Minimum Rental Age Policy
Since fees and permissible vehicle types vary by location, it's best to find the underage requirement in the city where you are renting prior to picking up your rental.

In most U.S. states, Budget corporate-owned locations rent to customers between the ages of 21-24 with the following provisions:

• Renters 21-24 must present a valid, acceptable credit card (debit cards are not permitted) and a valid driver's license (subject to screening of your driving record).
• At time of rental, an additional $25-per-day underage surcharge ($115 in New York) for these drivers will be applied.
• Drivers between the ages of 21-24 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs, except in New York.
• If a renter wishes to add an additional driver to the rental policy, the second driver must be 25 or older, and present a credit or debit card. Search for your desired location to obtain debit card information. .
• Renters with a debit card must be at least 25 years old.
  At Budget corporate-owned locations in Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Washington, D.C., and select locations in New Jersey, the renter is required to be at least 25 years of age with a valid, acceptable credit card and driver's license.

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International Customers Inbound to the U.S. - Minimum Age Policy
Inbound tour customers are permitted to rent from Budget at the minimum age of 19. Inbound tour customers are defined as those not residing in the U.S., Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada who are renting on an inbound tour rate.

The rental must contain an inbound tour rate and will be processed as a non-voucher required or voucher rental.

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U.S., Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada Customers Renting in the U.S. - Minimum Age Policy
The minimum rental age for tour customers residing in the U.S., Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Canada will remain at 21. An underage surcharge may apply for renters under 25.

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Driver’s License Screening Policy
Once a customer has opened a rental agreement, Budget rental locations are authorized to perform a driver’s license verification for primary and additional drivers.

Budget’s screening system provides a link with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to check the primary and additional drivers’ driving record against Budget’s criteria for rental.

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Additional Driver Fees and Qualifications Policy
At corporate locations, any person applying to be listed as an additional driver on a qualified renter’s agreement must have a valid driver’s license, present a credit/debit card, and meet the minimum standard age of 25 years (unless listed as one of the exceptions), and complete an Additional Driver Form. Note: Select locations will not accept a debit card. Search for your desired location to obtain debit card information.

Based on Budget’s driving criteria, drivers other than the renter will be subject to the standard additional driver fee of $9 per day with a maximum charge of $45 per additional driver per rental (except in New York locations where the fee will be $3 per day, and in Nevada where the fee will be $5 per day). There is no additional driver fee in California.

Drivers exempt from the additional driver fee are:

Any person involved in an insurance/service replacement may add the following individuals who are at least 21 years of age:

If the insurance company is State Farm, American Family, Progressive, Travelers, CCRG Claims, or Allstate, the additional driver may be at least 18 years of age if one of the following apply:

Additional driver requirements:

Additional Driver Age Requirements

The minimum age for an additional driver is 25 with the following exceptions:

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Policy for Driving Budget Cars Into Mexico

Budget cars may not be driven into Mexico unless the customer purchases Mexican Automobile Liability Insurance at the rental location. This insurance is available only at specific locations in Texas, Arizona and California. It is not available in Mexico.

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Policy for Canadian Residents Driving U.S. Cars Into Canada
Canadian Customs regulations prohibit Canadian residents from entering Canada with U.S. cars. Therefore, renters with a Canadian driver’s license and a U.S. license plate will not be allowed to cross the border into Canada. Customers with a Canadian driver’s license planning to cross the border into Canada in a Budget car should be provided with a vehicle with a Canadian license plate, if one is available.

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Canadian Non-Resident Insurance Card
Non-Canadian customers will be issued a Canadian Non-Resident Insurance Card whenever they rent a Budget car in the U.S. and plan on driving to Canada. This applies to rentals of all U.S.-registered cars. Insurance cards may not be photocopied.

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Debit Card Rental Policy
If you prefer to use a debit card rather than a credit card, be aware that some Budget locations will check your credit with a national credit verification bureau.  Other locations might not check your credit, but will require you to present a third form of identification:

For debit card customers renting at an airport location, one of the following is acceptable as a third form of identification in addition to a driver’s license and debit card:

• A round-trip airline ticket, e-ticket, or travel itinerary to or from the airport of rental, disclosing a return date and showing the renter's name
• A valid U.S. passport or current U.S. military identification card
• A current vehicle insurance card
• A current copy (within the last 60 days) of the customer's cellular phone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill

For debit card customers renting at an off-airport location, one of the following is acceptable as a third form of identification in addition to a driver’s license and debit card:

• A valid U.S. passport or current U.S. military identification card
• A current vehicle insurance card
• A current copy (within the last 60 days) of the customer's cellular phone bill, home telephone bill, bank statement or utility bill

Rules at licensee-owned locations and locations outside of the U.S may vary.  It’s always best to check the terms and conditions on your online reservation confirmation or on the location information page to see which rules apply for your selected location.  Then, if you still have questions, please contact us.

