Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
vation.Somecompanieshavelimitsoneastwardexcursions(forexample,youcanonlytake
cheaper cars, and you may have to pay extra insurance fees). When you cross these borders,
you may be asked to show proof of insurance (called a “green card”). Ask your car-rental
company if you need any other documentation for crossing the borders on your itinerary.
For trips of at least three weeks, leasing—which includes taxes and insurance—is the
best way to go (for more information, see
www.ricksteves.com/driving
)
.
Car Insurance Options
When you rent a car, you are liable for a very high deductible, sometimes equal to the entire
value of the car. Limit your financial risk by choosing one of these three options: Buy Col-
lision Damage Waiver (CDW) coverage from the car-rental company, get coverage through
your credit card (free, if your card automatically includes zero-deductible coverage), or buy
coverage through Travel Guard.
Buying CDW insurance is the easiest but priciest option. Using the coverage that comes
withyourcreditcardischeaper,butcaninvolvemorehassleincaseofanaccident.Ifyou're
taking a short trip, the cheapest solution is to buy CDW insurance from Travel Guard (tel.
800-826-4919,
www.travelguard.com
)
; it's valid everywhere in Europe except the Republic
of Ireland, and some Italian car-rental companies refuse to honor it. Note that various states
differ on which products and policies are available to their residents. For more information,
Note that theft insurance (separate from CDW insurance) is mandatory in Italy. The in-
surance usually costs about $15-20 a day, payable when you pick up the car.
Driving
I use the freeways whenever possible. They're free in the Netherlands and Germany; you'll
pay about $5-9 per hour in Italy, France, and Spain; roughly $40 for the toll sticker as you
enter Switzerland; andabout$11foratoll sticker inAustria. Itcostsabout$20adaytopark
safely in big cities, and there's a $16 “congestion charge” to drive in downtown London.
Be warned that driving is restricted in many Italian city centers. If you drive in an area
marked
ZonaTrafficoLimitato
(ZTL,oftenshownabovearedcircle),yourlicenseplatecan
be photographed and a hefty (€100-plus) fine mailed to your home without your ever being
stopped by a cop.
Ifyou'reconsideringatrainridethat'smorethanfivehourslong,aflightmaysaveyouboth
time and money. When comparing your options, factor in the time it takes to get to the air-
port and how early you'll need to arrive to check in.
