Does the thought of renting a car in Europe just about scare you half to death? Well, if so, you’re not alone! I felt that way too until I finally took the plunge and just went for it. And guess what? It was WAY easier than I ever imagined it would be!
It was so easy, in fact, that I have rented a car on many of my international trips ever since.
Here are my 15 top tips for renting a car in Europe:
1. Conducting the search
My first concern about renting a car in Europe may be yours, too: how do I find a rental car company? Well, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that many U.S. rental car companies have branches in Europe: think Avis, Hertz, Budget, etc. You can search for rental cars in European destinations on those individual company’s websites or on U.S. based consolidator websites like Kayak, Expedia, and Skyscanner.
There are, of course, European rental car companies and websites, too. Two of the most popular brands are Sixt and Europecar. One of the best consolidators, in my opinion, is AutoEurope.
What I like to do is conduct a quick search on several different sites and then compare pricing to find the best deal.
Here are links to some of my favorite places to search:
TIP: You can find some outstanding deals with small “unheard of” car companies, but always keep in mind that “cheap” can sometimes come with a price.
2. Consider renting from “local” or “city” locations
Sometimes you get good deals at airport and train stations. Sometimes you do not. When you’re conducting your search, look for prices from major transportation hubs AND compare them to “local” shops in town. Sometimes the prices can be substantially different.
For example, the first time I rented a car in Europe, I found that renting a car from the train station would have cost me $100 more than renting one from an in-town local shop. I obviously opted for the local shop. I just walked the 15 minutes from my Airbnb to get to the local shop, which would have been about the same amount of time to get back to the train station anyway. So it was really a win-win! Check out my full story here!
3. Choosing your car
There are two big differences between renting a car in Europe and the U.S.
First, is size. Cars in Europe are generally much smaller than those in the U.S. Economies can be as miniscule as Fiats and Minis. If you’re traveling alone or with one travel partner, this isn’t a big deal. However, if you’re traveling with several people or with a lot of luggage, you’ll need to definitely opt for an upgraded-class car. Economy is definitely not going to cut it! Keep in mind that even “small SUVs” in Europe are not going to be as big as the same class of car in the U.S.
Second, is transmission. Manuals, aka stick shifts, are almost a thing of the past in the U.S.—this is a fact which I find extremely sad! I’ve had a manual transmission ever since I was 16 years old and I’m heartbroken that I may not be able to easily find a manual to replace my 2000 Mazda 626 when it finally bites the dust. Haha. That being said, manuals in Europe are the norm. Especially in the car rental world.
So, if you cannot drive a manual, you need to verify in advance that you are renting a car with an automatic transmission. The autobahn or streets of Paris are not the time to be learning how to drive a manual. Automatics are considered specialty cars, so expect to pay more to rent them than you would a manual.
4. Get an international drivers license, before you leave home
Many countries in Europe will allow you to drive with just your U.S. drivers license. However, some countries require you to have an international drivers permit (IDP). According to AutoEurope’s website, you’ll need an IDP in the following countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Spain.
What are IDPs? They are small booklets in multiple languages that verify that you are eligible to operate a motorized vehicle. Please note: You must already have a drivers license from your state before you can get an IDP.
How do I get an IDP? They are pretty simple to get. You can just pop down to your local AAA office with a passport photo, your valid U.S. drivers license, and they’ll set you up with an IDP for about $20. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes. These can also double as extra identification should you need one while on your travels. NOTE: You do NOT need to be a AAA member to get an IDP!
Beware: They Expire! IDPs are usually only valid for one year.
5. Learn the rules of the road
Of course, it’s not necessary to take a complete drivers ed course again just to drive in another country. However, it certainly is a good idea to take some time to get acquainted with some of the rules of the road and the signage you’ll encounter on city streets and highways. You don’t want the first time you’ve seen a specific road sign to be as you zip past it at 80 km per hour. Not a good idea.
This page is a gold mine of information on international road signs. Check it out!
And another top tip: Do not turn right on red! This is illegal in many places in Europe unless a sign specifically authorizes it.
6. Parking Tips
As in the U.S., you’ll find street parking, garage parking, and commuter lots. Here are a few tips for each one:
Street Parking
- Notice the Street Markings. Colored lines on the road surface indicate the type of parking that is available.
- White is free.
- Orange/Yellow is handicapped or locals only.
- Blue is paid.
- Look for signs. They will tell you WHEN and WHO is allowed to park in this area.
- Pay at Metered Machines. In order to pay, you’ll likely need to find the automated pay stations on the street where you parked. Once you’ve paid, place the timed ticket you just purchased on the front dash of the car.
- Parking Clocks. Some countries (mainly Germanic ones) require you to use a parking clock on your dash to show what time you arrived at that spot. These blue discs are found inside the dash of your car, or you can buy one in a gas station or tobacco shop. Just set the time and make sure you only stay in that spot for the time allowed (which are indicated on the parking signs on that street).
Garages
- Find these by looking for a big blue P on a sign.