If you're using a debit card at a location that accepts them, we'll require a hold of total estimated charges plus 25% or $300, whichever is greater. However, for insurance/service replacement rentals and tour rentals, the minimum debit card authorization hold is $100. At select locations in the Northeast and North Central regions, the minimum authorization hold is $400. Some select locations do not accept debit cards at time of rental but do accept debit cards for payment at time of car return. Search for your desired location to obtain debit card information.

The minimum age to rent with a debit card is 25, except for select renters using a contracted corporate rate.

When renting a vehicle using a Visa or MasterCard debit card, please note:

• Budget will place a debit hold on your account for the estimated charges plus 25% or $300. While the hold is in effect, these funds will no longer be available for your use.
• If the vehicle is not returned on or before your due date, Budget will obtain additional debit authorizations to cover expected rental charges.
• When the vehicle is returned, Budget will charge the total rental amount, and will process a reversal of any unused portion of the debit hold. Depending on your bank’s procedures, this reversal could require up to two weeks to be posted to your account. Please check with your financial institution for their related policies. Unfortunately, Budget cannot expedite the release of this debit hold, and the funds will not be available for your use until your bank processes the release. Budget will not be responsible for any returned checks due to credit holds.

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Rental Policy for Non-Licensed Drivers
Renters who cannot drive a Budget car because of a physical disability or impairment must complete a Non-Licensed Renter Form. By signing the form, the non-licensed renter certifies, “I do not possess a valid driver’s license and am unable to operate a car due to a disability.” No proof of disability is required. The customer may rent a car if he or she appears at the time of the rental with an individual who has a valid driver’s license. The individual with the driver’s license will be the sole operator of the car for the duration of the rental, although the physically challenged/disabled customer will be the actual renter. Physically-challenged renters who complete the Non-Licensed Renter Form are exempt from any additional driver charges, and the authorized driver is exempt from any local additional driver requirements, if any. There will not be an underage surcharge for these rentals, when either the disabled renter or the authorized driver is over the age of 25. If both the disabled renter and authorized driver are under 25, an underage surcharge will apply. If either the disabled renter or authorized driver is under 25, in order to avoid the surcharge, the elder of the two must provide proof of date of birth.

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Budget’s Cash Qualification Policy
Budget will accept cash at time of rental for those customers who are pre-qualified. Budget will continue to accept cash for insurance/service replacement rentals. Insurance/service replacement customers do not need to be cash qualified.

Pre-qualification for Residents of All States Except Connecticut and Pennsylvania
Residents from all states except Connecticut and Pennsylvania wanting to pay cash at time of rental must be pre-qualified by the Worldwide Reservation Center Cash Rental Inquiry Line at 866-371-4978. After the telephone agent explains the entire process, the customer may request a “Cash Prepayment Identification Application.” Once the application is complete, mail or fax to the address listed on the application along with a $15 processing fee. Allow 4-6 weeks for processing.

Pre-qualification for Residents of Pennsylvania
Residents of Pennsylvania may obtain a “Cash Prepayment Identification Application” at rental counters in Pennsylvania. Once the application is completed, mail or fax to the address on the form. Residents of Pennsylvania may also complete a “Cash Prepayment Identification Application” over the telephone when they call the Worldwide Reservations Center Cash Rental Inquiry Line at 866-371-4978. The process takes about three business days from receipt of the application. A processing fee of $15 will be added to the first rental.

Pre-qualification forResidents of Connecticut
Residents of Connecticut may obtain a “Cash Prepayment Identification Application” at rental locations in Connecticut. Once the application is completed, mail or fax the application to the address on the form. Residents of Connecticut may complete an application over the telephone when they call the Worldwide Reservations Center Cash Rental Inquiry Line at at 866-371-4978. The cash qualification process takes approximately one business day from receipt of the application. There is no administrative fee for residents of Connecticut.

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Cash Pre-payment Identification Card
Once approved, customers who are cash pre-qualified will receive a Budget Cash Pre-payment Identification card that is valid up to six months after the time of issuance.

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Rental Procedures
Residents of All States Except Pennsylvania and Connecticut
At time of rental, pre-qualified cash customers from all states, except Connecticut and Pennsylvania, must present a Budget Cash Pre-payment Identification Card.

If the total pre-payment calculated is under $300, the customer must make a pre-payment of $300, which is the minimum prepayment amount permitted.

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