The license: a regular driver's license is the baseline
For a standard passenger car or SUV, a valid, unexpired regular driver's license is the baseline requirement — you do not need a special or commercial license to rent and drive an ordinary car. Visitors from outside the US can typically drive on their home-country license, and depending on the country and the rental company an International Driving Permit may be requested or required; that detail varies, so out-of-country renters should confirm with the company in advance.
Bring the physical license to pickup — a photo of it usually isn't accepted — and make sure it's valid for the whole rental period. The name on the license generally has to match the name on the reservation and the payment card.
Minimum age varies — and so do the surcharges
There is no single national minimum rental age. It's set by a combination of state law and company policy, and it varies. In much of the US the common floor is around 21, and many companies add a daily 'young renter' surcharge for drivers under 25; a small number of states limit or cap those surcharges. Some specialty or premium vehicles carry a higher minimum age set by the company.
Because both the minimum age and the under-25 surcharge depend on the state and the specific company, don't assume — check the age policy and any young-driver fee with the rental company for your pickup location before you book.
Verify locally: Minimum rental age and young-driver surcharges are set by state law plus company policy and vary widely — confirm the exact age rules and fees with the rental company for your pickup state before booking.
Insurance: you usually already have some, and the rest is a choice
Car rental coverage typically comes from a few overlapping sources, and which apply to you depends on your own situation. Your personal auto insurance often extends to a rental car. Some travel credit cards include rental coverage when you pay with that card. And the rental company offers optional protection products at the counter. These interact, so the honest move is to confirm what your existing auto policy and card already cover before you decide what to add.
If you don't have personal auto insurance, or you're renting abroad, or your card's coverage doesn't apply, the counter products may be worth it. There's no universal right answer — it depends on your coverage, the trip, and your risk tolerance. Read what each product actually covers (liability vs. damage to the rental vs. personal effects) rather than buying or declining on autopilot.
- Check whether your personal auto policy extends to rentals.
- Check whether your credit card includes rental coverage (and what's excluded).
- Understand what the counter products cover before accepting or declining.
- Out-of-country renters: confirm whether your card/policy coverage applies abroad.
Looking for something bigger than a sedan?
Most of what's above is about ordinary cars. If your trip is more of a road-trip — a classic touring car, a van, or a full motorhome — the license, age, and coverage picture can differ, and a motorhome over the federal weight threshold may carry extra requirements in some states. PickRV lists cars and touring vehicles alongside RVs, so you can compare what a given trip actually requires.