The decision by some car-hire firms to refuse to rent to people over 75 has been described as "arbitrary and discriminatory" by Age Action Ireland. It has emerged that companies such as Avis and Budget do not hire cars to people over 75, while Hertz operates restrictions for people aged between 76 and 79.
Those drivers must not have had an accident in the previous five years, and also need a doctor's certificate and insurance certificate. The hire companies say the age restriction is stipulated by their insurance companies.
Mr Dermot Carberry, Avis sales and marketing manager, said it was outside the control of Avis. "Obviously insurance companies must believe that these people are a higher risk. There's not a lot we can do about it," he said. He said the company did not receive many complaints.
A Hertz spokeswoman said the company seldom received complaints from older drivers. "Most people are aware of the policy, or discuss it at the time of reservation." The Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) said yesterday it was up to the insurance companies to formulate their own conditions.
However, if people had problems with insurance, they should contact the IIF helpline (01-676 1943), a spokesman said.
Most international car-hire companies take out insurance from overseas companies. An insurance industry source here said car-hire companies negotiated their insurance deals, so it was not fair to blame the insurance companies for excluding older drivers. Hibernian Insurance provides insurance for some car-hire groups but said yesterday it never discriminated against older people. The exclusion was strongly criticised by Age Action Ireland, which campaigns for the rights of older people. "To judge people by their chronological age is a huge mistake," said Mr Paul Murray, Age Action spokesman.
"There are people at 75 who are extraordinarily active while some 45-year-olds are beginning to puff and shudder, he said.
"We strongly object to a blanket ban like this. To use age as a barrier is arbitrary and discriminatory." He said research on the driving ability of older people had brought forward recommendations that they should be encouraged to drive rather than excluded.
There is no upper age limit on drivers in the State, but from the age of 70 applications for a licence must be accompanied by a doctor's certificate.
