Why can’t a 22 year old rent a car? Make it make sense?

[Summeroflove]

At 17 years of age you can join the military you can literally KILL people and be trusted with millions of dollars in government equipment. At 21 years of age you can join law enforcement you have the power to take peoples freedoms away and lock people into jail.

But somehow you can’t rent a car until you’re 25

[Chazmatazz269]

The military isn’t just going to hand you millions of dollars worth of equipment because you’re the age of majority. You will be trained and if you fail to demonstrate the necessary acuity, you won’t be operating that equipment. That investment in you is enormous.
Contrarily, auto rental companies are out to make money off of you, not spend it. All they know is that you hold one government document that isn’t that difficult to get and it’s surprisingly easy to effectively fake. They also know the statistics on who is most likely to be at fault in an auto accident. Insuring their property against young knuckleheads who say things like “Drive it like you stole it!” when they get their hands on a rental is wildly expensive, and most people reject paying for the extra insurance. Age restrictions are an effective method for reducing their liability and therefore their insurance premiums.
Frankly, 22 is still pretty young. Most people’s brains don’t finish developing until mid to late twenties. The frontal cortex develops last, and it’s responsible for critical decision making, weighing risks versus rewards and moderating stimuli from the pleasure center of your brain.

[Tarifa]

In my country, you can drive a car when you obtain your license at 18. No restrictions there.

But the minimum age for renting a car is 21. They usually also restrict the type of vehicle you can drive and might apply a surcharge for young drivers. You must also have held a driver's license for at least one year.

As far as I can see, it's not really a legal issue, it's more a way to protect the cars they rent out. Accidents with material damage do happen with younger, inexperienced drivers. Those are statistics, pure numbers. It doesn't mean all young drivers are reckless. Many aren't, but the few who are spoil it for the rest.

[Tarifa]

Thanks for the MHO.

[jazzy34]

According to a Google search:

"A 22-year-old can likely rent a car; they are not automatically barred from renting. However, they will probably face higher rental costs due to a young renter fee, charged by most rental companies because statistically younger drivers are at a higher risk for accidents. The core reasons for this policy are increased insurance costs and the statistical reality that drivers under 25 are more likely to be involved in accidents. "

[alice55]

I think it's cause insurance would be higher for the people who rent the car so they rather not rent to younger people who statistically have more accident than people over 25. But yes it make no sense at all.

[BadApple69]

Yes at 17 you can join the military with your parents ok. And you can kill people but the car rental companies don’t want you killing people with their cars. You do understand that having a few years of driving experience can make you a better driver…. The car rental companies want you to be a better driver. It’s that simple.

[Summeroflove]

Can also be a cop at 21. I can arrest people and do all that shit. I also have qualified immediately to if I need to shoot someone. So hypothetically I can be carrying around a gun and have the power of arrest.

But cannot rent a car

[Summeroflove]

Off topic. But one guy I know has been a cop since he was 17 and he’s now 36 years old. He became a MP at the age of 17 years old after graduating basic training. After he graduated early.

By the time he was stationed he just so happened to be in a state where legal age to be a law enforcement officer was only 18 years of age where as in most states it’s 21. He managed to complete the training to be a civilian law enforcement officer while also serving in the military during the time he was 18 years old.

Now, basically before they really trusted him he basically did reserve miscellaneous tasks such as traffic control, civil papers, riding along with deputies, jail duties, standing around in court, shredding papers, etc.

After a while they let him patrol on his own and do what he wanted. Between 18-20 years old he served a Sheriffs department and a couple small towns.

By 21 he got a career at a large metropolitan agency he worked basically every task force you can think of and special assignments. Drugs, vice, traffic, and later became a detective then into the intelligence side before going into command/administration (lower ranking but still) which pretty much jaded him as far as working for a large agency seeing how things really work behind the scenes.

Now he works for a mid sized agency here. Still lots of crime and lots to do. Not as much shenanigans at least compared to his last agency.

