We tried to get one for my 20 year old daughter last summer...found it impossible with all the major and even not so major companies.

They would rent to over 21s at a steep price, but not at all to younger people.

the good news is that young people are quite content to "rough it' on a bus. just ous old fogeys that feel it is impossible to travel with a cat!

The reasons car rental companies may restrict or charge more for younger renters are obvious, but if it's possible to rent from an agency in Portland I'd highly recommend they at least find out how expensive it may be. It just seems too difficult to do side trips outside of Portland without one.

OOOps. Some of us find it impossible to travel without a cat, others find they need a car!

I smell a business opportunity - a car rental company for the 18-25 year old set. Stock the lot with low horsepower Daewoos bought cheap used from a major agency. Only rent to those with flawless driving records, charge premium rates and require the driver to purchase all those extra insurances (make good scrape off those). Per contract drivers will be fined (via credit card) if speed exceeds 70 mph (track via installed GPS system). What else would we need?

Brian - I suspect you would have difficulty finding an insurance company to offer the necessary coverage.

Everything has its price. Clearly there are insurance companies insuring 16 year-olds in their own cars.

The problem, Brian, is that the cost for an 18-21 year old to rent a car would be so high as to be not practical. What if it's $100/day? $200/day? What are the chances such a company would attractive enough business to be profitable?

The existing rental car companies would already be offering this service if they thought they could make money doing so. But undoubtedly they have deemed it not profitable.

Andrew