Those of us who have reached older adulthood know that with age comes wisdom and experience, but not everyone sees it that way, especially not the rental car industry. Due to soaring insurance rates for seniors over 70, many rental car agencies in San Jose refuse to rent to older adults, but they might not tell you that until you show up to claim your wheels. To prevent any issues with your trip planning, keep the following tips in mind when trying to rent a car as a senior:

1. Ask about age maximums – many rental car companies, or individual rental franchises in certain cities may very with their age limits. While some may not allow seniors over 70 to rent a car due to the potential cost of insurance following an accident, others may put no restrictions on maximum driving age
2. Check your insurance – check with your existing insurance policy and see if it will cover a rental car if you’re driving away from your San Jose home. Using existing insurance or purchasing new insurance may allow you to rent a car from a company that otherwise has age limitations
3. Start at home – if you determine that it’s cheaper to rent a car from a local San Jose agency, get your car at home and make it a longer road trip to your destination if the savings are worthwhile!
4. Pick up the phone – while looking at car rental agencies online might be a great way to get costs, companies don’t always post maximum age limitations online. Pick up the phone, and don’t be modest about your age. Tell them you’re a senior and find out if there are any restrictions or special steps that will need to be taken to rent a car at your age

Via: About

Call Home Instead Senior Care serving elders in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga when seeking help for your aging parents - 408-370-6360.