[Summeroflove]

Graduated high school early. Not basic

[lightbulb27]

govt is ok with 18yr old doing military stuff as they train and control them with the threat of death and need them to maintain their power.

turning people loose on roads puts people at risk which results in law suits and thus they are more expensive. companies don't want the risk.

[ProbablyClueless]

It's based on these things insurance companies use to determine rates that are called "actuarial tables." Basically, a bunch of statisticians ran the numbers and figured out that the group of people most likely to have car accidents are young men aged 16-25 with under 5 years of experience with driving. Young women in that age range are pretty bad too, but not quite as bad! lol

Because you generally can't openly discriminate on the basis of gender without a good reason, the insurance companies just made it their policy to not rent to anyone under the age of 25.

[OneViewpoint]

I've never thought about it. I assume it has something to do with the risk profile of young male drivers that actuaries in insurance companies have identified as unacceptable.

[MuddyMole]

The same reason people over 70 often can't rent a car either - because you're a liability, and the risk of you crashing it outweighs the revenue they'd make.

[Simslover92]

This is news to me unless you live in another country. Here in America you can rent a car at 21 if not younger. I remember renting a car from U-save at 21.

[exitseven]

The insurance company sets the rate. They say that you are an inexperienced driver. I went to Florida and was too young to rent a car but was not too young to rent a motorcycle.

[DrPepper12]

You're confusing government with private business. That's why.

[Summeroflove]

Cause government just uses taxpayer money when they mess up. They don’t take a loss for anything at least no person does. Except the taxpayers.

While yea technically they also pay taxes. I suppose a private company taking a loss verses a government entity. They get paid the same regardless.

[InknKink]

Because insurance companies value in their vehicles more then the military values your life. lol.

[FreyaRed]

Is this a law or just some internal rule of car rent services? If it's just a rule someone could sue rent services for discrimination

[NaultD]

Pure statistical analysis. Plug the variables in and ask can you make a profit?

[DonaldDarko]

You can rent a car at 25. Some companies you can't. Personally I think we need legislation to reign in rental companies.

[Alex-Snow]

I;m 20 and have rented a car. You need a credit card (not a debit card) and they made me take out all the additional insurance even though I already had insurance. Not fair is it!

[jamesgoldman]

Too high for company insurance

My friend in exotic doesn't have that policy but has the occasional young renter but the rates are double or more on already expensive policies

[jshm2]

Because most car deaths are by young drivers. Hence harder to insure.

[DryGermanGuy]

Is this an American thing? Because in Germany/Europe you can rent cars aged 18.

[seeyounexttuesday]

Car rental companies are private organizations and don't have to follow any legally defined "adult".

Based on insurance company analysis, people under 25 are more likely to have car accidents.

A rental agency is trying to minimize damage to their inventory, so they put in the rule.

Hope this helps.

[jahaims]

You can. It just costs more. I got married at 23 and rented a car on the honeymoon. I just had to put down like a 3k deposit extra.

[Luopio27]

It does not make sense. In times of war even 16 year olds are trusted with ak-47 riffles!

[Cidknee]

The opinions of the powers that be. Car rental is probably ruled by insurance companies.

[Anonymous]

In my country you can rent a car if you're 18 or older, but you have to show them your driver's licence.

[TallBlonde5]

Because they want you to remove people from the world.

[onedarkcloud]

Today's 25-year-old has the mentality of a brick. The car rental wants a mature mind, and 25 years seems equal to the old age of 18

[msc545]

Statistically, people under 25, especially males, are much more likely to be involved in accidents. That is why.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It has to do with building up credit

[Sal_Monella]

Risk of accidents from inexperienced or aggressive drivers.

[Anonymous]

Because killing people and holding a gun don't take much intelligence and responsibility.

[shortster]

At 25 your insurance rate is such that car rental companies can make money renting you a car.

[Anonymous]

Who says you can't?

[Anonymous]

Documented experience most likely.

[RedInnocent69]

They’re shitty drivers

[Anonymous]

Youd crash it