Renting a Car in Europe
So you have planned the big European adventure and are grappling with the question of how best to explore Europe. Although there is an excellent public transportation system throughout Europe, if you really want to get a feel for life outside the big European cities and be able to do this at your leisure, the best option is to rent a car. Following are some tips to make the rental experience as carefree and economic as possible.
Photo by Wolfgang Staudt
You will achieve the best rental price by booking in advance. Most of the large multinational rental agencies have branches throughout Europe. You may even be able to secure a cheaper price by renting via a consolidator, however should you have any problems, don’t expect any assistance from the vendor.
Another advantage when dealing with a large company is that there are more choices of branches in which to drop the car back, whether it be intra-city or inter-city. Picking up and dropping off a rental car at different branches within the same country usually does not incur any extra charge. Dropping off a car in a different country can add substantially to costs though, with drop-off fees adding between USD100-300 to the cost.
Also, consider whether your trip will include a ferry crossing as it is quite expensive to take your car and it may be worthwhile renting another car in the country in which you disembark.
Although renting a car in Europe is generally more expensive than renting a similar car in the U.S., it is most economic when you rent by the week with unlimited mileage. In comparison, daily rates are higher and the longer you rent, the lower the daily rate.
Photo by Michael Gray
Depending on where you pick up your car may affect the cost of rental. For example, it is occasionally cheaper to pick up the rental car from a downtown office than at the airport. It is also worth obtaining an International Driving Permit. Even though an International Driving Permit may not be required in all countries, it is recognized in all countries.
Debit cards and cash are almost never accepted in Europe, so make sure you have a credit card with a sufficiently high limit. Make sure that you keep all receipts and vouchers from your reservation. They will be required when picking up the car together with your credit card, driver’s license, and ID. Before taking the car, make sure you check the car carefully to ensure it complies with the condition described on the rental agreement and make sure all data entered is correct upon return the car.
Following the above steps should ensure that at least the car rental aspect of your European trip should be hassle free.
Author bio: The article was written by Hertz, offering short and long term car rental in Israel
Category: Travel Tips
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