![Top tips for international driving](/uploads/4/9/8/0/49807281/driving-in-other-countries_orig.jpg)
Do You Want to Drive Overseas?
The first question you need to ask yourself is if you really do want to drive during your international trip. Will renting a car be worth the expense and the hassle of navigating foreign roads and finding parking? If your itinerary has you staying inside major cities, you might want to consider skipping the car and using public transit, taxis, and your feet to get around. On the other hand, if you are planning to explore the countryside and travel in between small towns, being able to drive yourself around will give you the flexibility to travel at your own pace.
Another item to consider is how many people are in your traveling party. Solo travelers may find it more cost-effective to travel around their destination by train or bus, but a family of four may be better served to rent a car and not have to buy four tickets every time they want to check out a new town!
Top Tips for International Car Rentals
Once you’ve decided that you want to drive during your overseas adventure, your next step will be to rent a car. Renting a car can take up a major chunk of your travel budget, so follow our tips to rent smart!
- Book in advance. There are lots of options to book a rental car online in advance of your trip. You can rent your car through a major travel site that also sells air tickets and hotels, or directly on the website of the car rental company. Most of the major US car rental companies have branches overseas, so if you have a favorite rental company, check them out first.
- Pay for your rental in advance. You’re likely to get the best deal by paying for your car ahead of time, and you’ll avoid getting hit with foreign transaction fees on your credit card if you pay on a US-based website.
- Brush up on your stick shift technique. Outside of the US, automatic transmission cars are not the norm. Most rental cars will have manual transmissions (stick shift). Automatic transmission cars are available at most international car rental agencies, but you’re likely to pay extra if you don’t want to drive stick!
- Consider picking up your car outside of the airport. It’s often convenient to pick up your rental car at the airport, but you’ll pay a surcharge to rent from a location on the airport property. If you’ll be spending a few days in the city when you first arrive, it particularly wise to wait and pick up your car from an off-airport location right before you head out of town.
- Check if you need to buy extra insurance. Before you agree to purchase the rental company’s insurance, check with your credit card company, travel insurance policy, and car insurance provider to see what coverage they offer for rental cars.
- Read your rental contract thoroughly before you leave. Avoid last minute hidden fees by checking out your rental contract in detail before you travel.