What Do You Need to Rent a Car in Boston? A First-Time Renter Checklist
To rent a car from us in the Boston area, you need to be at least 18, have a valid U.S. or international driver's license and have a way to pay. There's no counter: you book online, verify your license through a secure link before pickup, then pick up the car in Revere or have us deliver it. Every rental company has its own rules, so this checklist covers ours.
What you need to rent a car in Boston at a glance
| What you need | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or older. No young-driver fee, and nothing extra at 18 to 20 |
| Driver's license | U.S. or international. With an international license, also an International Driving Permit and your passport |
| License check | A secure link we send after you book. A third-party service verifies your license, and the rental can't start until it's approved |
| Payment | Debit, credit, cash, Zelle, Venmo or Cash App. No credit card needed |
| Booking deposit | $350 (or your whole rental total, if that's less), paid online when you book and counted toward your total |
| Security deposit | $250, charged (not a hold). Fees come out of it, and it's refunded within 2 weeks if there's no damage or fees |
| Pickup | 650 Ocean Ave, Revere, MA, or delivery anywhere in MA, NH or RI for a flat $120 |
| Insurance | Not needed to rent. You can share your own policy if you'd like (more below) |
Paying with a debit card or cash? We have a full guide on renting a car in Boston without a credit card.
Your first rental, step by step
A lot of first-time renters dread the counter, the paperwork and the upsell. We've moved most of that online. Here's how it usually goes (the full steps are on our how it works page).
When you book
Choose a car and your dates, then pay the booking deposit online to hold the car. Before you pay, check three things:
- The minimum rental. 3 days for daily-rate cars, and 7 days for the C-Max Hybrid and our Sedan, SUV and 7-Seater SUV types. There are no 1-day rentals.
- The total, including taxes and fees.
- The cancellation rule. The booking deposit is $350, or your whole rental total if that's less, and it goes toward your total. Cancel 7 or more days before your trip starts (exactly 7 counts, by Boston time) and we start your refund right away; how fast it shows up depends on your payment method and bank. You can cancel 24/7 by phone, text or email. See our cancellation policy.
Before pickup
We send you a secure link to verify your driver's license through a third-party service. Do it soon after you book. The rental can't start until your license is approved, and once it is, we confirm your booking and send your pickup or delivery details.
You don't need your own insurance to rent. If you want to use your own policy, upload your insurance ID card through the same verification service. It's usually checked within a day, and once we confirm your policy covers rentals, your coverage carries over to the car. If it doesn't, you're responsible for damage to the car and any liability costs. Our optional damage waiver, $30 a day, caps what you pay for covered damage to the car at $3,000 per incident. It's a waiver, not insurance. Not sure which option fits you? Give us a call.
Anyone else who'll drive needs our approval and their own license check. Extra drivers are free.
Getting the car
Pick up at 650 Ocean Ave in Revere, any time, or we'll deliver the car anywhere in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Rhode Island for a flat $120. Flying into Logan? Take the free Massport 88 shuttle to the Economy Garage and meet us at 239 Prescott St in East Boston. We don't meet at the terminal curb.
Before you drive off, walk around the car and take photos of it and the charge or fuel level. You'll bring it back at the same level. Renting an electric car for the first time? Make sure you know how charging works before you leave. With a Tesla, Supercharging goes on our account and we bill you afterward.
While you have the car
Miles are unlimited. Keep the car in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island; to go further, ask us first. Tolls, parking tickets and violations are on you. Late returns are $30 an hour, and more than 3 hours late counts as a full extra day.
After you return it
We bill tolls and Supercharging after the rental. Bring the car back at the same charge or fuel level you picked it up with. It doesn't need to be full. If it's lower, there's a flat $50 fee for an electric car or $100 for a gas or hybrid car, so keep your pickup photo. Recharge or refuel, cleaning and late fees come out of the $250 security deposit, and you pay anything over that. With no damage or fees, you get the deposit back within two weeks.
Where first-time renters get stuck
Waiting to verify. The license check is the one step that can hold up a rental. Do it as soon as the link arrives.
Assuming insurance is handled. Your own insurance is optional, but until we've confirmed your policy covers the rental, you're responsible for damage, and the waiver only limits what you pay for covered damage to the car.
Missing the minimum rental. Daily-rate cars start at 3 days and the C-Max and our three car types at 7, so check before planning a short trip.
Forgetting the return rule. Bring the car back at the same charge or fuel level, and take a photo of where it started.
Leaving the area. Stay in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, or ask us before you go further.
Ready to book?
Read the full terms in our rental policies, then book online, or call us at (617) 655-6529 if you'd like to talk through your first rental.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Boston?
Not with us. We take debit cards, credit cards, cash, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App, and you don't need a credit card.
Can I use a foreign driver's license?
Yes. Along with the license from your home country, you need an International Driving Permit and your passport. A third-party service verifies your license before the rental starts.
How old do I have to be?
At least 18, with no young-driver fee and nothing extra at 18 to 20.
Do I need my own car insurance?
No. You can rent without your own insurance. If you want to use your own policy, upload your insurance ID card through the verification service. It's usually checked within a day, and once we confirm it covers the rental, your coverage carries over. Otherwise you're responsible for damage.