Renting a Car in Europe: What you need to know
By Mary M. Alward
Though you can travel Europe by train, it’s great to rent a car for excursions into the country. You won’t need or want the car in large cities because driving is difficult and parking is expensive. Take advantage of excellent transportation systems to save a lot of hassle. Be sure to plan your agenda so you can visit a big city upon arrival and spend a few days there before you pick up your rental car. Once you do pick it up, spend a week touring the countryside and then drop off the car at the airport just before you catch your flight home.
There are many agencies that rent cars throughout Europe. Compare rates between them but be sure you are comparing the same make, model and year. Ask if insurance, taxes and local surcharges are included. Read the fine print and go over it more than once to be sure you know exactly what you are agreeing to. If in doubt, ask questions. If you find a bargain and are unsure of the company, ask a larger well-known company to match that rate. In Europe car rental agencies are very competitive and will often lower the price. Take advantage of this in order to get the best rate possible.
Car rental prices vary from one country to another. Try to book a rental car in a country that has lower rates. Use the Internet to research prices of your destination country.
The size of the car you’ll rent will depend on the number of people in your party. If possible, rent a compact or mid-sized car. They have enough power to be suitable for large, busy highways but are small enough to maneuver well on narrow, winding roads and narrow streets found in the countryside and in small European villages.
Most car rental agencies in Europe allow you to pick up and drop off in the same country with no additional fees. You will pay a hefty fee if you want to drop the car off in another country.
Try to avoid picking your rental car up at the airport. There are often surcharges that apply to the entire car rental time period. Opt to pick up your rental car in a city or town where the surcharge doesn’t apply. Plant to spend a few days there before picking up the rental car to venture into the countryside. There is no surcharge for dropping a car off at an airport.
You will definitely need to purchase car insurance if you’re traveling to Italy. In other countries you may be covered by your credit card company. Never assume. Call your credit card company well in advance to find out exactly which type of insurance they offer in your destination country. In Europe car insurance is not as pricey as it is in North America. It may be to your advantage to purchase insurance so you have complete peace of mind. Be sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what the deductible is on your car rental insurance policy. It varies widely between countries and car rental agencies.
When traveling in Europe you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP.) This is a fully translated copy of your driver’s license and police will ask for it if you are stopped for any reason, including checkpoints. Check the laws in your destination country, but most require it and many car rental agencies want to see it before releasing your rental car.
When you pick up your rental car, be sure to ask what type of gasoline it uses. It may be unleaded, but many European cars burn diesel fuel.
Before you leave the rental agencies lot, be sure to look your car over for windshield and light switches. Check the brakes, wipers and light switches to be certain that everything works. Turn on lights and make sure there is a jack, lug wrench and spare tire included. Does the rental car have a standard transmission? If so, ask the car rental agent to show you how to put the car into reverse. The gear shifts in European cars don’t always show the reverse position.
Beware of offers to upgrade your rental car when you arrive to pick it up. Ask what type of car the upgrade is. If it’s a larger car, politely refuse the offer. In Europe, roads tend to be narrow and parking spaces are small. Accepting a large car could turn your vacation into a nightmare.
If you have a breakdown, notify both the rental agency and the head office of the company that you rented from. If you have an accident, be sure to get a police report to hand in when you return the car.
Local rental agents can sometimes be very abrupt, almost to the point of rudeness. Don’t let this put you off. If you have a question, ask and if you need to be shown how things work, let them know you expect them to show you. It’s all part of the service.
Put all of these tips to work for you if you’re going to be renting a car in Europe to ensure a positive rental experience.
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