age restrictions on car rentals in Europe

There are no national restrictions.

Some rental agencies may have restrictions on some types of cars. If so, take you business elsewhere. The problem may increase when you pass eighty.

Thanks, Ed.
Yay, 10 more years!!!

What I didn't say very well is that the types of cars that might not be rentable are the kind us old farts wouldn't drive anyway since we've come to have a lick of sense. Regular cars are fine.

My father (British subject) was hiring cars in the UK and Italy into his 80s. He had to look around a bit after 80 but still had no problems getting them in the Cotswolds and Naples. He used Avis in Naples and local companies in the UK.

He did have to look around for insurance after 80, but did manage to get good insurance at a decent price.

We're a couple of years older and have never had any problem renting cars. Just be sure to bring or rent a GPS. They do help quite a bit.

We ran into some trouble in the Orkney Islands a few years back. My dad was the renter of record and he was over 75, but not quire 80 and the small company we rented from was amazed to find out how old he was when he handed over his license. They said it was a no go. At which point I handed over mine….It was funny as one of the comments was, "Wow, you didn't seem old on the email!" :) I think that there are fewer issues with bigger companies.

It all has to do with insurance. You would think that they would just charge more to cover the increased risk. Sigh.

Pam

Thanks, again. We're lucky to have USAA insurance and we've always had good service with Avis.