Rent a car under 21

The soonest you can get your driving licence here in the UK is 17 and that’s if you’re lucky enough to have passed the theory and practical test just after your seventeenth birthday. Not everyone can afford to buy a car and sometimes it makes more sense to just rent a car but how easy is it for young drivers to hire a vehicle? To be honest, if you're under 21 and looking to rent a car, then chances are that you won't find anything because of your age.

How to rent a car when you're under 21?
Currently you cannot rent a car in the UK if you are under 21; this is because rental car companies require all drivers to have a good clean driving history of at least 3 years. Even if you are under 21 with a clean driving history you are seen as high risk.  This is mainly because you do not have enough driving experience to convince the car rental company that you'll be returning the vehicle in as good condition as you're going to take it. Of course there's rental car insurance for circumstances when you're involved in an accident but claiming on insurance policies are likely to increase premiums thereafter and chances of a young driver claiming are very high. This is why it’s hard to rent a car even for short term periods when you do not meet the minimum age requirement.

If you go abroad to places like France, Spain and America you will be able to drive a car legally in the country but at the moment, it’s just not possible in the UK. There does seem to be quite a demand for it but until companies insure rental cars for under 21’s, this won’t be changing anytime soon.

One way that is not advised but done by many is to get someone like a friend or family member who is 21 or over to get the vehicle for you. This way you can drive the vehicle but illegally though; if you get caught you will be fined and tried for fraud. You could even have your licence taken away from you so think hard before resorting to desperation.