At the age of 18 you can fly, rent a hotel and go on vacation by yourself. Unless you are traveling to a major city, however, it’s not as easy to get around once you’ve actually arrived at your destination. Fortunately, you are allowed to rent a car at the age of 21. Though it may be more expensive, you’ll be able to enjoy the major sites and get to where you need to be with little hassle.

Why are the rules more strict? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers under the age of 25 get into more traffic accidents than older drivers. There is more risk for the companies to rent to younger drivers, so they charge more to cover that risk.

Card Rental Requirements

To rent a car, everyone needs a valid driver’s license and insurance. You can purchase insurance through an agency just for the rental and some major credit cards will cover this for you. The car rental company can also check your driving history to make sure you’re a safe driver. Besides that, all you will need is a credit card.

Renting a Luxury Vehicle

Many car rental companies will not allow younger drivers to rent expensive luxury cars with the higher probability of accidents. Fortunately, you can still rent very nice, non-luxury, cars.

Car Rental Laws by State

In New York and Michigan, the rules are less strict. At the age of 18 you can rent a car! The fees are typically much higher, but if you split them with your friends or get a discount, you’ll still be able to travel on a budget.

Renting a Car on a Budget

Car rental companies typically charge high fees to young travelers. These fees can add up quickly, but fortunately Student Advantage offers discounts with three national car rental companies: Dollar Rent a Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car. With a Student Advantage^® Discount Card, college students can save up to 25% on can rentals and enjoy traveling on a budget!

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) programs (also know as Alternative Break) are becoming a trend at the nation’s colleges and universities, enabling students to dedicate their spring break to community service projects. These programs help facilitate transportation to destinations that desperately need assistance from volunteers. Students work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and in issue areas such as education, hunger, disabilities, animal rescue and the environment.

As a coordinator for the ASB program at Boston University I work with 77 other student leaders and over 300 volunteers to plan over 30 trips this year. The trip that I am leading this Spring will be working with Project Open Hand, an organization that provides meal and nutrition services to people suffering from chronic illnesses. We leave tomorrow morning for Atlanta and I cannot wait to work with and support the Atlanta community!

Service trips can make a huge impact on your life, trust me, I have gone on six. Through the Alternative Spring Break program at BU, I’ve made friends, had fun, explored a new city and helped people in need. I suggest that anyone who is interested do some research and learn about the opportunities that their school offers. Some of the colleges and universities offering Alternative Spring Break include:

• American University
• Colorado University
• Georgetown University (CSJ)
• Mercyhurst College (The Office of Service Learning)
• Suffolk University (S.O.U.L.S.)
• Trinity University
• UMASS Amherst (UMass Civic Interfaith Alliance)
• University of North Alabama
• University of Vermont
• And many, many more…

Many fellow college students will be making a difference in the world and their communities. What are you up to this Spring Break?

Every year what I look forward to most in my second semester of college is spring break. As a graduating senior, I’ve done spring break in Europe, the Bahamas, and here in the states. I now consider myself an expert on doing spring break on a budget; in fact, I have been able to save a lot of money using my Student Advantage Discount Card.

For those of you planning your next, last or first spring break, I have the following pieces of advice to pass on:

Book early. The earlier you book your hotel, flight or resort packages the more you will save, not to mention the stress relief you get once you’ve finished planning. I always book at least a month ahead of time and I try to get as many friends to book with me; more people mean more discounts. Plus, Cardholders get 10% OFF with Topdeck Travel!

Pack light. This was a lesson that I learned the hard way when I was backpacking through Europe and was charged a ridiculous fee on a discount airline to check just one bag! I suggest buying the appropriate luggage for whatever your travel needs beforehand. Check out the eBags Blog for some great deals and travel tips! Cardholders get an extra 10% OFF plus FREE shipping! Plus, collaborate with friends. If you are traveling in a group, not everyone has to bring one shampoo bottle.

Share food. I saved a ton of money by buying groceries at a local supermarket instead of eating out every night. If your hotel doesn’t have a large refrigerator an easy option that I always stick with is the classic PB&J.

Rent a car. This year, my friends and I plan on renting a car at our destination. This is a cheaper and more convenient way for us to get around rather than paying for taxis every day. If you have a Student Advantage Card, you can save with Alamo Rent A Car, Dollar Rent A Car and National Car Rental.