How to Rent a Car in Europe

Getting off the train or plane and exploring a foreign country by car is one of the best ways to get to know the place you're visiting. Below are a few tips to make that experience run smoothly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Maps
• Car Insurance
• Rental Cars
• Travel Services
• Calendars
• Maps
• Rental cars

1. Make sure you have a valid driver's license. An American license will suffice in western European countries; if you're planning to drive to eastern Europe or elsewhere, obtain an international driver's license before you arrive.

2. Call a travel agency three weeks before your trip and let it know the dates you wish to rent a car, and where you'll want to drive. Since many American car rental agencies have European counterparts, you can easily check rates or availability and book or cancel a reservation online.

3. Book the car, keeping in mind that European rentals are frequently stick-shift. Choose the model, size and dates of your rental.

4. Determine where you wish to pick up and drop off the car. For a fee, which varies widely depending on the country, you can drop the car off at a different location from where you picked it up.

5. Prepay for the car or make a deposit.

6. Review European street signs and driving laws before you get behind the wheel. Be aware that the auto accident fatality rate in Europe is about four times higher than that in the United States.

Tips & Warnings

• Rentals in Europe can be very expensive, especially in Italy, France and Scandinavia. Also remember that a value-added tax of 6 to 33 percent will be added to the cost of the auto rental.
• European cars are often much smaller than American cars; avoid bringing excess luggage.
• Most car rentals in Europe require a minimum age of 25 to rent a car, but this age limit varies by country.
• Parking is often difficult in major cities, and gasoline is about three times the cost of gas in the United States.
• Plan to spend an additional $8 to $20 per day for complete insurance coverage.
• Beware of companies taking advantage of travelers. Look for damage before you take the car, and avoid signing anything you don't understand.
• Authorities can trace parking tickets back to your credit card, so pay a ticket if you get one.

on 11/22/2005 The 3 French auto makers, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen, run a rental car scheme that undercuts the usual big rental car companies. These schemes only operate for rentals of 17 days upward (up to 12 months I believe). It is only available to people with passports from outside the EU.

Compared to other rental companies the rules are freer, eg:drivers can be 18 years of age or over (21 with the usual renters). There is virtually no restriction on countries that you can take the car. Full insurance without excess (deductible) is included. There is a long list of cities/countries where the car can be collected or dropped off. I recently saved about $700 on a 24 day rental where I drove from Rome to Austria, Slovakia, Poland and Germany, dropping off at Frankfurt.

on 11/22/2005 Rent your car via Auto Europe's website. It is relatively easy and it works great. We picked up our car in Siena and dropped it in Padua (right across from the train station).

on 11/22/2005 In the US we're used to a lax check in and check out for the rental car. But my experience in Europe is that they will go over the body of the car with a fine toothed comb when you return it, and if they find anything you didn't mark when you checked it out, bill you heavily. So check the car out closely and be sure to report any dings or scratches.

on 11/22/2005 Always call the police, even if you are involved in only a minor accident. Most European countries recommend this if you are from a foreign country.

on 11/22/2005 When driving with the steering wheel on the right, one way to keep from getting confused is to remember that the driver is always the one closest to the centerline.