Can I Drive? How to Rent a Car in Europe

Is the question a little daunting? Understandably yes. Of course you can drive a car in Europe but whether or not you should, based on your travel plans, is another question. More on that in a minute.

First, having the freedom to go where you want, when you want is an attractive option for the solo female traveler. Let’s assume you want to explore this option. What’s the process?

Is My Drivers License Valid?

Most American and Canadian licenses are valid for European car rental companies and they will also require a valid passport. Some countries require an International Driving Permit. Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Spain, require an international driving permit, according to the car rental agency Auto Europe.

You can get the permit online (fees vary) in about 15 minutes. Or, get it from AAA. Complete the AAA IDP application. Visit your local AAA branch and complete the application; bring your valid US driver’s license; two passport-sized photos of yourself and pay the $20 fee. Voila! You’re licensed for International driving.

Crossing Borders?

In Europe, car rental companies will allow renters to drive their vehicles across international borders into neighboring countries. But, you may have to pay a “cross border fee” in order to do so. Discuss your plans in advance so that the car you select (premium models are sometimes restricted) can be used if you’re planning to drive it in more than one country. A cross border fee will be applied in order to cover additional insurance. The fee changes from one country to another but in general runs 20 – 50 euros.

What Happens When I Cross a Border?

Nothing much, you’ll be asked for your rental documents so keep them handy.

What about GPS?

First, check with your mobile phone provider to see if your GPS service will work in Europe. If not, you can add GPS to your rental for an additional fee. Make sure you know how to program it in English before you leave the lot. Also note that measurements are in kilometers, not miles!

Automatic or Stick?

Most Europeans drive manual so make sure you specify if you want a vehicle with an automatic transmission and understand it may cost a bit more.

Parking

Busy cities are a hassle but if you’re planning on cruising the Autobahn and staying in smaller towns or if your hotel offers guaranteed, reasonable on-site parking, you re all set. Big city parking can be expensive: $20-$50 a day. For this reason, smaller cars tend to be more practical. You can squeeze in those tiny spaces and cozy up to the curb more easily.

Gas Up

Plan on higher prices at the pump than you’ll find in the US and remember it is measured in litres, not gallons. About 3.8 litres to a gallon, FYI.

Toll Roads

Those beautiful highways come at a price so research tolls on your planned route since fees can run anywhere from $2.50 to $30 depending on the country and the stretch of road. There are two ways to pay for tolls: with card or cash manually, or electronically. On a toll road you are generally required to take a ticket from a booth when you enter the motorway, and then settle the amount of the toll at another booth as you exit, which will be determined by the ticket.

Insurance

I’ve heard too many different opinions on this so here’s the most recent article I could find from FORBES magazine:

Every time you’re at the car rental counter you’re presented with a dilemma: Do you need collision coverage? Fortunately, when paying for your car rental with one of the cards on this list, you can safely decline the extra expense every time. Car rental insurance comes in two main forms—primary or secondary.

Primary coverage is preferable, as it doesn’t require making a claim against your personal car insurance first. If you’re trying to decide on a credit card for car rental insurance, keep reading to learn which cards offer primary coverage and what other factors you should consider before applying for a new card.

FORBES – Best credit cards for Car Rental Insurance July 2022

• Chase Freedom Flex℠:
• United Club℠ Infinite Card: Best Airline Card for Car Rental
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best Premium Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: Best for Mobile Wallets
• United℠ Explorer Card: Best Mid-Tier Travel
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for Travel Expenses
• Bilt World Elite Mastercard®: Best No Annual Fee Card
• Chase Freedom Flex℠: Best Rotating Category
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Mid-Tier
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Best Hotel Card for Car Rental

Okay you amazing capable informed traveler, now that you have a summary of the car rental situation in Europe you can see that it’s totally manageable. Decide whether the amount of glorious freedom and spontaneity having your own wheels provides is worth the added expense. There’s no right or wrong!!