If you're planning to drive a rental car in Europe, you might run into some age bans or surcharges. Some countries and/or rental companies enforce a maximum age for renting a car, and young drivers under 25 can expect a hefty surcharge. I last reported on age limits more than a year ago, and a refresher is in order.
The senior limit is the more troublesome and unexpected one, although you can sometimes get around it. As far as I can tell, senior travelers—regardless of age—can rent cars without limitations or surcharges in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland.
At the other end of the spectrum, rental agencies in four countries generally establish maximum ages for any senior rental:
- Ireland (Republic): No rentals to travelers over 75. Those over 70 may have to pay an extra fee.
- Israel: No rentals to travelers over 75.
- Malta: No rentals to travelers over 70.
- Romania: No rentals to travelers over age 70.
In a few other countries, maximum age limits may apply with some local rental agencies and/or on some car classes:
- U.K., Northern Ireland: Some rental agencies apply a maximum age limit of 69 for some car classes; some impose extra fees for travelers age 70 or older.
- Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey: Some rentals are limited for travelers over 70.
- Denmark: Some rental agencies impose a maximum age of 80.
Regardless of your age (and even if you're well under 70), rental agents always have the option of refusing to rent to you if either your driving record or your general behavior seems to indicate you'd have a problem driving safely. Agents can disqualify you even if you have a reservation, so if you have a poor driving record or appear to be at all senile, don't count on getting a rental.
Even though the tourist literature indicates absolute age limits in Ireland, Israel, Malta, and Romania, you may still be able to rent a car from a few suppliers. The big multinational companies, such as Hertz, say they have no corporate age limits, so any limits you might find with those companies are imposed by local franchisees. Even though you generally hear "no rentals over 75" about Ireland, some readers have told me they've been able to do it by checking around among lots of agencies. And no matter where you are, the French lease program imposes no maximum age.
As far as I can tell, the age limits apply to renting, not driving. If you rent in a country without an age limit, you can drive into an adjacent country that does have a limit—provided your rental contract allows such cross-border trips. Check to make sure.
An International Drivers Permit (IDP) is required to rent in Austria, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, and Romania. Elsewhere in Europe, an IDP is not required for the rental, but you still may need it if an official stops you while driving. Overall, I recommend getting an IDP any time you plan to drive in any country where English is not either an official language or widely spoken. You can get it through a local AAA office.
Obviously, you need to make sure you're eligible to rent before you make final travel arrangements. You really don't want to arrive at a rental counter, all set for a driving tour, only to be told, "Sorry, you're too old." When you arrange your rental reserve, make sure to give your age to the agent (or enter it on the website).
If you aren't sure about whether you can rent, consider renting through Auto Europe, a wholesaler that contracts with many suppliers. Spokespeople tell me that if any agency rents to older seniors, Auto Europe will find it—as long as they're good drivers.