Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Dropping your car off in another country ($200-$300 extra)
• Dropping your car off at a different location
• Being under twenty-five
• Having more than one driver
• Tax (10%-30% on top of base price)
• Insurance ($15-$40/day)
• Automatic transmission ($100-$200/week)
• GPS unit
• Theft protection ($10-$30/day)
• City parking ($20-$50/day)
• Airport and train station drop-off fees
HOW TO RENT A CAR FOR THE BEST PRICE
I've found that
AutoEurope.com
and
Europcar.com
have the best prices, but it doesn't hurt to
check the mega travel sites like Kayak, Skyscanner, Expedia, and Travelocity. Additionally, I
also go directly to the major car rental company's websites like Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Budget,
Avis, National, and Alamo to see if I can find a better deal. Like always, booking in advance is
the best way to get the best deal.
One advantage to renting from a large company is that they have multiple locations. Book-
ing from a large company might be smart if you plan on dropping your car off at a different
location than where you picked it up. You'll most likely get charged a fee but the fee might be
worth the hassle of getting back to your pick-up location.
Be aware that
many rental companies are closed on weekends and holidays
(Europeans
have a lot of holidays). The booking website will usually alert you if the location is closed on
your desired day but be sure to double-check.
Learn to drive a stick shift
because automatic transmissions are not common in Europe.
If you absolutely need an automatic, be sure to make reservations weeks in advance and be
prepared to pay a hefty fee.
When you get the car, make sure to
note all existing damage
. Some shady companies will
go over the car with a fine-toothed comb and charge you for damages they find—even if it was
there when you picked it up.
BUY BACK CAR LEASE PROGRAM
If you plan on renting a car for a long period of time (between seventeen days and one year),
it might be smart to lease a car. This method might seem a little unorthodox but you can save
hundreds of dollars.
Like most strange things in Europe, the short-term lease program originated in France. You
see, in France an extra 20% tax is added to the purchase price of new automobiles. However,
