Renting a car in a foreign country
Most of our land-based travel involves renting a car in a foreign country at some point. Even if we go on a group tour we tend to go ahead or stay afterwards and do a little independent exploration. We have learned a thing or two about renting cars in foreign countries and our experiences can help you.
Things to consider in advance of renting a car:
- It can be difficult and more expensive in foreign countries to rent cars with automatic transmissions so if you can drive a manual transmission plan on doing just that.
- An exception we make is in countries where they drive “on the wrong side of the road” which for us is the left side. In that case we try to rent automatics because our brains are busy not running us (or others) off the road, into pedestrians, other cars and wildlife. We don’t have the extra mental capacity to also be shifting with “the wrong hand”.
- In the U.S. most rental cars are now non-smoking but it’s best to clearly specify that in advance. Assume nothing!
- If you plan to be driving from place to place sometimes leaving your luggage in the car while you sightsee, get a car with a trunk (boot) so the luggage can’t be seen. People who live in big cities are used to this sort of precaution but others may not be. Also, don’t get to your destination and then stand there and move your stuff to the trunk so everyone can see what goodies you´re stashing – have it in there ahead of time!
- Find out if an International Driver’s License is required in the country where you will be driving. We can’t find a single website that has that information all consolidated so do a search on the country (or countries) where you will be driving. Basically, if you have one no one will ever ask for it. If you don’t you will probably be the one poor sap who can’t rent their car once they get there or gets thrown in jail for parking 9 inches from a curb without proper driving documentation.
- You can easily get an International Driving Permit in the U.S. at any AAA office even if you aren’t a member. You have to have (or pay them to take) a passport sized photo and show them your driver’s license. For $20 they create a generally useless permit which is only good for one year. We always get them and never need them. Let your risk tolerance be your guide about what you do! (If you can’t go to a AAA office use the link above and download the application and mail it in.)
Things to think about before renting a car in a foreign country
- Know that where you pick up the car can have a significant effect on the price. If you get it at the airport you will probably pay more, maybe a lot more, than if you get it off the airport property. Most rental companies will shuttle you for free to the offsite location. If you literally drive away from the airport you’ll undoubtedly pay extra fees and taxes.
- If you don’t want to get your car when you first land, then go to your hotel and pick the car up when you’re ready to use it. But before you reserve it do a Google maps check to be sure the company has a pickup location that’s convenient to your hotel so you don’t run up a giant taxi bill going to get the car.
- Very important thing to remember in European and other countries that close in mid-afternoon for siestas: Know the days and hours of the location you plan to use. Many close for 2 to 3 hours in mid-afternoon and if you’re planning to pick up or return your car then you can be in for a rude surprise. Call the office to check their hours; websites are notoriously unreliable.
- If you plan to pick up your car at one location and return it to another location you will almost always incur an extra fee. You will generally also incur an extra fee for each additional driver. (In some cases you can avoid this by being a member of the rental company’s loyalty program.)
- If you are dropping the car off in another country the fees can be so high you would be better off turning it in right before you leave Country A and then renting another car in Country B. (Sometimes a quick train ride can save you a fortune.) Also, not all companies allow you to take their cars across borders.
- If you are only planning to get a car for one day it can be easiest to just rent it through your hotel. They almost always either have a relationship with a car company or they may have a concierge who can help you. Remember to tell him/her what your requirements are before the car is delivered!
Do your rental car research
- Before leaving home call your credit card company and ask what insurance coverage (if any) they provide in the country where you will be renting the car. Many people assume they are covered and most are right, but not all. Some countries aren’t covered by any of the card companies. It used to be the “I” countries; Ireland, Italy and Israel. But don’t make assumptions – call.
- As part of that conversation if you learn that your card insurance will cover you in the country where you’re going get a little more info. Will they provide primary coverage, meaning you have an accident and they pay? Or is it secondary coverage which means you have to first go through your regular automobile insurance company and then the credit card will handle any remaining uncovered balance? We are not insurance experts at all so be sure you understand what the situation is before you decide which credit card to use as some are primary and some are secondary.
- Use a credit card that does not charge you foreign currency conversion fees. Those fees are a massive ripoff and can add considerably to your bill. If your card company does charge the fees, get another card that you use for travel that doesn’t charge the fees.
