The Equality Authority has welcomed a recent settlement involving age restrictions in car hire. In May 2006, Br. Anthony White rented a car at Dublin Airport. Br. White was told that because he was over the age of 70 he would have to pay an “age surcharge” of €25 per day, an increase of 33% on the normal rental cost. He also learned that on his next visit to Ireland he would be considered not eligible to rent a vehicle because he would be over the age of 75.
Br. White had held a Heavy Vehicle Licence in Australia for over 50 years and was driving 40-50,000km per year at the time. Br. White raised the issues in the first place with the company, Irish Car Rentals Limited. Later, when he did not receive any satisfactory response, he contacted the Equality Authority for advice. The Equality Authority has been in negotiation with Irish Car Rentals and the company has as a consequence changed its policies and practices as follows:-
- the blanket ban on drivers over 75 years of age has been removed
- the automatic daily surcharge for drivers over 70 years of age has been abolished
- a safety assessment form has been introduced. This form takes due and proper account of individual drivers’ health, driving experience and existing motor insurance policy.
Welcoming the settlement, Niall Crowley CEO of the Equality Authority said: “The use of lower and upper age limits to govern access to insurance products and financial and other services is a widespread problem. Age limits exclude people without any consideration of their individual circumstances. This settlement represents another step in eradicating the exclusion of older people by means of age limits. All car hire companies should urgently review their current policies and practices and remove any remaining age limits to ensure that they comply with the Equal Status Acts”.
Br. White a Christian Brother who lives in Australia, has stated that he is very pleased with the outcome of this case.
Irish Car Rentals have also stated that they are pleased with the outcome of the case and have noted that the new system is working well.
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