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age restrictions on renting an auto

I am 77, in good health, I've heard that when one is 80, it is difficult or maybe impossible to rent an auto in europe. any thoughts on this? thanks, nick barthel

Posted by
5240 posts

Do you mean an auto as in a car or as in automatic transmission?

Posted by
6113 posts

Policies in one European country may differ from another. Which countries are you considering? Some companies have a maximum age of 75, some 80 whilst others may not have any upper limit.

Posted by
797 posts

If you can use the car for a minimum of 3 weeks and are not going to the UK (The land of BREXIT), look into a lease program. You get a brand new, fully insured car with GPS and A/C and there is one age requirement ... you must be over 18. You may be able to take the car into the UK but I do know the pick up point at London Heathrow has been closed. If the UK is in your plans, check with the leasing company, all the rest of Europe is open.

Posted by
5240 posts

If the UK is in your plans, check with the leasing company, all the rest of Europe is open. To use one of their own phrases, the Brits have made a right proper mess of things.

The rest of Europe isn't "open". There are lockdowns throughout the whole continent, many borders are closed and travel is severely curtailed not least for tourism purposes. Heathrow hasn't been closed, it's still open and I really don't understand how the British have made a mess of car hire or leasing, care to elaborate?

Posted by
1542 posts

Follow Lindy's link.

Unless things have changed, the financial benefit of a lease versus a rent does not usually apply as early as 21 days.

Posted by
797 posts

JC: What I meant about the rest of Europe being open is that unlike most rental car companies the lease company allows you to travel to all of continental Europe without restriction. Many rentals have prohibitions or extra fees if you want to go to the former eastern bloc countries or in some cases, Italy. Likewise, you can take a lease car on an long haul ferry which the fine print of most rental contracts forbids.

If does rent, it is also a good idea with the rental companies to verify age limits on rental contracts with the location where you will pick up the car in writing. More than one person on this forum has rented through a company in the US and found out they could not get their car when they got to the rental desk in Dublin ... nice way to start a trip being told 'the Americans don't know what they are talking about and you have no transportation.'

Posted by
1573 posts

I tried to rent a car in England a few years ago and could not because I was over 70. The result was I took my first RS tour.

Posted by
2773 posts

I think it depends which rental company you use. The last time my friend and I was in England we rented a car, she was 74.

Posted by
32523 posts

My father rented a car in Naples when he was 82, and previously rented cars past 80 in the UK.

Posted by
5240 posts

JC: What I meant about the rest of Europe being open is that unlike most rental car companies the lease company allows you to travel to all of continental Europe without restriction.

But so does leasing a car in the UK. There are no restrictions, you simply need to complete a single form. No hassle, no mess and no need for bringing Brexit into the discussion!

Posted by
3586 posts

I have rented cars in Europe at well over 70. As far as I know, there are no laws against it. Some rental companies have policies against it. It couldn’t be easier to find out which ones will rent to you. Go to autoeurope.com or kemwel.com. They have a place on their forms to check if you are over 75. When you do that, you’ll be shown only those companies without age restrictions.
Btw, using one of those two consolidators is a good idea, anyway. Usually, you’ll get a better price, and they have 24 hour customer service with English speakers.

Posted by
11056 posts

In some cases, we found age restrictions to rent a car depended on the rental car company rather than on the country.