Has anyone experienced renting a vehicle in Italy with an 18 year old as the second driver? Are the rules he same as in the US? Where can I find this information? Thank you.

Easy Mel, just pick up the phone and call the rental companies you are thinking of using and ask them. Gee, they all have international desks that will provide you the information. I suspect that 18yo is TOO young to be listed as driver.

If this is essential to your trip, I wonder if persistence will pay off. For example, it is widely enforced that drivers have to be 25 here in the US to rent a car. Some Enterprise agenceis will rent to a 21 yr old driver. But I have found them that will rent to an 18 yr old driver (I know one in Los Angeles if you want the details - - near the USC campus).<BR><BR>I have rented with 21 yr olds as the additional driver in both Italy and in France.<BR><BR>I don't know where you will find an agency that will rent to an 18 yr old driver, but if it is crucial for your trip, I wonder if you might get some help from the U.S. embassy.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Why would the US Embassy get involved in trying to rent a car? Maybe if you asked them real nicely Mel the Embassy will furnish you a Marine driver and a nice big Lincoln Town Car for your trip. We all know that the Embassy is there for one purpose and that is to help tourists rent cars...plus they even run a hotel booking service.

It will vary from company to company. In the UK, for example, there are some companies that will only rent to people over 30, others who will accept 25yr olds. You will have to ask the rental company itself. But I suspect 18 will be too young.

Try Sixt. They SOMETIMES rent to 18-yo's, but it differs from country to country. www.sixt.com

I didn't mean that the U.S. embassy would help you rent a car - - but the U.S. Embassy IS an appropriate resource for any American citizen who wants to know about local businesses of every sort in that country.<BR><BR>And a car rental company IS a business. Renting a car IS a business transaction.<BR>

Mel,<BR><BR>Try Europcar - they are generally the most lenient regarding minimum age.<BR><BR>www.europcar.com<BR><BR>Andre

Talked to a few agencies - most have 21 as a mimimum age requirement of 21 for the second driver.

&lt;&lt;most have 21 as a mimimum age requirement&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>gee, mel only needs ONE that has a lower minimum age requirement!<BR><BR>or do you mean that ALL have 21 _or higher_ as a minimum age requirement?<BR>

upping<BR>

I've never come across a rental company in Europe with a minimum age lower than 21. Also there is usually an additional requirement that the driver has held a full licence for at least a year. Since the minimum age for driving is 18 (except Germany, Ireland and UK where it's 17), it seems highly unlikley that an 18 year-old will be accepted.<BR>Insurance premium has been rising rapidly in Europe because of higher claims and the pressure to keep higher minimum age is coming from rental companies' own insurers.

I won't drive in Europe w/22 year old daughter,I can't imagine endangering her and my life.It's a disaster in the making.Buy a train pass or go on a tour,then yopu'll have some memories not nightmares!

What a stupid scaredy-cat statement.<BR><BR>I let my 17 year old nephew drive in Italy last year, without being officially registered as an additional driver. Would it have been safer for me to continue to drive when I was too sleepy to concentrate?<BR>

So your'e bragging and justifying a 17 year old driving in ITALY,not registered as the second driver?What's wrong with planning a little better or even pulling over and sleeping a couple of hours.You sound like these adults that let under age kids drink at their home...............Ih America!

I think that the point was not to have a 18 year old rent the car but to add her as a 2ed driver. That may be totally different that renting to a 18 year old. Also as in the US it may make a difference that it is a young woman instead of a young man.<BR>

to the top!

I don't think that letting a 17 year old drive was breaking the law. Not sure. Taking a huge liability risk, but not breaking the law.<BR><BR>And do most Fodorites really think that adult-supervised drinking at home by 19- or 20- year olds is a problem? Or 17-year olds for that matter?<BR><BR>Do we think that all those european families are evil or stupid or what?<BR><BR>And if you do, by the same token, do you accept the Islamic view that drinking at any age is evil?<BR>

Lou<BR>Letting an unauthorised driver to take charge of the rental car, you were driving without insurance being in breach of the rental agreement. If you had been involved in an accident, you (and/or your nephew) would have been personally responsible for meeting any claims and also be subject to prosecution for driving without insurance AND would have faced a claim for loss of business from the rental company. Not a wise thing to do....