If you're under 25 and planning to rent a car in North Macedonia, there are a few things to know before you book. Most car rental companies — both international chains and local operators — apply a young driver surcharge for drivers aged 21–24. The rules on minimum age, documentation, and which vehicles are available to younger drivers vary by operator. This guide explains exactly what to expect when renting with Relax Rent a Car as a young driver.
Minimum Age for Car Rental in North Macedonia
The legal minimum age to rent a car in North Macedonia is 21 years. Drivers aged 18, 19, or 20 cannot rent a car in the country — this is a national regulation, not a company policy, and no operator can waive it.
Drivers aged 21–24 can rent but are subject to a young driver surcharge (see below).
Drivers aged 25 and over pay standard rates with no age supplement.
Licence requirement: You must hold a valid driving licence for at least 1 year before the rental date, regardless of age. A licence obtained less than 12 months ago is not accepted, even at age 25.
Young Driver Surcharge
Our young driver surcharge for renters aged 21–24 is €10 per day.
This is added to your rental total and applies for every day of the rental period.
Example: A 23-year-old renting for 7 days at €22/day base rate (Hyundai i10 Automatic in low season):
- Base rental: €22 × 7 = €154
- Young driver surcharge: €10 × 7 = €70
- Total before insurance: €224
Compared to international chains: International operators at Skopje Airport typically charge €10–15/day for young driver surcharges. Our rate is at the lower end of the industry standard.
Which Vehicles Are Available to Young Drivers (21–24)
Most vehicles in our fleet are available to young drivers with the standard surcharge. There is one restriction:
Available to 21–24 year olds:
- Hyundai i10 Automatic (economy)
- Opel Corsa Automatic
- Volkswagen Polo (compact)
- Peugeot 301 Automatic
- Dacia Jogger 7 Seats
- Peugeot Rifter 7 Seats
Age restriction (25+ only):
- Dacia Duster 4x4 Diesel — minimum age 25 for 4WD vehicles. This applies across the industry due to the higher mechanical demands of off-road driving and the higher cost of repair if damaged.
If your itinerary includes challenging mountain roads or winter driving requiring a 4x4, you will need a driver aged 25 or over as the lead driver.
Documentation for Young Drivers
Same requirements as any renter, plus:
- Valid driving licence — minimum 1 year old at the date of rental. Both EU/UK licences and international licences are accepted.
- Passport — required alongside the licence for identity verification.
- Booking confirmation — have your email confirmation ready.
- Payment card — for any extras or insurance upgrades added at pickup.
If your licence was issued recently (less than 12 months): We cannot accept it regardless of your age. Contact us before booking if you have any questions about your specific licence date.
Insurance for Young Drivers
The standard insurance options apply to young drivers at the same rates:
| Option | Daily cost | Your excess |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party only (included) | €0 | Full vehicle value |
| CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) | €7/day | €200 |
| Full insurance (zero excess) | €15/day | €0 |
Our recommendation for young drivers: Consider adding CDW at minimum. The €200 excess is manageable; paying full vehicle value for a collision is not. Full insurance at €15/day eliminates all excess and is worth considering for any driver on unfamiliar mountain roads.
Young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in minor incidents (kerb scrapes, parking damage) rather than serious accidents — CDW covers exactly this type of damage. See our car rental insurance guide for the full breakdown.
Tips for Young Drivers on a Budget
1. Choose the economy automatic for the best value. The Hyundai i10 Automatic starts from €22/day. After the €10 young driver surcharge, the daily total is €32 — still below what most international chains charge for similar cars without any surcharges.
2. Book the full rental period upfront. Weekly rates (D7) are lower per day than daily rates. A 7-day booking is almost always cheaper than 7 separate day bookings. Check the long-term rental guide for how weekly pricing works.
3. Skip the GPS add-on. Google Maps works well throughout North Macedonia, including mountain routes, even in areas with weak signal (download offline maps before arrival). There is no need to pay a daily GPS rental fee.
