Young driver fees in 2026: what under-25s actually pay

For drivers under 25, it's not always clear how much a young driver fee will add to the cost of renting a car. Many expect a large charge, but the amount can vary. We looked at our booking data to show the daily surcharges recorded and explain what to check for extra fees payable at the rental desk.

How much is the young driver fee?

Our booking data suggests that the recorded surcharge can be smaller than some young drivers expect. Among young driver reservations (aged 21-24) over the last 365 days, 42.02% had a daily surcharge of €0. Another 20.92% had a rounded daily surcharge of €1, while 11.27% had €2 and 11.94% had €3. Only around 3% had a recorded daily surcharge above €5.

Amounts are rounded to the nearest euro, with any surcharge under €0.50 shown as €1. A €0 value means no young driver surcharge was recorded in the booking price. These figures cover fees recorded in our booking data. They may not include separate young driver fees payable to the supplier at pickup.

The average recorded young driver surcharge was €2.54 per day counting only reservations with surcharges. Around 58% of young driver reservations had a young driver surcharge recorded.

Our rental duration analysis found that around 64% of all reservations last a week or less. At €2.54 per day, the surcharge would add €2.54 for a one-day rental or €17.78 for a seven-day rental. Your actual fee may differ, and separate charges may apply at pickup. Example surcharge totals at the recorded average of €2.54 per day:

Is the young driver fee included in the booking price?

Not always. In our data, around 42.02% of young driver reservations had no young driver surcharge recorded in the booking price. But this does not mean all those drivers had no fee to pay. Some suppliers collect the young driver fee separately at the rental desk.

There are offers with no young driver fee. To check whether yours is one of them, read the rental conditions before booking. Look under "Driving age" in the checkout for the amount payable at the rental desk.

How old do you have to be to rent a car?

You must be at least 21 to rent a car through most rental car platforms (including EconomyBookings). The minimum age can be higher depending on the supplier, destination, and car category.

Being old enough to rent does not always mean you can rent without a young driver fee. Check the rental conditions for the age requirements and any surcharge before booking.

How to reduce or avoid the young driver fee

Start by searching with your correct age, then compare a few rental offers. Across much of the car rental industry, young driver fees are not shown as a separate item in the displayed price. You need to check each offer's rental conditions.

Look for the fee amount, whether it is included in the booking price, and how much you must pay at the desk. Some offers may have no young driver fee, while others may charge less.

Compare the full cost before booking. A rental with a lower displayed price could end up costing more once you add the fee payable at pickup.