High-end or exotic cars are expensive and commonly associated with fast, dangerous driving. If you are 18 or over, a rental company can’t just out-right refuse to rent to you. In practice, age requirements vary by company, and some require you to be 25 or older. Under 25, you may be charged an underage driver fee. But, it can vary between car companies, so check around.
In New York State, General Business Law section 391-g makes it illegal for a rental company to refuse to rent to anyone 18 or older just because of age, if the company has insurance available for that age. In 1997, a case called People v. Alamo showed that NY Automobile Insurance Plan could count as “insurance available.” That means rental companies can’t just say no to drivers between 18 and 25 based only on their age. Knowingly violating the age law can lead to a fine of up to $500. Still, personal reasons like a bad driving record could be enough for them to refuse.
Be 25 to Rent Some of Their Fanciest Cars
For high-end rides, though, requirements can be a lot higher. For Hertz’s Dream Collection of exotic and luxury cars, you’ll need to be at least 25. Likewise, Avis won’t rent out Luxury or Specialty classes to anyone under 25 - even 24-year-olds are too young. For Enterprise’s Exotic Car Collection, you have to be at least 25, with a major credit card in your own name for the deposit. You’ll also need to show verified personal auto insurance that fully transfers to the rental.
Even if a company says yes, it could get expensive. The law allows them to pass on the actual extra insurance cost for your age group - with no dollar limit. So, you might see daily charges like around $84 for 18 to 20-year-olds from Avis in 2026.
A credit card isn’t actually needed to rent a car under New York law. Without one, a company can take its sweet time - up to several days - to check you out, and might want a cash deposit.
In New York, the collision damage waiver charge is limited to $15 a day for vehicles with an MSRP between $35,000 and $50,000. For cars priced above $50,000, there’s no cap. Since most exotics easily go over this range, costs can run high. Check your New York auto policy - it should cover rental cars unless you specifically rejected that option. Collision damage waivers are optional - a company can’t force you to buy one. A credit card with high coverage might be enough - but double-check. Some don’t cover damages to exotic cars. Before renting, ask your credit card company and insurer if your policies cover the car you want.
All rentals in New York come with at least the minimum liability coverage - $25,000 per person hurt in an accident, up to $50,000 for everyone hurt, and $10,000 for property damage. You can buy supplemental liability coverage for about $10.95 a day, typically giving you up to $1 million in coverage. This might be a good idea if you don’t have your own auto policy or want more protection.
As for extra drivers, your spouse can drive the rental car only if they’re licensed and at least 18 years old. Anyone else who wants to drive must be included in the rental contract. Under New York law, a company can charge up to $5 a day for each extra driver who’s listed on the rental agreement.
If you’re under 25 and have your heart set on a specific class of car, call around first. Ask each company what their minimum age is for that type of car, how much extra they’ll charge for a young driver every day, and what the rules are about deposits and insurance. Different companies will have different answers, so it’s worth the effort.