If you travel to Europe from other continents, you are sure to face the challenge of renting a car so that you can visit as many destinations as you can. Also, if you are traveling for vacation or excursions, all things would be much more interesting if you could see them by car. Sometimes buses cannot access hidden parts of Europe or are not an economical choice for your plans.
There are many examples, and one of them is the Netherlands, which you will experience best if you plan your daily activities yourself. Therefore, there, but also in almost all European countries, car rental is probably the best option you have. On this website, you have a lot of information about how the procedure goes and what are the conditions you need to meet to be able to rent a car.
Why car rental in Europe?
It is a large continent with relatively small countries. This means that even if you want to visit a small area, you will have to cross several boundaries. Public transport, such as buses and trains, is sometimes a problem, especially in parts of Europe where infrastructure is in various stages of development.
Because of this, the car gives you enough freedom to plan the route and the time you want to stay in one location. It is also a much simpler option if you are traveling with your children or want to take longer breaks while driving. You can even take the highways, which sometimes offer a wonderful and unique experience for you.
What do you need and what do you need to know to rent a car in Europe?
There are many things to keep in mind, especially if you are not from a European country. Even residents of non-EU countries sometimes have difficulty adapting to conditions and rules.
But that’s why we’re here to help you with all this.
1. Choose a company with a reputation
Although this service would be quite expensive, you must know that this is the only way to protect yourself from any kind of fraud, but also from dubious dealers who only want to extract money from you.
You can choose a company that operates in a larger territory or a local one if you plan to stay in one or at most three countries.
The good thing about Europe is that the prices of this service are much more affordable compared to other parts of the world. But you must also pay attention to the restrictions because not every company allows you to leave the country or the smaller region.
Therefore, in addition to the reputation, you should be well informed about their way of working, so that situations that would be really unpleasant do not occur.
2. Check if you need a special driving license
In general, almost all driving licenses are valid in Europe, if you have the documents you need and a valid passport. However, it would be good to find out more on this topic so that you can obtain an international driver’s license, if required.
This is a document with limited validity, so you need to find out if you need it at all.
Most of Europe has an international biometric system of personal documents, but still, be careful with countries like Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Austria, where you need a mandatory international driver’s license.
You can usually get information from travel agencies, foreign ministries, or contact the car rental service for a detailed explanation.
3. We recommend complete insurance coverage
You may have noticed in some of the previous paragraphs, but roads across Europe can be really bad, especially those leading to smaller towns. It is interesting for this continent that the capitals of the countries are big and the whole infrastructure is directed to them, while the periphery is almost forgotten by the authorities.
But at the same time, it is the peripheral cities that capture the real European magic, especially the countries that are not yet members of the European Union and have not complied with those regulations.
Of course, not everything can be perfect, so road conditions can be a real problem for those who are not used to it. Therefore, the recommendation for full insurance exists and it would be good to disobey it.
4. Get familiar with the terms vignette and green card
Vignette is a sticker that you buy at the border of the country, which proves that you have actually paid the tolls for the use of the highway. Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Bulgaria are countries that use vignettes.
A green card is a proof that your car has a minimum satisfactory level of insurance. However, in the European Union, hardly anyone would ask for a green card, but very often you will need it if you travel to the Balkans.
Car rental services will usually inform you if you need those documents. Of course, they are at your expense. In countries where there is no vignette, tolls are paid for highway use, and prices vary from country to country.
Conclusion
Europe is a beautiful continent. At the moment, unfortunately, we would recommend you to avoid Ukraine and Russia, but also Belarus and the countries in that region. However, there are still many wonderful places to visit. Also be careful with covid-19 restrictions, as different epidemiological measures apply in different countries.
But regardless of all that, consider doing your European road trip with the help of a car. That way you plan the trip yourself and you will be able to reach destinations that you would never visit if you travel by bus.
And of course, do not forget to find out if your car rental service allows international travel, so you do not have problems with the laws in Europe.
We wish you to visit the most beautiful European corners and enjoy your unusual adventure. These countries are really worth the investment, and you will be able to visit so many of them if you rent a car on time.
