The requirement is most often the cause for confusion is that of age. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer to how old you have to be to rent a car. It varies from country to country (or state to state), company to company, and even based on the type of vehicle you want to rent.

In general, if you are between the ages of 25 and 69, then you should be able to rent a vehicle (there may be rare exceptions of luxury cars where you might have to be at least 30 years old).

In the United States, the minimum age is 21 (except in New York and Michigan where it is 18). In Europe, it varies from country to country.

Drivers under the age of 25 (and sometimes over 70 or 75) usually have to pay an additional fee. You can find out more about age requirements and fees in an earlier blog post.

The next big question when it comes to driver's license and renting a car is experience. Almost all rental companies throughout the world require some amount of minimum driving experience to rent a car.

Usually, you must have held your license for at least one (1) year prior to picking up the car. In rarer cases, it may be two (2) years. So be sure to check the Rental Conditions before booking a car to know for sure.

For renting luxury vehicles and vans, many companies require more driving experience. Again, checking the Rental Conditions before booking will make sure you avoid any unpleasantries when you go to pick up the vehicle.

Be aware that if you recently renewed your license, the rental company may (rarely) think that you just received your license. So you may want to take some evidence of the renewal with you just to be sure.

Note: Learner's permits are never accepted by any company anywhere.

When traveling abroad, the language of your license may become an issue. If your license is in English, you'll more likely to have it accepted as is (though, this is certainly not always the case).

One thing can be said for sure, in the European Union, licenses are standardized and any EU license will automatically be accepted by a rental company in another EU country.

If your license is not from the EU or you are traveling anywhere else, there are no guarantees. In many locations, any license that uses the Latin alphabet will be accepted.

Americans should be aware that in some European countries, their license may not be accepted if they don't have an International Driving Permit (Italy is a notable example).

Confusingly, there are three different types of International Driving Permits (IDP). The one which you need depends on the country you plan to travel to. And if you plan to travel through multiple countries, you made need one IDP.

If your country issues (and it is good for the country you plan to travel to) the 1968 version of the IDP, then it may be valid for up to three years. Otherwise, it will only be valid for one year.

An IDP serves as a translation of your license. It's important to remember that when you have one, you must still show your home country's driver's license along with it.

For UK travelers: You do not need an IDP to travel to EU countries as the UK made a deal with the EU regarding driver's licenses. There are some rental companies in Spain that may ask for one, but be assured that they are misinformed. However, if you have an older paper license or a license issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man you will need an IDP, though.

If you have any questions about whether your driver's license will be accepted or if you will need an International Driving Permit, feel free to message our friendly customer service who will be more than happy to help you.