After driving over 1300 miles with my family, we were wondering if the wear and tear on the car would hurt us in the long run. We had a very new van and our trip brought us through some tough back roads and steep grades.
Renting a van is a good choice for long road trips if your current car is leased, or too small for you to ride comfortably. Choosing to rent a van may be less expensive if your car gets poor gas mileage or if you can rent a very fuel efficient model.
Is it worth the cost to rent a van for a road trip?
Once you have planned your road trip route and destinations you will probably start a packing list. You may feel concerned that you will not all fit comfortably with all the stuff in your car.
Renting a van can give you more leg room and a great driving experience.
If you have been considering a larger van for your family this is a great chance to try it out. See how the car seats fit, see what it is like to park it at the grocery store.
Can more than one person drive a rental car?
As a general rule, rental companies automatically approve a spouse to drive a rental car, all other drivers can be added at the time of the rental. There is a per driver per day fee for adding additional drivers to your rental. Corporate rentals often authorize all employees as drivers.
Each rental company allows more than one driver, but they each have their own policy for additional drivers.
Here are the basic rules for each of the major companies:
| Allowable Drivers? | Fee? | Link to Policy | |
| Hertz | Yes, as many as there are seats in the vehicle | Yes, per driver, per day (amount not disclosed) | Hertz |
| Avis | Yes, up to 2 additional | Yes, $13 per driver per day | Avis |
| Budget | Yes, up to 2 additional | Yes, $13 per driver per day | Budget |
| Alamo | Yes, spouse or partner included without a fee | Yes, $15 per driver per day | Alamo |
| National | Yes, spouse or partner included. No additional drivers allowed on rentals secured with a debit card | Yes, $15 per day | National |
| Dollar | Yes | Yes, including spouse | Dollar |
| Enterprise | Yes, spouse or partner included. No additional drivers allowed on rentals secured with a debit card | Yes, $15 per driver, per day | Enterprise |
| Thrifty | Yes, up to the number of passenger seats | Yes | Thrifty |
You can see that the policies vary widely between these top companies.
If you are planning a vacation with a spouse or partner, choose a company that includes them as additional drivers to avoid paying LOTS of fees.
Who can drive a rental van on a road trip?
If you are planning a road trip, you are likely going to have more than one driver. If you are traveling with your spouse, they are likely considered authorized drivers, but check the company policy to be sure.
The renter of the vehicle and their spouse or partner can drive a rental car. Anyone who is driving your rental van needs to be authorized at the time of the rental and must meet the rental company’s age requirements. Some companies do not automatically authorize a spouse or partner, so read the policy carefully.
If you plan to cover more than 500 miles in a day on your trip, I recommend getting a second driver.
Lots of experienced road trip families site that 4-500 miles a day as the perfect length to avoid burnout and get maximum enjoyment from your trip.
Can my teenager drive our rental car on vacation?
Rental companies never authorize a driver under the age of 18, so your teenager will not be allowed to drive your vacation rental car. Drivers must be 20 years old in most states. The exceptions are New York, Michigan, Alabama and Nevada which have laws allowing 18 and 19 year olds to drive rental cars.
Rental companies charge an additional “Young Driver” fee for all drivers under the age of 25. Here is a handy chart of the major companies’ “young driver” policies.
| Age Limits | Fee? | Policy | |
| Hertz | 20-24 requires a fee, younger may be approved | $19 per day | Hertz |
| Avis | Must be 25 to be additional driver, 21-24 may rent with a fee | $24-$84 dollars a day | Avis |
| Budget | Must be 25 to be an additional driver, May rent 21-24 with a fee | $27 | Budget |
| Alamo | 21-24 | $27 | Alamo |
| National | 21-24 | $25 | National |
| Dollar | 20-24 | Varies by location | Dollar |
| Enterprise | 21-24 | $25 | Enterprise |
| Thrifty | 21-25 | $25 | Thrifty |
There are exceptions:
New York and Michigan allow car rentals at 18
Alabama and Nevada allow them at 19
These companies charge a very high fee for those very young additional drivers, so it is likely not worth the cost to allow a very young driver to be added to the rental.
Vehicle Type Restrictions
Young drivers are not allowed to rent in every category of vehicle.
Most companies restrict young drivers to the basic classes of vehicles and do not allow them to rent:
- Sports
- Premium
- Minivan
- Large SUV
- Exotic
One Way vs Round Trip Rentals
It is possible to rent a van for a one way road trip. This is a creative way to plan and schedule a road trip. Flying one way gives you more time to explore your destinations. If you are strapped for time, I think this is a creative way to see the states!
This is also very convenient for cross country moves or relocating.
One way rentals come with a fee and are only available with national rental companies.
How much does it cost to rent a van for a road trip?
The cost of renting a van on a road trip is the same as driving your own car plus rental fees which average $93 a day. The gas budget will stay exactly the same. You will be saving wear on your vehicle which is generally considered to be about $25 per day.
