Today, few people are surprised by road trips - this type of vacation largely justifies its costs with convenience, the ability to come up with a wide variety of routes and, accordingly, expand the geography of the trip. Many Russians like to make a car voyage to the south of their country, but the further you go, the more popular the practice of renting a car in Europe and large ones, on your own organized trips across the Old World.
Of course, things are different with car rental in different parts of the world, but car rental in Europe always guarantees reliability, although this reliability often costs a lot. However, the cost of car rental is quite reasonable when you consider the cost of traveling in Europe by public transport. And if you are traveling with a group, then renting a car in Europe will definitely be more profitable than traveling on the same trains. In addition, in developed tourist countries you can, relatively speaking, rent a car in Berlin and return it at the office of the same rental office in the south of Spain.
Search for a rental car
Most road trips are made by Russians within the Old World, so the issue of renting a car in Europe is quite acute for many. What are the requirements for drivers in a particular country? What nuances should you remember when driving on European roads? There are many similar questions.
Each country has its own characteristics regarding car rental, first of all, we are talking about age restrictions, as they can vary markedly even in neighboring countries.
So, at the age of 18 you can rent a car in Austria, Germany, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden; at 19 years old - in Estonia and Norway; at 20 years old - in Bulgaria, Finland and Switzerland; at 21 - in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Poland, Great Britain and Romania, and in tiny Luxembourg even 23. Car rental agencies may often require young drivers (under 25 years old) must pay an additional fee.
Be that as it may, some rules are the same: anyone wishing to rent a car must have an international driving license, obtained at least a year before renting a car (in some offices this period can be two years or more).
When renting a car, you need to carefully study all the clauses of the contract, especially those related to insurance cases, rental periods, various restrictions imposed by the rental office, etc. Despite the fact that this is civilized Europe, the car should be carefully examined for damage and scratches and , if available, be recorded in the contract. By the way, in Southeast Asia such a procedure must be carried out without fail, photographing all damage.
It would be useful to inquire about the peculiarities of driving in a particular European country, because, whatever one may say, Germans and, say, Greeks drive completely differently. Naturally, you definitely need to study certain nuances in the traffic rules of those countries through whose territory the travel route runs. Also, when making a travel plan, you should always keep in mind that there are quite a lot of toll roads in Europe, and accordingly make adjustments either to the route or to the budget. In addition, fuel prices in Europe are not comparable to Russian ones, and gasoline will be a very impressive expense item. The same goes for parking in large European cities, which is rarely free.
The Fly & Drive system is very popular in Europe, the essence of which is to get a car for rent immediately upon arrival at a particular European airport, which can significantly save time (there is no need, for example, to look for an agency in the city itself). The standard rules of rental companies apply here, but you will have to fork out extra money for the opportunity to get into a rented car at the airport.
Many people advise preparing in advance to rent a car via the Internet on the websites of trusted companies that have representative offices in dozens of countries around the world. Such companies include: Avis, Herz, Sixt, Europcar, Budget and others.
Cost of car rental in Europe
The cost of renting a car in Europe depends on many factors. For example, it works general rule trade - wholesale is cheaper. That is, if you rent a car for one or two days, then the cost of each rental day will be higher than if you rent the same car for, say, a week. approximate cost car rental in European countries is listed below. The price is given for the cars itself budget class(small cars) subject to booking for a week.
However, the easiest way to check the cost specifically for your dates and according to your requirements is to use the search form above, or on the website Rentalcars.com.
Traffic rules in Europe
One way or another, the rules on the roads are not fundamentally different from the Russian ones - the same signs, markings and general concepts. There are only a few nuances that are best studied before traveling to specific countries; you can find them in our articles about car rental in specific countries, links to them are given below. For example, there are average common lanes for left turns, tricky cameras that turn on the red light if your average speed above the limit, turning right on a red traffic light and some others. However, the basic principles are defined by international conventions and are the same for almost all countries of the world.
You can also read about road payments depending on the country in specific material Below, we note only such a nuance as vignettes. These are special stickers that are purchased and pasted on the car at the entrance to the country, thus paying for movement on the roads of this state. Failure to obtain a vignette can result in a very serious fine. On this moment Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria and Austria have such a system on their roads. However, often (in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria) vignettes are required only for driving on highways, that is, if you don’t particularly like highways between villages, then in many cases you can do without this fee.
Our tourists have already fully appreciated how convenient it is to travel in a rented car. In exotic countries, this method of transportation increases safety and often has no reasonable alternatives. In civilized countries, renting a car means freedom from transport schedules and the opportunity to see what those who use planes and trains do not notice.
The first question that arises after making a decision is who to contact? Of course, many people use it without directly choosing a rental company, or even solve this issue at the same time as ordering air tickets and booking a hotel with brokers. But in the end, the service is still provided to you by rent-a-car, and not by intermediaries - so you need to know about their pros and cons.
First of all, all existing rental companies can be divided into two groups: local distributors working in their region, and large international companies. There are pros and cons to both options.
- Small local companies
Local distributors are good because they often offer more profitable terms than giants like Hertz or Avis. This is especially true for exotic countries and places that are not very popular among tourists - in short, where a small company has more opportunities to compete with market sharks.
The disadvantages are also obvious - as a rule, no one really knows what kind of company this is or what to expect from it. Most of the stories about rent-a-car fraud are related specifically to the “little local company" So the situation is classic: you can save money, but there is always a certain risk.
- Large international companies
Large companies operating all over the world mean compliance with corporate service standards in any country (although, of course, there are nuances), a lot of information on the Internet. Such companies value their reputation, and there are much fewer potential problems with them. But, of course, you will have to pay more. Although various discounts and affiliate programs will allow you to save, with some effort on the part of the traveler.
