For many young adults, getting their driver’s license is a rite of passage. But for some, the cost of car ownership is too high.
Statistics prove that this fresh blood has increased risk of accidents. Turo has a way of handling that by charging an extra “Young Driver Fee.”
The fee is charged to drivers under the age of 25 and is meant to offset the increased risk of accidents among this group. However, many young drivers say that the fee is unfair and that it puts them at a disadvantage.
Turo young driver fee is a surcharge added to the base rental price for drivers under 25.
It is important to be aware of any charges before getting on that ride. In this article, I will outline everything you need to know about the fee and how to counter it.
Does Turo Have a Young Driver Fee?
Yes, Turo charges an additional young driver fee for those renters under the age of 25.
So, if you’re considering using Turo, be sure to factor in the cost of the young driver fee when deciding whether or not it’s the right choice for you.
Why is Turo Young Driver Fee Important
As a car-sharing platform, Turo relies on its community of guests to keep things running smoothly. In order to ensure that its guests are up to the task, Turo charges a young driver fee for those under 25 years old.
The fee is designed to offset the increased risk that comes with younger drivers. Studies have shown that drivers under the age of 25 are more likely to be involved in accidents than their older counterparts. They are also more likely to make insurance claims, which drive up costs for everyone involved.
By charging a Young Driver Fee, Turo is able to keep its rates low for everyone else on the platform. This helps to ensure that its community of drivers remains safe and responsible.
How Much Is the Turo Young Driver Fee?
Turo’s young driver fee price structure varies depending on your location e.g US, Canada, and the UK, and also the age bracket.
In the United States, Turo charges a minimum of $50 per day for those aged (18-20) years old and a minimum of $30 per day for those aged (21-25) years old. This is for trips with a peer-to-peer host. If you are 25 years old in the US, you will still have to pay the fee.
Commercial hosts are required to set their own restrictions and young driver fee. They should disclose this information in their listing.
For Trips in Canada, Turo doesn’t specify the age bracket that is required to pay the fee for trips with a peer-to-peer host. However, commercial hosts will be required to set their own fees and include them in their vehicle listings.
For trips in the United Kingdom, those under the age of 25 are required to pay a minimum of £25/day for trips with a peer-to-peer host.
Commercial hosts are also required to set their own restrictions and young driver fee.
It is important to note that these age requirements are applied at the time of booking and not when the trip is expected to take place.
So if you will be having a birthday before the trip starts or during the trip and you will no longer qualify as a young driver, Turo will offer no exception to you since you have to be of the required age at the time of booking.
Turo cannot refund you the fee.
Can I Have the Young Driver Fee waived?
Turo or even your host cannot offer any waiver to the fees. On their website, they are very clear that they don’t offer any discounts or waivers based on your clean driving record, personal insurance, or AAA and other automobile affiliations.
Comparing With Under 25 Fees of Other Car Rental Companies
The table below shows the latest details for each car rental company. You can note that the youthful surcharge for New york and Michigan is extremely high.
Car Rental Under 25 Fee, 2022
| Car Rental company | Minimum Rental Age | Vehicle Restrictions | Young Driver Fee Under 25 | New York State Youthful Surcharge (21 to 24 years old) | New York State Youthful Surcharge (18 to 20 years old) | Michigan State Youthful Surcharge (21 to 24 years old) | Michigan State Youthful Surcharge (18 to 20 years old) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | 21 Years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy to Full-size cars | $25.00 | $24.50 | $64.50 | $19.00 | $40.00 |
| Alamo | 21 years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy to Full-size cars | $25.00 | $24 | $64 | $20 | $42 |
| Hertz | 21 years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy to Full-size cars | $19 | $25-35 | $52 | $19 | $42 |
| Avis | 21 years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy to Full-size cars | $27 | $35 | $84 | $28 | $41 |
| Dollar Car | 21 years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy through Luxury cars | $29 | $29 | $41 | $29 | $41 |
| Budget | 21 years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy to Full-size cars | $27 | $35 | $52 | $27 | $41 |
| National | 21 years 18 in Michigan and New York | Economy to Full-size cars | $25 | $25 | $64 | $25 | $42 |
This fee is waived by most rental companies for USAA members from 18 to 24 years old.
Military and government personnel are exempted from the young driver surcharge by most car rental agencies.
Some state that government personnel should prove that the travel is for government-related purposes.
