Seniors may have trouble arranging car rentals

Whenever the issue of car rentals comes up in either online or print media, one of the most often discussed topics is the minimum age requirement required by most car hire companies. This essentially means that those under 25 years of age either find it more difficult to rent a car, or more expensive, as they are required to pay an extra surcharge. Yet few people discuss the maximum age limits that some car rental companies implement, which limits the ability of many older seniors to hire a passenger vehicle.

This is precisely what 82 year old Jerry Gluck experienced when he decided to take a trip with his wife to Northern Ireland. Gluck contacted a range of car hire companies, but found that in each case he had exceeded the maximum age limit and could not rent a car. For example, Hertz’s maximum age limit in Northern Ireland stands at 75 years, while those between 76 and 79 can only rent if they are able to prove that they still drive their personal automobile on a fairly regular basis and if they bring a doctor’s note along, indicating that they are fit to hire a vehicle. Hertz also requires that those over 75 years of age produce an attestation from their insurance firm, which clearly indicates that they have not caused any collisions over the past five years. Enterprise and Avis, however, seem to have slightly more liberal policies concerning senior drivers in Northern Ireland, and they are normally permitted to rent, without any extra hassle. Yet just to be sure, those over 75 years of age are still advised to bring a doctor’s note along with them, in order to prove their good health, if necessary.

www.hertz.com