- Go on one or more of the major travel forums such as Frommer’s or Fodor’s. You register (free), search on the country you’re interested in and post a question seeing what helpful tips others can give you. Other travelers will answer questions about driving at your destination or rental car companies they have had good or bad experiences with. This is well worth doing even if you aren’t all that budget conscious. Just because a company or brand you’re used to is good one place doesn’t always mean they are good at another place. They may be a locally owned franchise, noted for charging people later for damage they didn’t cause or all kinds of possible delights or better yet, they may be great!
- Now do a Google search for “car rentals in Delhi” (if you’re out of your mind) or whatever location where you plan to rent the car. Almost always one of the options will be a consolidator who represents several different companies and will give you price comparisons.
- For example, if you type in “rental cars Barcelona” this site will come up as an option and will give you prices on at least half a dozen different companies after you enter some basic info (where you want to pick it up and the dates).
- Be sure that whatever company you select does not charge you extra to use a credit card and that they don’t add fees for their services. Unless the only way to get a fabulous rate is to fully prepay, make a reservation that can be cancelled without a penalty.
- Some consolidators let you complete a booking online, others have you submit a form and they respond and the larger ones have toll-free numbers. We often call because we always have a million questions, generally about drop-off fees, and it’s easiest sometimes to ask an actual human being.
- Another thing we do is contact some of the companies mentioned by the consolidator directly to see if there is a fee difference. If there isn’t, or it’s lower, than we book directly with the car company instead of the consolidator. It tends to be easier to handle issues directly rather than through a third-party where everyone says it was the other guy who gave you bad information or whatever.
- Ask if you qualify for any discounts, AARP, AAA, Former Felons Anonymous, etc.
- Be sure you get the quotes in writing; verbal quotes are useless.
- When you make the booking ask if they will be putting a hold on your credit card for the period of the rental. Most do and it seems to hover around the 300 USD level but ask. If it’s an amount that could affect what you have available for spending, then put it on a credit card you don’t plan to use much on the trip.
- This can be unnerving but they often take the card they’re putting the hold on and make an impression of it on an old-fashioned credit card charge slip and have you sign it. Then they give it back and/or tear it up when you return the car. We don’t like that at all but haven’t had problems with it (yet). For this purpose the charge will never go through unless something bad happens so it doesn’t matter whether or not you use the credit card that doesn’t have currency conversion fees.
- Print out your reservation and take it with you when you go to pick up the car (or at least be able to retrieve the email on your phone). We always compare and have found discrepancies that were not in our favor but the printout always prevailed.
When you pick up your rental car:
- Walk around it with a representative from the car company and be sure they carefully notate and you both initial for any pre-existing scratches, scrapes or other damage. We’re so paranoid we even take pictures of the damage. That also seems to send a “we aren’t screwing around about this” signal that makes us feel better and probably amuses or annoys them!
- Be sure to take a picture or write down the make and model and license plate number. The first time you park the car and leave it somewhere you will come back and see that every car in the lot is a small white Fiat. You will then waste time and have a big fight trying to determine which one is yours. It won’t be the kind of fight that leads to good make-up sex so you’re better off just knowing which car is yours.
- Even better, when you park it take some pictures of the way you walk into town so you can retrace your steps later if you’re directionally challenged like two sisters we know.
- Remember not to leave obvious signs that it’s a rental and you are tourists. Stash your fanny pack and sneakers, maps, the contract, etc. out of site.
Returning your rental car
- Some companies will come pick it up and we love those companies. But generally you will be taking it to one of their offices. We know this is redundant but check the hours before you go as the hours you expect in your country may not be anything like the hours in the country where you are. They may close in the afternoon for a siesta, not be open at all on Sundays, etc. so know before you go. The hotel will often call for you so you don’t have to pay for the call.
- Once more, at the car rental agency, go over the car to prove you didn’t damage it or to fess up if you did. Get a receipt and keep it until your credit card statement arrives and everything matches up.
This whole write-up may have made you think that renting a car is a huge hassle. It usually isn’t, we just want you to know the steps to follow so you don’t have unexpected problems or pay more than necessary.
One more thing that can be good to know is if they have any particularly odd traffic laws (“odd” being laws you don’t have in your country, of course). In France it’s illegal and very heavily fined to have a radar detector activated on your GPS. You can ask these things when you pick up the car (if you know the language) and people in the travel forums may also alert you.
Drive safely and have fun (but don’t speed – cameras that catch you and send you a ticket later and now ubiquitous).