Rental car International

By Rick Steves

Every nation possesses its own accept who can drive — and who are able to hire — a motor vehicle. Follow these guidelines to make sure you'll have the ability to use the wheel at your destination.

Passports, Driver's Licenses, and Overseas Driving Permits

Whether you are American or Canadian, your passport and license are typical you need in many countries in europe. However, some nations also require a worldwide Driving allow (IDP). An IDP is an official interpretation of the US license (making it simpler for the cop to write on a ticket). You could get an IDP at the local American vehicle Association or Canadian vehicle Association workplace ($20 plus the cost of two passport-type photographs — OK to carry your personal; does not require AAA account). AAA is authorized by the US state dept. to issue licenses; prevent con musicians peddling overpriced, fake intercontinental permits.

You could hear contradictory informative data on wherever you want an IDP. People who offer all of them say you ought to have all of them almost everywhere. Individuals who rent automobiles say you will need them virtually nowhere. People who drive rental automobiles say the IDP is overrated, but could come in handy as a complement to your passport and license. It's a good idea to have one in the event that you'll be operating in Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, or Spain — countries where you're technically required to carry a permit, since you could possibly be fined if found without one. If all goes really, you will likely not be asked to demonstrate this permit — but it is essential if you wind up working with the authorities.

Age Limits

Minimal and maximum age restricts for leasing a motor vehicle differ by country, sort of car, and rental organization. Younger renters will get caught with additional prices, eg becoming expected to buy additional insurance or spend a surcharge of $15–40 a day (fortunately, you can find usually optimum surcharge limitations). Most businesses wont lease a car to some body under 21 (with a few exceptions, with respect to the nation and style of automobile), but those people who are at the very least 25 yrs . old should have not a problem.

Motorists over 70 could have difficulty leasing in Czech Republic, britain, Greece, Northern Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey; drivers over 80 could have difficulty in Denmark. If you are over 69, maybe you are needed to spend extra to lease a vehicle into the Republic of Ireland, in which the formal age restriction is 75 (however some local rental businesses will lease to those many years 76–79 if they provide extensive proof of health and safe driving). If you should be considered too-young or too-old, consider leasing, which has less stringent age constraints. (if you should be traveling to Ireland, the closest leasing choice is in London.)

Crossing Borders

As Europe's interior boundaries fade, your car or truck includes the paperwork you need to drive anywhere you want throughout most of European countries (check when booking). But if you're going to a nation in far-eastern or southeastern European countries — especially one which continues to have shut boundaries (eg Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, or Montenegro), you may want to pay additional — for leasing it self and/or for additional insurance coverage. State your travel plans in advance into rental organization once you guide. Some companies may have limitations on eastward excursions due to the higher occurrence of automobile thefts (like, you are able to only just take cheaper automobiles, and you'll need to pay extra insurance costs; these limitations and charges are not enforced if you should be renting). When you cross these borders, maybe you are expected to exhibit proof of insurance (called a “green card”). Ask your car-rental organization if you want any other documents for crossing the borders on the schedule. It really is a bad idea to take your rental car everywhere which is prohibited by the agreement, as doing so voids any insurance coverage.

Some companies allow you to take a rental automobile from Britain to your Continent or to Ireland, but be ready to pay large surcharges and additional drop-off fees. If you wish to drive in the Continent as well as in Britain and/or Ireland, it'll oftimes be less expensive to lease split automobiles each time, thanks to the large price of using automobiles on ferries (between Ireland and Britain, or between either location plus the Continent) or crossing beneath the English Channel via the expensive Eurotunnel automobile train.