Are you planning a road trip abroad? If not it’s about time you did. Renting a car abroad from a company like Avis is a wonderful way to explore a country. It gives you the freedom to go where you want to go on your trip, without having to rely on public transport or hotel transfers. You can amble around at your own pace and take in the sights. With this in mind and with the help of dh Licence Check, we reveal 6 ideal tips for renting a car abroad.
GET THE RIGHT TYPE OF LICENSE
First things first, you need to know if you have the right type of license. You can currently use your GB or Northern Ireland driving licence in all EU or European Economic Area (EEA) countries, and Switzerland. Brexit-willing, these rules will stay the same. However if you’re driving outside the EU/EEA you may need an international driving permit. You can get an international driving permit from the AA, the RAC of the Post Office.
USE A REPUTABLE COMPANY
This one sounds obvious, but lots of people decide to hire a car based on price (usually the cheapest) and end up in all sorts of trouble. Only use a reputable car company, do your research online and check which ones are the best hire companies.
DON’T GET STUNG BY RENTAL ‘EXTRAS’
Loads of car rental companies will try to sell you ‘extras’ that you may not want or need. The secret to saving your money on car hire is to purchase the basic package only, ignore the ‘add ons’ and all that sales patter. Also, always remember to read your contract fully; some car hire companies add on an extra charge if you exceed the set amount of miles per day. Crafty. Other things to consider are whether to use your own sat nav or not, and if you’re bringing your little one, your own child seat is a must. There’s so much to cover on this subject, we recommend reading this article by the Guardian on Holiday Car Hire and How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off .
DO A RENTAL CAR CHECK LIST
We love the below Holiday Car Checklist by Which – it covers everything you need to do during the rental process.
- Read the contract thoroughly before signing it and ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
- Check for any extra charges, particularly if you went through a broker rather than direct to the firm.
- Check the insurance cover – you may be liable for more than you think, and even if you think you are fully covered you may find that windows, tyres and undercarriage are not included.
- Allow time for the vehicle to be thoroughly checked when you collect and drop it off.
- Take photos of all damage – this can be time consuming but will be worth it if there are problems. If there is damage when you collect the car, make sure it is noted by the company, and take your own photos too. If you drop your car off out-of-hours take photos of its condition, as you may be held responsible for any damage that occurs.
- Check for safety equipment and spare tyres. This too can take time but check that all the safety equipment required locally is present and that the spare tyre is not punctured or overly worn.
LEARN THE LOCAL DRIVING LAWS
Get acquainted with the local driving laws. What side of the road do they drive on? Everything from traffic signs to road markings may be slightly different than what you’re use too, so keep savvy and abreast of any differentials.
CARRY CASH FOR TOLLS
Tolls can pop up all over the place and be more than you expect. Budget for this and stash some cash of the local currency in your dashboard for such occasions. Some cars come with toll collecting equipment – we recommend asking whether it can be turned off at no extra cost so you don’t get stung with huge toll fees at the end of your rental.
