Car hire aged 22 - anyone know anywhere? Small companies?

[Big News]

Hiya all,

Some friends and I are planing a trip across Europe/the Baltic states this summer, and we need to find a car. I'm the only one with something suitable, but it's a Volvo 850 T5, a touch on the juicy side, and adding two other mates onto the insurance is just asking to for Admiral to commit buggery.

All the large companies will only rent me a Peugeot 107, and make me pay a £30/day 'young driver surcharge', and whist I've had marginally more success with some smaller, local companies, most of them seem to be 23 and above only, but at least they would rent us a Mondeo Estate or something.

Does anyone know of any companies which might rent us a reasonably-sized car, aged 22? I don't mind travelling halfway across the country to get it if I have to...!

Thanks,

Ben

[BritishRacinGrin]

Take the Volvo. Find a way to make it work. Surely the additional fuel cost will be less than the cost of hiring another car anyway? Don't they all have excess mileage charges anyway? and aren't they extra fussy when it comes to taking their cars abroad? And anyway, who wants to do a road trip in somebody else's boring repmobile when you have an 850R at your disposal (which has to be among the most suitable vehicles for a road trip!)

Regarding insurance, Have you asked Admiral? Can your mates buy their own tempoary insurance?

Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Thursday 8th May 06:05

[Geekman]

I've always found admiral very reasonable when adding other drivers to the policy on a temporary basis.

[Synchromesh]

Admiral charge £23ish to add a driver aged 21 or over to your policy for the week (£45ish for someone under 21). Take the turbo brick!

[4F6]

Even if you can find a company willing to hire to a 22 year old driver (possible but not that many do it) they will charge you a considerable extra premium for taking it outside the UK - a 50% surcharge on top of the standard rental used to be the norm plus additional fees for paperwork and breakdown cover which would make it a very expensive way to travel around.

Take the Volvo. More fun and will probably work out cheaper.