How Much is Thrifty’s Young Driver Fee? A Guide to Underage Surcharges

When renting a car from Thrifty as a driver under the age of 25, you can expect to pay a Young Renter Fee on top of the base rental rate. This underage surcharge applies to all Thrifty locations in the United States.
In this guide, we’ll explain Thrifty’s young renter fee policy, including:
- The fee amount charged by age
- Other fees to know
- Tips for minimizing extra charges
- Eligibility requirements
- Frequently asked questions
Knowing what to expect with Thrifty’s young driver fees allows you to better budget and comparison shop as a renter under 25.

Thrifty's Young Renter Fee by Age
The amount of Thrifty's young driver fee varies based on your age at the time of rental:
- Age 18-20: $27 per day
- Age 21: $22 per day
- Age 22-24: $17 per day
These daily surcharges apply on top of the base rental rate. Only renters ages 25 and above avoid the underage fee.
Some key things to note:
- The fee applies for each day of the rental
- Multiple underage drivers on the reservation triggers multiple fees
- The surcharge is required at all corporate Thrifty locations
- Franchise locations may have different policies
Always verify location fees ahead of time when booking as an under 25 renter.
Other Thrifty Fees to Know
In addition to the young renter surcharge, Thrifty also charges these common fees:
- Airport concession recovery fee - around 11%
- Vehicle licensing fee - $0.85 per day
- Tire management fee - $7 per day
- Sales tax
There may also be optional fees for add-ons like GPS, car seat rental, extra insurance, etc. Avoiding extras can help minimize costs.

Tips for Minimizing Thrifty’s Young Driver Fee
While you can’t get out of the underage fee completely, here are some tips to reduce the impact:
- Rent for longer - The fee is a flat daily rate so a longer rental spreads costs out.
- Split with older drivers - If you split the rental across multiple drivers, only underage ones pay.
- Join loyalty programs - Sign up for free programs that may offer young renter fee waivers.
- Use coupons and promo codes - Look for percentage-off discounts to lower base rates.
- Avoid airport locations - Airport fees bump up total rental costs.
- Book longer rentals in advance - Last-minute underage rentals have higher demand pricing.
Every bit of savings helps offset the young renter fees.
Eligibility for Renting as a Young Driver
Thrifty has strict eligibility requirements for drivers under 25 to rent a vehicle:
- Minimum age is 18 with a valid driver's license
- Additional daily fee applies for renters under 25
- Surcharge waived for military personnel on orders
- Extra charges for additional underage drivers
- Cannot rent luxury, specialty, or large vehicles
- Required to have a current credit card in your name
Review all policies carefully ahead of time to ensure you qualify to rent with Thrifty as a young driver.
Scenario with Estimated Young Driver Fees
To demonstrate how much the underage fee can impact total rental costs, here is an example scenario for a 22 year old renting for 5 days:
- Base Rate: $50/day x 5 days = $250
- Young Renter Fee: $17/day x 5 days = $85
- Est. Taxes and Fees = $150
- Total = $485
In this case, the underage surcharge added $85 extra to the overall cost, making the rental 17% more expensive.
FAQs
Can I waive Thrifty's young renter fee?
No, the underage surcharge cannot be waived or declined. It is required for all drivers under age 25.
What vehicles can I rent as an underage driver?
You are restricted to economy or compact cars. Larger vehicles, convertibles, and luxury models typically cannot be rented if under 25.
Can I purchase insurance to avoid the young renter fee?
No, the fee applies regardless of what insurance options you select for the rental.
What if I'm under 25 but my traveling companion is over 25?
Even with an older companion, you will still pay the young driver fee since you are an authorized driver under 25.
Will my underage fee be higher if I rent at an airport?
Yes, Thrifty tacks on an additional airport concession recovery fee, so renting elsewhere is cheaper.
Understanding Thrifty’s young renter fee ensures you accurately budget for costs. While the surcharge can’t be avoided, following the tips in this guide can help minimize its impact when renting a car under 25.
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