It is almost impossible to find a person who does not like to travel, and when it comes to visiting a foreign country, one of the best ways to explore it is to rent a car. Having our own vehicle means more freedom and the easiest exploring various places and hidden gems of a certain country. Renting a vehicle is, in most cases, an easy thing, but there are different rules in different states, so it is crucial to do the research before traveling in order to avoid any inconveniences. If you want to travel to Europe, continue reading since we will explain everything you need to know if you want to rent a car in the text below.
1. Find a reliable company
The first thing you should do after you decide to rent a vehicle is to do the research and find a reliable company. There are a lot of them on the market, and although it is always nice to support smaller companies, it is not a good idea when traveling to a foreign country. Instead of that, it is much better to pick a bigger company with many satisfied clients that guarantee you will get the best possible service. Doing the research is a must, and the best idea is to read different company reviews and find out more about the company from their users’ experiences. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of time, and if you are in a hurry for useful information, click here.
2. It is necessary to ask for an automatic vehicle
It can be a little odd to American people, but most vehicles that can be found around Europe have manual transmissions. Of course, it is possible to find the automatic one, but we recommend asking in time so they can find you the right car. Some companies charge more for automatic transmission, so be prepared to pay up to 50% more than for the manual one.
3. Check what fuel the vehicle use
The two most common fuels that cars around Europe use are diesel and gasoline, but it is important to know that there are other options, so it is always necessary to ask in time. Putting the wrong fuel will result in not going anywhere, and what is even worse, it can cause damage to the engine, so we can end up paying much more than we planned to repair them. Besides that, there is a slight difference in driving them, which can cause trouble for inexperienced drivers who are not familiar with that, which means it is better to ask before making the final decision.
4. Understand the age limits
Different countries in Europe have different rules, but in most of them, it is possible to get a driving license once you turn eighteen. Getting the license and renting the car are not the same, and although it is possible to rent it for people who have 18 years, it is most likely that they will need to pay some extra charges and take extra insurance.
The reason for that is simple – renting companies sees new drivers as riskier and want to protect them from their mistakes. A similar situation is with drivers over 70 in some countries, and most companies will require extra insurance for their vehicles before signing a contract.
5. Driving outside the country’s borders
Exploring Europe by car is probably the best way to see everything, but driving outside the borders of a country where we have rented a vehicle can become a real nightmare for unprepared people. Waiting at borders can last more than half of the day during the peak season, and some countries will require special documents, depending on the one you are coming from. The biggest problem is that getting those documents as a foreigner can be impossible or too difficult and time-consuming, which can affect your entire vacation. The most popular document is the so-called green card, which is used in many countries and represents proof that the vehicle has insurance. The easiest way to get it is to tell the company you plan to visit other countries and ask them to get you a green card.
6. Bring the necessary documents
Okay, it is obvious you will need a passport to enter any country in Europe, but what many people forget is to bring it with them to the rental company. If the reservation is already made before, you will need a confirmation number to show in the company and prove it, a credit card, a passport to prove your identity, and of course, a driver’s license. Do not be surprised if they ask you to show them the International Drivers Permit, since it represents a driver’s license translated into more than ten languages and contains our photograph. There is no need to worry about getting one since the whole process can be finished online in a few days, and it does not cost more than $20, so it is always better to bring it with you, just in case.
7. Getting a vignette
It is almost certain that you will use the highway to move around the country, so make sure that the car has a vignette, or it can result in paying huge tickets. Paying taxes for using the highway is normal in every country, but the prices and the payment system can vary from one country to another. However, the most common is buying a sticker at a gas station or at the border, which represents proof that the taxes are paid. If you want to drive the car just around the country, it will probably already has the vignette, but be careful when crossing borders and buy it when you enter another country. You can avoid the tiresome process by simply renting a car. For instance, if you want to visit Iceland by land, you can simply rent a car. The first thing you should do is research and find a reliable company. With Go Car Rental Iceland, you can select a wide range of rental options and get emergency assistance 24 hours a day.
8. Drive carefully
There is no need to mention that the best advice we can give you is to drive carefully and keep everyone safe since our lives are the most valuable things we have. Besides that, violent rides and parking in spots where it is forbidden will result in paying tickets, which will surely spoil your vacation.