In Indiana, you generally have to be at least 21 to rent a car, though Hertz will rent to drivers as young as 20, and a handful of companies will rent to 18-year-olds in narrow situations like insurance replacement rentals or official government travel. Indiana law doesn’t set a minimum rental age, so the number that matters is whatever the rental company’s policy says. If you’re under 25, expect a daily surcharge on top of the base rate no matter which agency you pick.
Minimum Age at the Major Rental Companies in Indiana
Each company draws its own line, and the differences matter if you’re 20 or 21 and shopping around.
- Hertz rents at 20 in Indiana, with a young renter fee for anyone under 25.1Hertz. Age Restrictions and Exceptions
- Enterprise requires renters to be 21 in Indiana. Drivers 18 to 20 can rent only in Michigan, New York, or through specific programs like insurance replacement rentals and government travel orders.2Enterprise Rent-A-Car. What Are Your Age Requirements for Renting?
- Avis also sets its Indiana minimum at 21, dropping to 18 only in New York and Michigan or for U.S. government personnel with official travel orders.3Avis. Minimum Age to Rent a Car
- Budget requires renters to be 21 in Indiana, with an exception for government employees carrying a purchase order or travel order, who can rent at 18.4Budget. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?
Even when a younger driver qualifies, vehicle choice gets narrower. Under 25, expect to be locked out of luxury cars, sports cars, and larger SUVs across most agencies.
Why 18 Is Effectively the Floor
Renting before 18 is essentially impossible in Indiana. A full, unrestricted Indiana driver’s license requires you to be at least 18; drivers under 18 hold probationary licenses with restrictions, and minors generally lack the legal capacity to enter binding contracts. Rental agencies then set their own minimums above that legal baseline, which is how you end up with 20 or 21 as the practical floor.
What Under-25 Drivers Pay
The daily young renter surcharge is where age really hits your wallet. Rates vary by company:
- Hertz charges $19 per day for renters under 25.5Hertz. Young Renters
- Budget charges $27 per day at most locations for renters 21 to 24.4Budget. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?
- Avis charges an underage surcharge for renters 21 to 24 that varies by location but runs roughly $30 to $35 per day outside New York and Michigan.3Avis. Minimum Age to Rent a Car
On a five-day trip, even the cheapest surcharge tacks on close to $100. On a two-week rental, it can rival the base rate. Comparing surcharges across companies often saves more than comparing base prices.
How to Get the Young Renter Fee Waived
Several programs zero out the surcharge entirely. Check these before you book.
AAA
Hertz waives the young renter fee for AAA members aged 20 to 24 who meet standard rental qualifications, worth up to $29 per day. Both the primary renter and any additional young driver need to be AAA members with a credit card in their own name.6AAA. Hertz AAA Member Benefits
USAA
USAA insurance-eligible members aged 21 to 24 get the underage driver fee waived at National, Alamo, and Enterprise. You may be asked at the counter to show proof of USAA membership or a military ID.7National Car Rental. USAA Car Rental Frequently Asked Questions
Government and Military Travel
Under the U.S. Government Rental Car Program, drivers 21 and older on official travel pay no surcharge. Drivers 18 to 20 may still face an underage fee, but it’s reimbursable through the travel program.8Defense Travel Management Office. Rental Car Program Budget goes a step further: government employees carrying a purchase order or travel order can rent at 18 with no surcharge at all.4Budget. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?
Insurance Replacement Rentals
If your own car is in the shop after an accident and the rental is arranged through an insurance claim, the age floor drops. Enterprise rents to drivers 18 to 24 for insurance replacement rentals, subject to restrictions you should confirm with the specific location.9Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Can I Rent a Car if My Vehicle Is in the Shop? Budget notes that insurance replacement customers may be exempt from the underage fee.4Budget. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?
Disability Accommodations
At Budget’s corporate-operated locations, the underage surcharge is waived when either the renter with a disability or the authorized driver is over 25. If both are under 25, the surcharge still applies.4Budget. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?
What You’ll Need at the Counter
Every agency requires a valid, government-issued driver’s license in good standing. Some expect you to have held the license for at least a year, which can catch newly licensed 18- and 19-year-olds off guard. Paper or temporary licenses without a photo are often rejected outright.
You’ll also need a major credit card in the renter’s name for the hold on estimated charges plus a security deposit. Debit cards trigger extra hoops. Budget requires debit card users to be at least 25, and asks younger renters to present a credit card instead.4Budget. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car? Dollar makes debit card renters pass a credit check, show proof of return travel, and present two forms of ID.10Dollar Rent a Car. Updated Debit Card Policy Prepaid cards and cash rarely work.
International Renters
If your driver’s license was issued outside the United States, bring a valid passport in the same name as your license as a second form of identification. If the license isn’t in English, an International Driving Permit helps with translation, but it can’t stand in for the actual license.11Hertz. Driver Requirements
Don’t Rent for a Friend Who Doesn’t Qualify
When someone in your group doesn’t meet the age minimum, it’s tempting to rent the car in your own name and hand over the keys. Don’t. If an unlisted driver is behind the wheel during an accident, the rental company treats it as a breach of contract. Every optional product you paid for evaporates, including the collision damage waiver and any supplemental liability coverage. The company can pursue you for the full repair bill, loss-of-use charges while the car is out of service, and any third-party claims. If the unauthorized driver has no auto insurance of their own, you personally absorb all of it. Adding a qualified driver to the agreement at the counter costs a fraction of what an unauthorized one can cost you.