Is There A Maximum Age for Van Hire? We Reveal All…
Age restrictions and extra fees for younger rental drivers aren’t much of a surprise - “it’s the insurance”, we all say.
It’s less well known that many of the same restrictions apply to older drivers, too. Especially anyone over 75.
Even though a great many people aged 70+ are still perfectly fit and able to drive, it seems that the insurers who cover van hire companies aren’t very keen on older drivers, believing they pose an extra risk.
I’ve found maximum age restrictions from 65 to 75 - with various ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ thrown in to the mix to keep us all confused.
To help anyone who is looking to hire a van and happens to be over 70, I’ve put together a league table of the maximum age limits operated by van hire companies offering national coverage (click here for minimum age limits):
1. National
Top of the league is National Van Rental with no upper age limit at most of their 100+ UK van hire branches.
Here’s what their website says:
“There is no upper age limit except at Pembroke, and Carmarthen where the age limit is 75 years. Plymouth, Exeter, Newquay, Taunton, Wigan, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich the upper age limit is 70 years.”
2. Enterprise
In joint first place is Enterprise. According to their website:
“There is no maximum age limit when renting with Enterprise.”
3. Sixt
Sixt keep it simple. The upper age limit for van hire is 75.
4. easyVan
easyVan’s upper age limit is 75 at most branches and not specified for others. Check the online terms and conditions for your branch when booking.
5. 1Van1
1van1 have a maximum age limit of 75.
6. Europcar
Europcar’s upper age limit for van hire is 74.
7. Thrifty
Thrifty’s position is a little more complicated, according to their website. Their “standard insurance age range is 25-70.”
Anyone aged 71-75 should be able to hire a van, as long as they don’t have any medical conditions that are prohibited by Thrifty’s insurer.
Anyone aged 76 upwards probably won’t be able to rent from Thrifty unless they were previously a customer before they were 76, in which case Thrifty say that they: “may be able to help you as a re-renter, but we will need to refer this to our insurer.”
8. Budget
Bringing up the rear is Budget, which has the dubious distinction of being the only major firm that appears to charge older drivers a surcharge (most firms just do this for younger drivers).
Budget’s standard age range appears to be 25-70. Renters age 70-75 are allowed but are subject to a “Senior Driver Surcharge” of a whopping £11.75 per day (up to a maximum of £58.75). Ouch!
To learn more about rules and restrictions applying to van hire, see our “Van Hire Age / Licence Guidelines” page.
