The age on the ID and the date of obtaining the license are two essential pieces of information in a car reservation. They don't just determine whether you can legally drive, they can influence the protections available, the amount of your deposit and the classes of car you can choose.
At Wise Cars, the rule of thumb for total freedom of choice is a minimum of 23 years and at least 3 years of driving license. That doesn't mean that anyone outside the range is automatically denied. It means that younger or older drivers are subject to stricter assessment and conditions.
Wise Cars general rule
A driver who is at least 23 years old and has a minimum of 3 years of experience can, in principle, choose from all types of protection available for the selected car and period.
Final eligibility also depends on car category, availability and data verified by the team. Submitting the form does not constitute automatic confirmation.
For verification we use:
- date of birth from the identity card or passport;
- date of obtaining the permit;
- license category;
- validity of documents;
- the class of the requested car;
- chosen protection.
Can you rent if you are under 23?
Yes, under certain conditions. The minimum experience accepted for a driver under 23 years old is 2 years of licence.
In this situation stricter rules apply. No deposit rental is available, although for a standard range driver the same car might have a zero deposit option.
It is not enough to be 23 years old during the rental. The data is evaluated for the situation existing at the beginning of the contract. Fill in your actual date of birth and actual date of license so that the team can present you with the correct options.
Why experience matters, not just age
Two people of the same age can have very different experiences. A driver can have a license from the age of 18, and another can get it at the age of 22.
That's why we ask for both the date of birth and the date of obtaining the permit. Age alone does not prove driving experience.
The permit date must be entered exactly as it appears on the document. Do not use the date of last renewal if the document separately indicates the date of first acquisition for the relevant category.
What rules apply over 69 years
Additional conditions also apply to drivers over the age of 69. Lease may be possible but no deposit option available.
The team checks the documents and booking status before confirmation. The aim is to have the protection, deposit and car set up correctly before the trip, not changed at the time of collection.
Why we ask for documents before confirmation
Wise Cars requires your license and ID card or passthe port before confirming the booking. The documents allow us to verify the declared data and block the car for an eligible claim.
This step avoids an unpleasant situation where the customer arrives at the pickup and discovers that the age, experience or license category does not correspond to the conditions of the reserved car.
Forwarded copies are used for checking and preparation. You must present the original documents upon collection. A phone photo does not replace a license or physical document.
The credit card does not change the age rule
Wise Cars does not require a credit card. Payment can be made by card or bank transfer, and cash is not accepted.
Having a credit card does not remove age and experience requirements. Likewise, using a debit card does not automatically make you ineligible.
Deposit and protections are set based on driver profile, car and options selected, not just card type.
Can another person also drive?
Any additional driver must be declared and included according to the booking conditions. The same age, license and eligibility checks apply to him.
In the case of Premium Plus protection, an additional driver is included free of charge. For the other protections, the additional driver is available for a fee.
Do not leave the car with an undeclared person. In the event of an incident, this omission may affect how the protection and contractual obligations apply.
Permits issued abroad
The document must be valid and accepted for driving in Romania. If the permit is not issued in an easily verifiable format or there is ambiguity regarding the category and date of issue, the team may request additional documents or explanations.
Send the documents in time, especially if you are coming from abroad. Do not delay checking until the day of collection.
Errors that can delay confirmation
- Inserting the date of card issuance instead of the date of obtaining the permit.
- Cropped, blurry or reflective photos.
- Expired permit or identity card.
- Name different from the one entered in the reservation.
- Declaration of a main driver who will not be present at the pick-up.
- Skipping the additional driver.
- Choosing a no-deposit protection even though the profile is not eligible.
Check eligibility before travel
The safest thing is to fill in the real data and send the requested documents as soon as possible. An agent checks the reservation and lets you know if any changes are needed.
You can read the explanations about the protections available for car rentals, you can consult the [frequently asked questions](/frequently asked questions) or you can search for a car for your period. Final confirmation is sent only after verification of data and availability.