- It’s best to look for garages outside of the city center since they’re easier to get in and out of!
Commuter Lots
- These are park-n-ride lots.
- They may have free shuttles to the downtown area or pubic transportation that requires a ticket. You can buy the tickets in automated machines at these lots.
TOP TIP: How to remember where you parked your car in a new city? Take a photo of your car with the location stamp on. That way, you’ll know exactly where you left it and can use that address to GPS your way back to your destination. Also, be sure to take a picture of the station you get on if you take public transportation from your car.
7. Tolls, Vignettes, and Limited Traffic Zones
In Europe, some highways are free, some require you to pay at a toll station, and others require you to have a digital vignette on your windshield. Click on this link to read more specific information about each.
8. Bring along hands-free devices
Many places in Europe require drivers to use hands-free devices while driving. You can bring one with you, or you can try to DIY it on the fly.
Things to look for if bringing a hands-free device from home:
- Preferably lightweight and small. I travel with only a small backpack when I travel, so anything that takes up too much real estate in my bag is not going make the cut.
- Make sure it won’t damage the vehicle and will work in most vehicles. You don’t want to get slapped with some kind of fine for leaving scratches on the dash.
If you’d rather try to DIY one, here are some creative links to give that a go. Advice: Try these out in a few types of cars while still at home to make sure they actually work.
- The Fix – A Simple DIY Smartphone Mount
- Free Car Mount in 30 Seconds
- The Cheapest and Simplest DIY Cell Phone/GPS Mount in a Car
- 9 Useful DIY Ways to Set Up a Tablet or Smartphone Car Mount
9. Don’t forget chargers
Don’t leave home without a car charger! Your phone is going to drink up a lot of power whilst navigating you from place to place, and getting stuck on the road with a dead phone is definitely no bueno!
This is the type I use. It plugs into the cigarette lighter and has a USB-C end. It’s also a fast charger which I love.
Type-C Car Charger link
10. Driving on the “other side” of the road
A big misconception about Europe is that everyone drives on the different side of the road than we do in the U.S. That’s actually not true of the continent at all. Only the UK (the British Isles) drives on the opposite side of the road. Everyone else in Europe drives on the same side of the road as the U.S.
One thing to note: don’t call it the “wrong” side of the road. When we say we drive on the “right” side its because we’re literally driving on the right (not left) side of the road. So, don’t make it into a value judgment about which side of the road is correct or incorrect, just be precise and say that the UK drives on the “opposite side,” “other side” or “left side” of the road.
Keep in mind, you aren’t just driving on the opposite side of the road, you’re also driving on the opposite side of the car! And if you have a manual transmission, that means you are also shifting with the opposite hand, too.
So, now how do you wrap your mind around the idea that you need to drive on the opposite side of the road? Especially since when you’re doing so, everything in your brain screams at you “head on collision!” Click on this link for my top tips.
11. Dropping off a car after hours? Find out the policies in advance.
Every car rental place is going to have different rules about what you do if you need to drop off the car after hours. Make sure you find that out before you leave the rental shop. When I rented my first car in Europe, I needed to drop off the car after hours. It took some back-and-forth translating through Google Translate to finally get that across to the employee. It was a good thing I made that clear. Their policy was to leave the car anywhere on the street in front of the rental car office. Then, I needed to take a 15 minute walk to a hotel across town and drop off the keys with the hotel clerk. When I’ve rented cars in the past that had to be dropped off after hours, all I had to do was drop the keys in a lockbox at the rental car office. I would have been in a world of hurt had I not known these unique policies ahead of time. After all, if the rental car office is closed, who was I going to ask?
Another piece of advice when you return a car after hours is to take detailed photos of the vehicle. Take pictures of all sides, and even inside the car. A video is even a good idea. The reason? Well, you want to have evidence to prove the condition of the car when you returned it. That way no one can come back to you later on with fines or fees claiming that you did any kind of damage to the car. Make sure your location and date stamp metadata is turned on for the photos because that will prove when and where you took the images. In addition, I’d also snap a photo of the dash panel to show that the gas tank was completely full when I dropped it off as well.
12. Understand car essentials—Before you leave the lot!
Don’t just assume that the car you’re renting is just like the one you have at home. Make sure you know how these various car components work before you leave that lot. That way, you can ask questions if needed if you don’t know how to use them (or can’t find them). The very worst time to be looking for the windshield wiper knob is when you’re driving in the pouring rain. Click out this link for a helpful checklist!
13. What if there’s an emergency? Ask hypotheticals in advance.
Heaven forbid you should have something go wrong with your rental car. But if you do, you need to know what to do about it. And knowing ahead of time how to take care of something is a lot easier than in the stress of the moment.
Find out the answers to these questions before you leave the rental car counter:
- Does the rental car agency have a 24-hour number to call in emergency situations? If not, what do they suggest you do if you have an emergency after hours? Do they offer any kind of roadside assistance?
- What happens if you get into an accident, what is their policy? Getting into an accident in a rental car is not fun. Read my experience here.
