Age restrictions in car rental – why do I need them?

For many years, it was thought that cars should be owned and rented only by companies or tourists travelling abroad. Today, this perception has changed and renting a car has become a convenient and cost-effective way to ensure personal mobility.

If you have used car rental services in several countries, you will have noticed differences in the conditions you have to comply with when renting a car. The main ones are different age restrictions. Let’s tell you a bit more about what they are and why.

Safety is the main objective of the restrictions

Restrictions on car rental companies vary from country to country, depending on local legislation, local car market conditions and the service providers themselves, who have to take care of road safety. For these reasons, conditions can vary even between branches of the same company in different countries.

Luxury car and minibus rentals usually have the most restrictions. While age restrictions and other conditions may seem annoying, their main objective is the safety of all road users – the restrictions always take into account the specificities of the local market, driving culture and other conditions.

In Latvia, the law stipulates that you can obtain a category B licence to drive a car from the age of 18. It is also compulsory to have a health check. The law does not set a maximum age for driving. This depends on your state of health.

There are categories of rights that can only be acquired from the age of 21. One of these is category C, or the licence to drive a lorry. But to drive a bus or a vehicle with more than eight passenger seats, you need a category D licence, which can only be obtained from the age of 24.

But the data shows that drivers aged 18-24 are the most likely to make risky driving manoeuvres and break the rules of the road*. This driving style significantly increases the risk of being involved in or causing an accident. For this reason, Latvia is paying more attention to the minimum age for car renters and has set age limits – most car rental and car sharing providers have a minimum age of 21. There are also cases where driving experience is taken into account – a driving licence must have been valid for at least two years. Restrictions may also vary for different classes of car.

Age restrictions and other conditions in different countries

The restrictions may vary from country to country. For example, in Belgium and France, Avis, a full-service leasing and car rental provider, offers car rental to customers who have reached the age of majority and have held a category B licence for at least one year. In Morocco and Ireland, the age limits are even higher: you must be at least 25 years old and have at least two years’ driving experience.

“Daina Kantāne, Head of Full Service Leasing at Avis, talks about Latvian statistics: “in our country, car rental services are most often used by drivers aged 30-50. At the same time, it is clear that younger drivers also need to rent a car – not everyone needs a car on a daily basis and not everyone can afford the costs associated with daily car maintenance. It’s great to be able to take the car for a drive, go to a festival or visit the other side of the country – renting a car is a cost-effective way to ensure personal mobility.”

The human factor is important

Drivers are different and standard age limits are not always the best solution. That’s why the best car rental providers offer a personalised approach – even drivers who do not formally meet the minimum age threshold can rent a car. However, each case is carefully assessed, because safety comes first. Also, drivers under the minimum age tend to be charged an additional premium.

Plus, today’s increasingly intelligent and safe cars can help drivers avoid dangerous situations and accidents. But the human factor is still paramount, so car rental companies keep a close eye on the statistics. And this means that young drivers need to be as careful as possible behind the wheel, so that accident statistics improve and age limits become more age-friendly.

*https://lvceli.lv/aktuali/aptauja-61-autovaditaju-atzist-ka-pedeja-gada-laika-ir-parkapusi-celu-satiksmes-noteikumus/