you rent with.
College student drivers in major metro areas should also take a look at Kyte, the first rental company to offer door-to-door delivery service on both ends of your trip. While you need to be 25 years old to rent with Kyte in most areas, there are exceptions. Boston-area residents aged 21 to 25 can rent with no underage surcharge which is a nice win. In New York City, drivers as young as 18 can rent, and Kyte recently dropped both its steep $120-per-day surcharge for drivers ages 18 to 20, and the $45-per-day charge for drivers ages 21 to 25.
And it gets better. Kyte has also introduced Kyte for University for drivers under 25 renters in California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington D.C., which waives the underage fee for college students with an .edu email address.
Book Early and Track Your Reservation for Price Drops
Car rental prices go up and down, so it makes sense to book when prices are at their lowest. The easiest way to snag the best price is to ask for a quote as soon as you know you need a rental car. We’ll scour the Internet for the best deals and apply any discounts for which you may be entitled.
Next, track your reservation right up to the moment you pick up the car. If the price drops, you can cancel your booking at no charge and rebook at the lower rate. No time to track your booking? Ask AutoSlash to do it for you and, for no charge, we’ll let you know if we find a better price. This is the way to guarantee that you never pay more than you have to for a rental car.
More Car Rental Deals for College Students
Typically if you’re under 25, most car rental companies will charge a daily fee to offset the risk of renting to younger drivers. The amount of the fee depends on your age and the rental company, but typically you can figure on paying around $25-$30 extra per day, on average.
It’s possible to avoid the young renter fee if you’re a member of certain organizations. Hertz waives the young renter fee for AAA members, and USAA members can get young driver fees waived at Hertz, Avis and Budget.
Rental car companies typically require drivers to be at least 21, but there are some exceptions. In New York and Michigan, state law allows drivers 18 and over to rent a car. However, drivers who meet those state requirements but are under the typical age minimum for the rental company tend to face higher fees that could end up being more than $50 per day.
Look for Discounts Through Student Organizations
An obvious place to look for car rental deals for college students is through student memberships. Alamo offers discounts through Student Advantage, which provides promotional prices to students for retail, movies, car-sharing services and more. You can also browse its general deals page to see which promotions are available at any given time.
Let Track Your Car Rental for Price Drops
Consider a Car-Sharing Service
Another option to a full-day rental is a car-sharing service, which allows you to rent a vehicle by the hour instead of a full day.
If you just need a car for just a few hours, Enterprise Car Share is a good bet. It has locations on college campuses across the U.S., and is open to students 18 or older who need to leave campus for errands or activities. Car insurance is included.
Zipcar also has a big presence at universities, offering its services at more than 600 campuses.
