You might think that age is just a number. However, age is what can make or break your plans of taking a road trip if you intend to use a rental RV. It turns out that being legally old enough to drive does not make you legally able to rent an RV.
Most adults are pleasantly surprised to discover that no special license is needed to be able to rent and drive an RV. The policies for renting RVs are often a little bit more complicated for younger people. However, you may be able to get exactly what you want with a little bit of extra research and effort. It’s helpful to know exactly where you stand before you start making any travel plans that involve using a rented vehicle to get to your destination. Discover the ways to potentially get an RV rental under 25 years old.
What Is the Legal Age to Rent an RV?
A person must be at least 21 to rent a car of any type from most rental companies. There are several agencies that won’t allow a person to rent a car unless they are 25. It’s a slightly different story when it comes to renting RVs. You’ll find that 25 is more or less the universal minimum age for renters at RV companies across the country.
Can People Under the Age of 25 Rent RVs?
You may be doing the math in your head and realizing that you just aren’t old enough to rent an RV under traditional circumstances. This can come as a big disappointment if you had your heart set on taking a soul-finding journey across the United States to celebrate your graduation or you wanted to load some friends into an RV and have a fun spring break. Is there another option to find RV rentals for under 25?
There are a few alternatives that may work for you. Of course, whether or not these options are available to you will depend on individual state laws and the policies of the person or company you’re renting your RV from. One option is to request a rental under 25 waiver. Some RV owners and dealers will actually allow people under the age of 25 to rent RVs in exchange for a fee. The drawback to this is that the fee can be quite high. In addition, the total amount of the fee may not be revealed to you until you sign your rental contract.
Campervan Rentals May be a Solution
Another option for getting around rental restrictions on RVs is to choose another type of vehicle that still offers plenty of room. Campervans are often not subject to the same tight age restrictions as traditional RVs. Be sure to inquire about a campervan rental under 25 when you reach out to owners or dealers on peer-to-peer websites. You may also be able to utilize a tow trailer that attaches to your vehicle to enjoy some extra room while you take a road trip.
Important Things to Remember When Looking for a RV Rental USA Under 25
The law trumps everything when it comes to trying to rent an RV when you’re under the age of 25. This means that the law even overrides whatever an RV owner or dealer may be willing to let you do. Be sure to look up the local laws in your state to make sure you’re doing everything properly before you sign any rental contract. The consequences for failing to follow the law properly can result in fines, the suspension of your license and other serious legal troubles.
It’s never okay to mislead an RV owner or dealer to get around age restrictions. Here’s a list of things you should never do:
- Provide forged documents to misrepresent your age
- Lie about your identity
- Lie about who will be renting and driving an RV
You definitely won’t succeed by trying to deceive an RV owner or dealer when speaking with them on the phone or corresponding online. It’s unavoidable that you’ll be required to show your driver’s license and register as the driver for any RV you want to rent. One piece of good news for groups of travelers that include several young people is that not everybody necessarily needs to be 25 to actually drive the RV. Many owners and dealers actually allow people under the age of 25 with legal driver’s licenses to get behind the wheel as long as the official registered driver is present. This means that the members of your travel party have the potential to take turns getting behind the wheel to lighten the driving burden for the primary legal renter.
Extra Things to Remember
Sometimes RV rental dealers aren’t satisfied if a renter is over the age of 21 and has a valid driver’s license. Some dealers will require renters to have a non-debit credit card from a major bank when making a down payment. This could potentially be an issue if you only have a debit card or you don’t have any type of bank account in your own name yet. In addition, all drivers that will be going along with you on the trip often must be present at the time you pick up your rental to sign the rental contract.
How to Get a Motorhome Rental Under 25
The bottom line is that it will take a little bit of extra work to get an RV rental under 25 USA travelers can use for fun, freeing experiences. While you may be faced with a limited selection of RVs if you’re a renter between the ages of 21 and 24, there’s still a lot of potential to find a vehicle that can make your road trip more comfortable. You may even find that using a smaller van or tow trailer is a better option because you’ll enjoy a less stressful driving experience. Whether or not you can obtain what you’re looking for will depend on the willingness of RV owners and dealers to provide waivers. However, you may find that a waiver that costs you several hundred dollars is not worth it if your travel budget is tight.