International Car Rental Tips

Need wheels for your next trip abroad? There’s more to consider than driving on the “other” side of the road. From international driving permits to liability insurance, renting a car abroad can be a bit more complicated than renting one at home. Our international car rental tips will help you get a great deal, make sure you have the right documentation and drive safely while abroad.

Booking Your Car

Book in advance. Rental rates are almost always higher at the counter than they will be over the phone or online, even just 24 hours before pickup. If you have time, comparison shop. Visit the websites of several rental agencies and search for identical cars on your travel dates.

Whenever possible, make all car rental arrangements, from booking to payment, before you leave your home country. Doing it this way generally makes the process cheaper, easier, safer and less likely to include hidden clauses. Once you are overseas, shifting exchange rates, unfamiliar rental specs, language barriers and other cultural differences can cause unexpected problems.

Ask about weekend specials, late penalties and gas charges. Many unadvertised discounts and hidden costs will not be explained at the time of rental, and it may be too late by the time you’ve discovered them.

Ask what time a car is expected for drop-off. Many rental agencies begin charging for each 24-hour-period from the time of rental, and will bill a full day for cars returned after another 24-hour period begins.

Be aware that many countries have a minimum and maximum age for renters. Drivers under the age of 25 or over the age of 70 may face surcharges or not be permitted to rent at all.

Do a Google search for special discounts and promo codes; these may not be well advertised on the car rental company’s own site.

Always ask about senior citizen, AAA, credit card and frequent flier program discounts or add-on offers.

When making reservations for car rental pickups at an airport, choose a smaller car than you would typically desire. Airport fleets are often stocked with larger cars, as they are primarily used by business travelers, and you might receive a free or inexpensive upgrade from a subcompact booking. Be aware, however, that European cars tend to be smaller than their American counterparts; while this might be useful if you’re planning on driving on narrow country roads, it’s not so great for those who are extra tall, carrying a lot of luggage, or traveling with a family or large group. In these cases, don’t take a risk — be sure to order the size you need just in case you don’t get an upgrade.

In many countries, manual transmissions are the norm, and you’ll have to pay a premium for an automatic. If you can drive a stick shift, it could save you money and hassle. Driving overseas can often be more strenuous than what you’re used to at home; roads may be poorly paved, winding, or precariously placed on a mountainside or ocean cliff. For this reason, it’s often a good idea to divide up the driving — so if not everyone can drive a manual transmission, consider looking for an automatic. Also, if you’re going to a country where they drive on the opposite side than you’re used to, be sure everyone is comfortable with that; it can be challenging!

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International Driving Permits

If you’re traveling to an English-speaking country, chances are you’ll be able to get by with an American or Canadian driver’s license. However, many other countries will ask that you also obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is basically just a piece of paper that translates your information into 10 different languages and is recognized by more than 100 countries. If you are planning to rent a car abroad, you may be asked to present one along with your regular license from home. You must be at least 18 years old to get an IDP.

There are only two agencies in the U.S. authorized to issue IDPs: the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. In Canada, you must consult the Canadian Automobile Association. Be warned that IDPs from any other website are fakes — don’t be fooled.

Be sure to get your IDP before leaving home, as it must be issued in your home country. An IDP is not a license itself, merely a translation of the license issued in your country of residence. If you are stopped by law enforcement officials abroad, you must present both your IDP and your home country’s license. The only driving record you have, therefore, is within your home country, so obey the local driving rules! Any infraction or citation issued abroad will be waiting for you when you return home.

Check with the consulate or embassy of the country you’re visiting to find out its policies on international drivers.

Know Before You Go

Make sure you have a realistic idea of how much you’ll pay to fuel your car in the country you’re visiting. Generally, drivers in the U.S. pay less at the pump than drivers in most other nations. Leave plenty of room in your budget for gas expenses.

Familiarize yourself with the local rules of the road well before you actually get into the car. Study up on such details as which side of the road to drive on, who has the right of way in a traffic circle and whether you’re permitted to turn right (or left, in some countries) on a red light. The best sources for this type of information are the country’s consulate or embassy, or an up-to-date guidebook.

Check with your auto insurance company to see whether a rental car abroad would be covered under your current policy. In most cases you won’t be covered in foreign countries, so you’ll need to purchase insurance from your rental car company at the time of booking or rely on coverage provided by the credit card you use to pay for the rental. Be sure that your coverage, whatever the source, meets the foreign country’s minimum coverage requirements.

Don’t forget your map! Most of us rely on our favorite smartphone mapping app when navigating, but this can get expensive in foreign countries, depending on your cell phone plan. Also, coverage can be spotty in remote parts of the world. We always recommend having a paper road map as a backup. Renting a GPS unit from your rental car company is another option; make sure the staff sets it to speak to you in English if you don’t know the local language.

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