Can You Lie About Your Age On Turo?
No, you cannot lie about your age on Turo. During the verification process after signing up, you are required to submit a valid driver’s license. Your license shows your date of birth. So not unless you submit a fake license. You should also note that Turo has access to the DMV database. So, if you provide the wrong documents, you will not be approved and therefore you will not use Turo.
Turo also needs to be keen in its scrutiny for insurance purposes.
How to Avoid Turo Young Driver Fee
If you’re a young driver looking to rent a car through Turo, you may be wondering if there’s a way to avoid the young driver fee. Here are a few tips;
- Renting Through a Commercial Host With Turo Car Rental
Apart from peer-to-peer renting, you can rent from a commercial host on the Turo platform. Commercial Hosts are independent, rental car company hosts who list their vehicles on Turo’s platform.
Commercial hosts have a “Commercial Host” tag. Turo allows commercial hosts to set their own restrictions and young driver fees. If you go this way, you may find the right commercial host who will not require you to pay the young driver fee. Others can ask for your personal insurance and exempt you from the charges.
- Split the Costs with your Buddies
Another way to get around the Turo Young driver fee is by getting your buddies to join you for the trip. As long as they meet all the legal and age requirements you can request Turo to add them as additional drivers.
You can add additional drivers up to a maximum of 8 and share that cost. If the Turo Young driver fee was $30, you can divide it amongst yourselves and ease the burden. You can do the math.
- Get an AAA Membership and Rent Through Hertz
Getting an AAA membership and then renting a car through Hertz can help avoid that annoying Turo young driver fee. Hertz and AAA have had a long-tenured partnership in the automobile industry.
A waived young renters fee for 20-24 years old is one of the benefits AAA members enjoy. Other benefits are;
- Save 10% off prepaid gas
- Add an additional driver for free
- Save 50% off satellite radio
- Tow service
- Fuel delivery
- Locksmith service
- Battery service
- One free use an infant seat
- Discounts of up to 20% off
If you enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® and you are also a AAA Member, you will enjoy the following benefits;
- Earn points toward free rental days and upgrades.
- Skip the counter and go straight to your car.
- Loyalty offers throughout the year e.g Discounts of up to 20% off
- Add an additional driver for free.
- Drop the keys and go to return.
- Choose from a wide selection of cars.
AAA membership fee varies depending on the membership type, location, and level of coverage. It ranges from $59.99 to $119.99 per year.
However, all Memberships include emergency roadside assistance, DMV services, trip planning, and discounts at hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, and more.
Take your experience with Hertz to insane levels by becoming an AAA member. Join now.
- Rent a U-Haul and Enjoy Insane Cost cuts
If you don’t require extra seats and want to avoid the Turo young driver fee, you can get a U-Haul pickup truck. U-Haul charges a fee of $19.95 per day, plus $0.59 per mile.
U-Haul franchise is available in most parts of the country. Assuming the trip takes 1 week and the distance covered is 100 miles, the U-Haul cost adds up to; $19.95*7 + $0.59*100=$139.65+$59=$198.65. U-Haul does not charge young driver fees.
If we pick a similar car at Turo, say Toyota Tacoma 2018, the cost to rent per day is $66 if you book it for a week, therefore the cost to rent is $66*7=$462 +$50(Turo young driver fee)=$512
This way, you can save a whopping $313.35. You may claim I downsized the miles, for 500 miles, U-Haul will cost us $434 vs $512 for Turo.
This can be a great way to save money on that trip and avoid Turo young driver fee.
- If possible, Get a USAA membership and Enjoy the Benefits they Offer that Include the Waiver
If you’re a member of the United Services Automobile Association(USAA) and are under the age of 25, your young driver fee is likely to be waived by major rental companies such as Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Hertz.
You must be a current or former member of the U.S. military to qualify. This includes active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members, as well as veterans and their families. The fee waiver applies to rentals at participating U.S.-based locations.
Does Turo Have Any Other Hidden Fees?
There are some hidden fees that you should be aware of before using the service. This includes;
- Trip fee
- Drop off fee
- Pickup fee
- No-show fee
- cleaning fee
- Fuel surcharge
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, the Turo young driver fee is a necessary charge to help offset the increased risk that comes with inexperienced drivers. While the fee may be an inconvenience to some, it is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your rental car is in good hands.