You might be wondering what the rules are regarding age when it comes to renting RVs. Learning about the legal RV rental age limit ahead of time can ensure that you stay within the law when renting your RV. They say that wisdom comes with age. The people who make the rules regarding the age limits for renting vehicles seem to believe that responsible driving also comes with age.
The policy for renting an RV can sometimes confuse people because it is slightly different than the age policy for getting a typical rental vehicle. Of course, the actual laws in your state should be respected above any personal policies of the renters or rental agencies that you speak with. Take a moment to become familiar with what you need to know about the age you need to be if you want to rent an RV for a vacation or road trip.
What Is the Age Requirement for an RV Rental?
Taking a road trip across the country isn’t as simple as turning 16, getting your license and getting the keys to an RV in your hand. Minors aren’t actually allowed to rent vehicles. In fact, you’ll need to be well into adulthood before you can legally rent an RV for a vacation.
The legal minimum age to rent an RV is 25. Many people are surprised by this because they assume that people who are old enough to vote, serve in the military or purchase alcohol should also be able to rent vehicles. However, this simply isn’t the case. The requirement of being 25 is in effect regardless of the type of RV you want to rent. This means that you must meet the age requirement whether you’re trying to rent a small folding trailer or a massive RV.
You may be scratching your head because you remember hearing that some states allow drivers to rent cars at the age of 21. Some states even have specific rules that allow people who aren’t old enough to rent a car in their own name to drive a rental car under the supervision of someone who is able to legally rent a vehicle. This would be applied in cases where a parent is renting a car when traveling for a vacation with an adult child between the ages of 21 and 25. However, this type of policy doesn’t necessarily carry over to RVs. Be sure to inquire about specific age requirements regarding secondary drivers when you contact a rental agency or send a message to an RV owner on a peer-to-peer rental platform in your state.
Why Being Honest About Your Age Is the Best Policy
You may be wondering if there are ways to get around the age restrictions on renting RVs. The simple answer is that there aren’t any. Trying to fabricate a license or mislead an RV owner at the time of signing your rental contract can land you in some very hot water. Every single state has harsh penalties for people who use false identification and drive rented vehicles illegally.
You will be in a position to face some very serious consequences if you’re pulled over by a police officer while driving a rental RV that you obtained by lying about your age. The best outcome you can hope for is losing your license and facing a personal lawsuit. Being pulled over can easily lead to an arrest or jail time. The consequences grow even more serious if you happen to get in a car accident that leaves another person injured while driving a rental RV that you obtained illegally. There is also the potential to be caught by savvy park rangers whenever your identification is checked when you enter the campsites that you intend to stay at during your road trip.
Tips for Young Drivers Who Want to Rent RVs
What can you do if you’re not the right age to rent an RV yet? You may have to put that big trip you had planned on hold for a while. One possible way to plan a road trip in a rented RV the legal way is to hire a driver and enjoy a chauffeured experience. You can also invite a parent or responsible adult along on your journey to serve as the renter and driver.
Why the Age Limit to Rent an RV Is High
While the RV rental USA age limit may seem harsh, it’s actually in place to protect everyone on the road. The reason why the age limit for renting vehicles is so high is because younger drivers are statistically more likely to drive carelessly and get into accidents on the road. Factors like texting on a phone or being distracted by conversations can create a very dangerous situation for an inexperienced driver. It’s easy to see that a younger person behind the wheel of a vehicle as large as an RV can be a particularly dangerous scenario.
A higher age restriction for RV renters protects both drivers and the owners of the RVs that are being driven. This is good news for people over the age of 25 who want to rent RVs because it means that more owners are willing to rent their vehicles to people. The truth is that most RV owners wouldn’t feel comfortable handing over the keys to a large, expensive vehicle to a young driver or a group of college freshman headed to a sunny location for spring break. The fact that RV owners don’t have to deal with young drivers makes them much more likely to list amazing vehicles on peer-to-peer rental platforms.
If you are Under 25 and Want to Rent an RV, you May just Have to Wait
The bottom line is that renting an RV simply isn’t meant to be child’s play. There are no tricks for getting around the legal age limit or any ways to get exemptions. Respecting the age restrictions and obeying the law at all times can ensure that you and your fellow travelers will always enjoy a fun, relaxing journey on the road without looking over your shoulders the entire time.