Renting a Car in Italy Under 25: What It Actually Costs and Requires

Renting a car in Italy under 25 is genuinely possible at most major companies — this isn’t a case of being turned away at the counter — but it does come with a real, predictable cost premium and some vehicle restrictions worth planning around before you book rather than discovering at pickup.

Here’s what actually changes by age bracket, and what doesn’t.

🎓 Here’s What to Expect: Most companies set the standard minimum age at 21, with a handful allowing 18-20 for a limited vehicle selection and additional fees. Drivers 21-24 typically pay a young driver surcharge of roughly €15-€30 per day, on top of the standard rental rate. This surcharge applies even if you’re an additional driver rather than the primary renter — so pairing a younger driver with an older primary renter doesn’t avoid the fee. Once you turn 25, the surcharge generally disappears entirely.

Since this surcharge is one of the more predictable add-ons to budget for, our guide on average rental car costs by vehicle class is worth reading alongside this one to get a realistic total.

Minimum Age by Vehicle Category

Even within the 21-24 bracket, some rental companies apply stricter tiers — for example, drivers aged 19-20 might be limited to only the smallest vehicle groups even at companies that otherwise accept them, while 21-24 gets broader (though still surcharged) access. Policies genuinely vary enough by company that checking the specific terms for your age and chosen vehicle class before booking is worth the few minutes it takes.

The Young Driver Surcharge, By Age Bracket

The surcharge itself is usually a flat daily fee added on top of the standard rental rate, commonly landing somewhere in the €15-€30 per day range, though it varies by company and sometimes by specific vehicle category within that range. A few patterns worth knowing:

• The surcharge generally applies uniformly across the 21-24 bracket at most companies, rather than decreasing gradually as you approach 25
• A small number of specialized brokers or promotions occasionally reduce or waive the surcharge specifically for 23-24 year olds as a competitive offer, though this isn’t universal
• Once you turn 25, the surcharge typically disappears entirely, with no gradual phase-out

Over a week-long rental, this surcharge alone can add a meaningful amount to the total cost — worth factoring into your overall budget from the start rather than treating it as a minor add-on.

Does It Matter If You’re the Primary or Additional Driver?

This is a detail that surprises a lot of renters: the young driver surcharge generally applies regardless of whether the under-25 driver is the primary renter or listed as an additional driver. Pairing a 22-year-old with a 30-year-old primary renter doesn’t avoid the fee if the younger person will actually be driving — the surcharge is tied to the fact that a young driver is authorized on the agreement at all, not specifically to who signed as the main renter.

This matters for group trips where the plan is to share driving duties: if anyone under 25 is going to drive at any point, they need to be listed as an authorized driver, and the surcharge will apply based on their age regardless of the primary renter’s age.

Vehicle Restrictions for Younger Renters

Beyond the surcharge itself, younger drivers frequently face vehicle class restrictions that don’t affect renters 25 and older:

• Luxury and premium vehicles often carry a minimum age requirement of 25, regardless of a company’s general under-25 policy for standard vehicles
• Larger SUVs and vans sometimes carry similar restrictions, particularly at companies with stricter overall young-driver policies
• The smallest economy classes are typically the most consistently available across the widest age range, including for 18-20 year olds where that age bracket is accepted at all

If a specific vehicle class matters to your trip, it’s worth confirming the age requirement for that exact category rather than assuming a company’s general “21+” policy covers every vehicle in its fleet. It’s also worth reading our rental insurance guide for Italy, since younger drivers sometimes face different coverage terms or a higher excess than standard renters at the same company.

Documentation Specific to Young Drivers

Beyond the standard document requirements — valid license, passport, IDP for most non-EU renters — younger drivers should specifically confirm their license has been held for the minimum required duration, commonly at least one year, since this is checked alongside the age requirement itself rather than age alone being sufficient. A driver who technically meets the minimum age but obtained their license very recently can still be turned away or charged an additional fee at some companies.

How to Minimize the Cost

• Compare multiple companies specifically for their under-25 policies, since the surcharge amount and vehicle restrictions vary meaningfully — a policy comparison specific to age can save more than general price shopping alone, and our guide on getting the lowest rental rate in Italy covers broader tactics that stack with this one.
• Stick to smaller vehicle classes where possible, since these tend to have the most consistent availability and sometimes the least punitive surcharge structure across the widest age range.
• Check whether a specialized broker or promotion applies to your specific age, particularly if you’re 23 or 24, where reduced-fee offers occasionally exist.
• Confirm your license has been held long enough before booking, since this requirement is separate from the age minimum and can derail a booking that otherwise looks fine on paper.
• Budget for the security deposit separately from the surcharge, since younger drivers occasionally face a higher deposit hold on top of the daily fee.
• Read the full fee breakdown at booking, since the young driver surcharge is one of several add-ons that can combine to meaningfully change the total cost.

FAQ

What is the minimum age to rent a car in Italy? Generally 21 at most major companies, though some allow drivers as young as 18 with a license held for at least one year, typically with restrictions on vehicle class.

How much is the young driver surcharge in Italy? Commonly around €15-€30 per day, varying by company and vehicle class, applied to drivers between roughly 21 and 24 years old.

Does the young driver surcharge apply if I’m not the main renter? Yes, generally. The surcharge applies based on the age of anyone authorized to drive, regardless of whether they’re the primary renter or an additional driver.

Can an 18-year-old rent a car in Italy? At some companies, yes, though this is less universal than the 21+ standard and typically comes with a limited vehicle selection and additional fees.

Do luxury or SUV rentals have different age requirements than standard cars? Often yes. Many companies set a higher minimum age, commonly 25, for luxury, premium, and some larger SUV or van categories, regardless of their general policy for standard vehicles.

Does the young driver surcharge decrease as I get closer to 25? Generally no, it typically applies as a flat rate across the 21-24 bracket rather than decreasing gradually, though it usually disappears entirely once you turn 25.

Is there a way to avoid the young driver surcharge in Italy? Not reliably if you’re actually going to be driving — occasional promotions reduce it for 23-24 year olds specifically, but there’s no consistent way to avoid it if you’re under 25 and authorized to drive.

What license requirements apply specifically to young drivers in Italy? Beyond meeting the minimum age, most companies also require the license to have been held for at least one year, checked separately from the age requirement itself.