4. Add an additional driver to share the surcharge. If you are travelling with another young driver who also wants to drive, adding them as an additional driver costs €2/day — far cheaper than two separate rentals. The young driver surcharge applies once (to the primary renter), not per driver.
5. Compare your total against the train/taxi alternative. Skopje to Ohrid by bus: 3–3.5 hours, €8–12 one way. Taxi from SKP to city centre: €15–20. A rental car at €32/day (all-in) gives you complete freedom vs. public transport schedules for roughly the same daily spend if you're making multiple stops.
Common Questions from Young Drivers
"Can someone else pay for the car if I drive it?" The credit/debit card used for payment must belong to the primary driver named on the contract. You cannot have a parent or friend pay for a rental you will be driving — this is a standard requirement across all rental companies.
"Can I take the car to Greece, Serbia, or Kosovo?" Cross-border travel requires pre-arranged Green Card insurance documentation and must be declared at booking. Young driver status does not affect cross-border availability, but the cross-border insurance adds to the rental cost. See the cross-border driving guide.
"What if I have points on my licence?" Minor points (speed camera fines in your home country) do not affect rental eligibility. A suspended or revoked licence is not accepted. When in doubt, bring your licence and let us verify it at pickup.
"Is there a deposit?" For bookings with CDW or full insurance, no deposit hold is required for online reservations. Pay on arrival at pickup.
Recommended Itinerary for Young Travellers
Young travellers typically want to cover maximum ground in minimum time. A 5-day road trip from Skopje Airport covers the highlights:
- Day 1: Land, collect car at SKP, Skopje (Old Bazaar, Kale Fortress)
- Day 2: Drive to Ohrid (3 hours), old town, lake swim
- Day 3: St. Naum Monastery, Galičica mountain road to Prespa Lake
- Day 4: Mavrovo National Park (2 hours from Ohrid), submerged church, hiking
- Day 5: Return to Skopje, Matka Canyon afternoon, SKP for evening flight
Total driving: approximately 600 km. Fuel cost at current prices: €50–60 for a small petrol car.
See our 3-day itinerary for a tighter version, or the 7-day full itinerary if you have a week.
Book online at Relax Rent a Car: Browse available vehicles — final price shown with all taxes and young driver surcharge applied where applicable before you confirm.
Related: Car rental insurance explained | Budget car rental guide | 10 tips to save money on car rental | Long-term rental rates | 3-day itinerary from SKP
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age to rent a car at Skopje Airport? The minimum age is 21. Drivers aged 21–24 pay a young driver surcharge (age surcharge) on top of the base rental rate. The surcharge is applied per rental day and is included in the total shown before you confirm your booking. Drivers 25 and older pay no age surcharge.
How much is the young driver surcharge in North Macedonia? The exact surcharge is shown in your booking summary before confirmation — it varies by vehicle category and rental duration. Budget and economy cars carry a lower surcharge than SUVs and larger vehicles. The surcharge is displayed transparently as a separate line item alongside the base rate, so you see the full cost before committing.
Can a 21-year-old rent an SUV or 4x4 in North Macedonia? Yes. Young drivers can rent any available vehicle category, including SUV rental options like the Dacia Duster. The age surcharge applies regardless of vehicle type, but there is no categorical restriction. For mountain or cross-border driving, the surcharge is often worth paying given the terrain.
Do I need an International Driving Permit as a young driver? The IDP requirement depends on your nationality, not your age. EU licence holders under 25 do not need an IDP. Non-EU licence holders (US, UK, Australian, Canadian, etc.) are strongly recommended to carry an IDP alongside their national licence, regardless of age — this applies to all drivers, not just those under 25.
Is it worth renting a car as a young driver for cross-border trips? Yes — North Macedonia's neighboring countries (Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro) are accessible within 2–4 hours by car, and public transport connections are limited for many destinations. The young driver surcharge adds a fixed cost per day, but for routes like Skopje to Ohrid (3 hours), Kosovo (1.5 hours), or Greece (2.5 hours), a rental car gives flexibility that buses and taxis cannot match.