Guess what? I just now found out while I was writing this post that AAA actually has agreements with auto clubs in other countries, so there’s a chance that you’ll be able to get some (if not all) of your AAA benefits while traveling abroad! So awesome! Check out this article here for more information: Exchange AAA
14. Should you buy rental insurance?
To buy or not to buy, that is the question! When renting a car in the U.S., your own car insurance generally covers any issues with a rental car. However, this is not the case with international rentals.
In Europe, most car rentals automatically come with liability insurance. This type of insurance covers accident-related damage to other people and other people’s property—but it does not cover the car itself.
What kind of insurance covers the car?
- Credit cards Often the credit card you rented the car with will come with coverage. Look into this! This is often the least expensive route. Keep in mind that if you purchase coverage from the rental car company, your credit card will not cover damages.
- CDW The car rental company will offer a CDW which stands for collision damage waver. This is the coverage the rental car company will try to sell you at the counter. It is often the most expensive option. However, good CDWs will allow you to basically walk away from any damage, but you’ll want to check to make sure if there are any deductibles and if so how much they are.
- Travel Insurance Travel insurance will sometimes offer rental car coverage. Look into this!
Rick Steves covered this topic in great detail. Check out his article here.
15. Fueling up—Getting petrol in Europe
Getting fuel in Europe is basically exactly like getting it in the U.S. You pull up to a gas station, pop open the tank, swipe your credit card, choose the fuel type, and fill up. You’ll just need to verify the type of fuel the car takes. Ask at the rental car counter before you leave!
Keep in mind that fuel in Europe is not priced per gallon, but rather by the liter. How does that compare? There are approximately 3.8 liters in a gallon. So if the price says 1.77 Euros per liter, that’s really about 6.70 per gallon. See why it’s such a great idea to rent those tiny fuel-efficient autos on your European vacation?
FAQ: Tips for Renting a Car In Europe
Q1: Why should I consider renting a car in Europe? Renting a car in Europe might seem intimidating, but it's easier than you might think. The experience can enhance your travel and provide convenience and flexibility during your trip.
Q2: How can I find a rental car company in Europe? You can find rental car companies on their individual websites or through U.S.-based consolidator websites like Kayak, Expedia, and Skyscanner. European brands like Sixt and Europcar are popular, and AutoEurope is a recommended consolidator.
Q3: What are some tips for finding the best rental car deal? Conduct searches on multiple websites to compare prices. Consider both major transportation hubs and local shops for rental location, as prices can vary significantly.
Q4: What are the differences in car sizes and transmissions in Europe? Cars in Europe are generally smaller than in the U.S., and manual transmissions are common. If you need an automatic transmission, be prepared to pay extra. European SUVs are smaller than their U.S. counterparts.
Q5: Do I need an international driver's license to rent a car in Europe? Many European countries accept a U.S. driver's license, but some require an International Driving Permit (IDP). You can obtain an IDP at your local AAA office with a passport photo and a valid U.S. driver's license.
Q6: What should I know about driving rules and road signs in Europe? Familiarize yourself with local road signs and driving rules to ensure safe travel. Avoid turning right on red unless indicated. Check out online resources for international road sign information.
Q7: How should I handle parking in Europe? Pay attention to street parking markings and signage. Different colors indicate different rules. Use automated pay stations for metered parking. In some places, parking clocks are required to show your arrival time. Take photos to remember your parking location.
Q8: What about tolls, vignettes, and limited traffic zones? Different countries have varying toll systems. Research tolls and vignettes, and learn about restricted traffic zones in certain cities.
Q9: Should I bring hands-free devices and chargers? Hands-free devices are often required while driving in Europe. Bring a hands-free device and a car charger for your phone to ensure you stay connected and comply with local laws.
Q10: Do I need to adjust to driving on the "other side" of the road in Europe? Most European countries drive on the same side of the road as the U.S., except for the UK. Be prepared for driving on the opposite side of the car and road if you're in the UK.
Q11: What should I do if I need to drop off a rental car after hours? Understand the drop-off policies of the rental agency before leaving. Take detailed photos of the car's condition, inside and out, for evidence.
Q12: What car essentials should I understand before leaving the rental lot? Familiarize yourself with car components before departing the rental lot. Learn how to use features like windshield wipers and lights to avoid difficulties during your trip.
Q13: What should I know about emergencies and accidents with a rental car? Know the rental agency's emergency contact information, their roadside assistance policy, and the steps to take in case of an accident. Consider AAA's agreements with foreign auto clubs.
Q14: Should I buy rental insurance for a European rental car? Review your credit card's coverage, as it might include rental car insurance. Consider liability insurance and collision damage waiver (CDW) options offered by the rental car agency. Travel insurance might also offer coverage.
Q15: How do I refuel a rental car in Europe? Refueling in Europe is similar to the U.S. Ensure you know the type of fuel the car requires. Keep in mind that fuel is priced per liter, not per gallon.
