Can a newly licensed driver rent a car? Here are the rules

Is your dream a long road trip with friends or your boyfriend/girlfriend after graduation or during an upcoming holiday weekend, but you’d like to understand better how car rentals work for someone who recently got their license? You’ll find all the answers here!

What kind of cars can a newly licensed driver rent?

The current law (as of May 2024) states that a newly licensed driver meaning someone who, regardless of age, has had their license for less than 3 years can drive vehicles with a power-to-weight ratio lower than 55 kW/t during the first year after obtaining their license. Beyond this limitation, each rental company applies its own restrictions: some don’t offer services to newly licensed drivers at all.

With Locauto, you can rent any vehicle allowed by law. You can easily identify them on our website by unchecking the box regarding the license ("I declare I have had my license for more than 12 months") in our search engine.

Does renting a car cost more for newly licensed drivers?

The cost of renting a car for newly licensed drivers depends on the individual agency, but each one, in different ways, applies additional charges based on age groups. This is due to the fact that statistically, younger and less experienced drivers are more prone to accidents.

For this reason, during the booking process, you will need to declare the driver's age, which must match the information on the documents you'll travel with and present when picking up the car or in case of police checks. Some companies offer special packages for young drivers, including full coverage against damage and theft, allowing those with less driving experience to drive without stress. Check out, for example, our Locauto Young package.

What precautions should you take if you’ve recently gotten your license?

We conclude our article with some useful advice to help you drive your rental car safely and confidently:

• Don’t overdo it: It's normal to feel less confident when you're newly licensed, and there's no shame in that! Avoid situations that might be too challenging, like driving in bad weather or on very busy roads, until you feel more comfortable.

• Take it step by step: Start with short trips on familiar roads, gradually increasing the difficulty of driving conditions as you gain experience. If you're traveling with others, it's a good idea to add at least one extra driver to the rental contract: it's worth spending a little more to have peace of mind, knowing you can rely on a designated driver, especially on nights when you plan to drink (you can't drive even if you've only had one beer!).

• Observe speed limits: Newly licensed drivers must follow lower speed limits than more experienced drivers: the limit is 100 km/h on highways and 90 km/h on main roads for the first three years.

• Stay focused on the road: Avoid distractions like loud music, animated conversations with passengers, and, most importantly, using your phone even just to check maps.

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