Kayak, which rents vehicles every day, estimates that the cost of renting a van is $93 dollars a day.
You can also calculate your vehicle’s exact cost of wear and tear per mile by following this tutorial.
So, renting the van may cost you about $700 dollars for a week-long road trip. Might be worth it for the comfort in the car.
An average 7 day road trip will cost you $1000 for a van rental. The cost is very similar for a minivan like the Chrysler Pacifica and a Ford Transit. I recommend you go as big as you feel comfortable driving. Ask to test drive the Ford, I was surprised the first time I drove one, they are very comfortable to drive.
Is a campervan the same as a van?
A campervan is a van that is equipped with amenities such as:
- Sleeping space
- Running water
- Closets
- Toilet
- Shower
Campervan is a term used more frequently in Europe than in America.
A traditional van will have a larger passenger capacity than a campervan. Large vans are often called passenger vans and typically seat 12-15 passengers, including a driver.
Newer vans like Nissan NV and Ford Transit are designed to seat adults comfortably and have many different seating configurations that seat fewer than 12 passengers.
Which rental company is best for a road trip?
If you plan to take a traditional family road trip Alamo or Enterprise are the best choice for a road trip rental.
They both include a spouse or partner as an additional driver at no cost and they are both national companies with offices all over the nation.
Enterprise also has the most competitive rates for large vans, they rent Ford Transits.
If you are a young driver, under 25, you should rent from Hertz because they have the lowest fees for young drivers. They are also a national company and you will not find yourself stranded too far from an office.
Where can I rent a car for a road trip?
While all national companies allow rentals for road trips, there are times when a traditional company is not the best option.
I found these interesting alternatives to a traditional car rental.
A car sharing platform supported by a super trustworthy company. If anything happens, you are really well covered. They also have really straightforward pricing. No fees for young drivers, extra drivers, or cancelations.
Car sharing platform that boasts a variety of luxury and 4×4 vehicles. I think this would be a great option if the car is a big part of the adventure.
Is a great option if you cannot find anything else or you just got a lot of things to bring! I think this is a genius hack that could save you a lot of money.
You do not have to get stuck driving that box truck, they rent vans too.
Getaround is powered by their app and seems to have a lot of available inventory nationwide. You download the app, select a car, pay with your phone, and unlock the car with your phone. You can even do one way rentals with Getaround!
What if I am under 25?
You can rent a U-Haul at age 18, if you are looking to take a trip, and want to rent a car, go for a U-Haul Van rental. You may also find they are less expensive than a traditional rental.
This is best hack I have ever read. This guy had some great ideas.
This is perfect, because they are set up for lots of hauling and they expect their vehicles to travel long distances. If you are feeling adventurous, you could even sleep in it! They offer the traditional box trucks as well as cargo vans.
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Renting a U-Haul may even be cheaper. Try this super insider tip next time you are looking at a van rental if you are under 25!
What if a rental is not available?
Avail by Allstate is a great car sharing platform. They allow car owners to rent out their cars to other drivers.
This is very popular when there is a seasonal large demand for rental cars. Planning to attend a big sporting event, festival or concert? You may face car rental shortages, using a car sharing platform like Avail opens up some great inventory.
Avail also does not charge a young driver fee, so you can rent a car under 25!
There is a mileage limit when driving Avail. You are limited to 150 miles a day, so plan a long rental or a short trip.
I want to go off-road or through rugged terrain?
Turo is a car sharing company that is designed for adventurers, while most of their inventory is in major cities, they offer Jeeps and other 4×4 vehicles.
They also offer electric, luxury and pet friendly vehicle choices.
Can I bring my pets on a trip in a rental car?
Most car rental agencies allow pets. Car sharing platforms like Turo and Avail also allow pets in rental cars. They warn renters that they must keep the car clean and free of damage, or they will be charged a cleaning fee.
Get a seat cover or a plastic shower curtain to cover the seats in your rental or be prepared to spend some time with a vacuum before returning your ride.
What to ask when renting a car for a road trip?
Rental cars offer you so many options on a road trip, so take advantage. Switch cars mid trip to keep it fresh, get a 4×4 and explore some back roads or cruise through town in an exotic luxury car.
When you are planning your trip, make sure you ask:
- Are there any daily mileage limits?
- Are there cleaning fees? What would cause me to be charged a cleaning fee?
- How much does it cost to add another driver?
- Am I covered by insurance?
- Who do I call if there is an emergency?
- Do you offer roadside assistance?
- Where do I need to return the vehicle?
- Is there a pet fee?
- Are there any deals for weekly rentals?
You may choose to write down some of these answers, just so you are covered. Make sure everyone in the family knows the numbers to call in case of an emergency on the road.
Renting a car for a road trip is the best option if you want to save the wear and tear on your vehicle or you want to ride comfortably.
Once you know all the details and have read the fine print, start packing those bags. Road trips are such a wonderful way to get away!
