Whether you live on the continent or you’re coming in from abroad, traveling by road in Europe as a tourist requires a bit of special knowledge in order to get the most for your money, and of your time on four wheels. From border-hopping in a rental car to roadside assistance, things may work a different way in the nations of the European Union than you’re used to, and you’ll need to read up in order to stay in the loop.
Be a confident road warrior before you ever hit the streets with these four tricks to keep in mind when renting a car in Europe:
1. Plan Well Ahead
No matter where in Europe your travels take you, you can bet that the car rental industry is as busy a one in that part of the world as in most others, and planning ahead will be the key to securing the wheels you want as opposed to the only wheels that are available. Whether you’re planning a long vacation or a quick road trip, having a car that you’re comfortable driving is crucial to ensuring that your time on unknown highways is as relaxing as possible!
As is the case when planning nearly anything in our modern world, Google is your friend, and you’d do well to investigate your car rental options at a local level as early as possible.
2. Carefully Investigate Rates
Renting a car anywhere in the world is particularly difficult given the wide array of fee and payment structures presented, and this difficulty is only compounded if you’re not familiar with the rules and regulations of the country you’ll be visiting, so you’ll need to put on your private investigator cap and utilize the web to learn everything you’ll need to know to make the best possible decision for your needs and budget.
A good place to get started on your hunt for the best rates available is at Cheapcarental.net, a website that offers a look at temporary vehicles available across Europe!
3. Keep Your Variables Covered
Even as you plan your trip, remember that no amount of online information or investigation can tell you what your experience will be like, leaving you to keep your personal variables in mind in order to be sure that you’ve got everything covered. This means taking into account your own habits and requirements: do you need legally approved car seats for children who will be along for the ride? Will your time on the road take you to specific areas where a rental car pick-up or drop-off would be particularly convenient?
Be sure to ask yourself every question necessary in order to have every angle covered; once you’re on the road, it may be too late, especially when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings!
4. Follow the Rules
Once you’ve got your dream car reserved and your trip planned, all that’s left is to hit the road and enjoy the fruits of your investigative labor. But wait – are you familiar with the rules of cruising European roads?
Depending on where in the world you hail from, it’s possible that the European way of doing things on four wheels is different than you’re used to, so you’ll need to get hip to the rules in order to avoid stress and potential accidents. Once again, the web is your friend, and you can usually find official rules on the websites of the various countries within the European Union, giving you a great primer on what to expect and how to react. You should also watch the locals closely once you arrive, picking up the proper way to enter and exit a roundabout, or how to navigate those tight and narrow city streets!
Image Credits: 1, 2, 3. Europe rental – courtesy © lunamarina – Fotolia.com