U big companies there are others obvious advantages: they almost always provide new cars, 24/7 phone and internet support, as well as a lot of car collection and collection points - especially important if you are going to rent a car one way.
Major international rent-a-car
Now let's look at the main companies that provide car rentals around the world. Wherever you go, it’s almost certain that one of these rent-a-cars (or rather, several or all at once) will have an office there.
Let's make a small remark first. By entering the name of any large rent-a-car into Google or Yandex, you will see a lot of reviews - and among them there will be a large percentage of negative ones. This does not mean that even largest companies very bad service. It’s just that the desire to speak out publicly arises much more often among those who are dissatisfied with something than among clients who have nothing to complain about.
Among all the rental companies, we chose the “big five,” which will be discussed below. In general, their working conditions are more or less the same, and the choice is largely a matter of habit and the presence of a rental point at a specific point on the map. However, there are also nuances.
Hertz
The American company, which was founded back in 1918, is soon to celebrate its centenary! Her homeland is Chicago. It all started with a dozen cars, and now Hertz has about 7,000 rental locations around the world (although about 2,000 of them are located in the United States). Today Hertz is considered the largest rent-a-car in the world.
Like all major car rental companies, Hertz offers customers a variety of discounts and special offers, but many of them are aimed at American market(which is not surprising - any American company behaves exactly like this). However, you can often get a voucher that gives you the right to upgrade your car for free, which is very nice.
Moreover, knowing good CDP code(counter discount program) of Hertz, you will save more than with any other rental company. You can get a discount 75% !
Europcar
The French company, according to many - the best choice for renting a car in Europe, although not the most budget-friendly. Contrary to the name, the company operates not only in the Old World - Europcar has offices on all continents. But the densest coverage, of course, is in Europe - it is in this market that Europcar can be called a leader. Europcar has about 200,000 cars there!
Europcar generously rewards its loyal customers by offering them many benefits. Eat interesting opportunities, like a car model warranty - for additional fee, of course.
Avis
And again, a company originally from the USA, which is rated as second in the world after Hertz. Together with Budget, it forms the Avis Budget Group of companies, and this group of companies is today a leader in the markets of North America and Australia. If you are going there and are going to rent a car, then perhaps the best solution will contact Avis.
The vast majority of cars in the company's fleet are American-made, with only Toyota being a significant exception to this rule. In general, Avis’s focus on its market, typical of American companies, is especially pronounced - for example, the official website does not have a Russian-language version, unlike its competitors. Of course, this is unlikely to confuse an experienced traveler in itself, but it is food for thought.
Sixt
It is Europe's oldest car rental company, founded in Munich in 1912. Sixt managed to survive even after the complete confiscation of the vehicle fleet in favor of the army and the death of the company's founder during the Second World War. Now it operates in 105 countries around the world, the number of rental points is about 4,500.
Sixt is very actively involved in various partnership programs - with airlines and hotels (for example, Hyatt and Hilton), so often those who order a car at the same time as purchasing a ticket or booking a room will become Sixt clients.
Sixt generally keeps prices slightly lower than its main competitors, which attracts many customers. But, as befits a European rent-a-car, Sixt to a greater extent focused on the Old World market.
Budget
Another American company, quite young by the standards of this business - founded in the late 50s. Budget doesn't have many rental locations outside the US, but the service the company provides clearly makes it one of the market leaders.
Like all competitors, it spends a lot promotions, allowing you to save serious amounts of money (20% is generally easy). Budget also partners with dozens of airlines, including Emirates And Lufthansa. Its loyal customers can earn bonus miles from these airlines by renting cars from Budget. The company also participates in the program.
The main drawback is still the same - the company’s significant focus on the American market. However, if you are traveling to the USA, you should choose a local rent-a-car.
Summary
As noted above, the working conditions of all market leaders are approximately the same - this is not surprising, because each of them does a lot to fight for clients. Therefore, the choice depends mainly on two factors:
— Availability of a rental point in the location you need. If you are in Europe, you will find a Europcar office almost anywhere, but you won’t always be able to rent a car from Avis. But in North America the situation will be reversed. It also matters whether the rental point in the selected location is run by the company itself, or whether a local company has acquired a franchise.
— Special offers just for you. Each major rental company cooperates with different hotels and air carriers, offering special conditions owners of various cards, and so on. Therefore, you should carefully study the websites of all major rent-a-car to understand which option is the most profitable in this particular case.
In any case, each of the major rental companies will provide you with good car And good service. And the question maximum savings is not important for everyone and not always - so you can simply choose any rent-a-car from the list above and not worry about anything.
Car rental for independent traveler- an activity as common as buying airline tickets or photographing the setting sun. Therefore, this article will be useful primarily for beginners - those who have never gotten behind the wheel of a rented car.
Right now, without long introductions - rules and features, Required documents and ways to save money, tricks and subtleties that obviously won’t hurt when traveling. Car rental in Europe - everything about it, let's go!
Where to rent a car?
There are three types of car rental companies:
- rental companies like Sixt, Avis, Europcar or Hertz;
- brokers who specialize in “rehire”;
- hotels providing this service.
The most obvious option is, of course, a rental office. Full transparency of the transaction, stable reputation of the company, convenient website, big choice cars - it would seem, what else is needed? This method has only one drawback - price. Renting the same car, but through a broker, will usually cost less.
Next in popularity are brokers like Economycarrentals. The essence of their business is simple: renting a large number of cars from rental companies, they receive a significant discount. Some part remains with the broker as profit, the rest goes to the consumer. Thus, instead of the conventional $100 for rent, the traveler pays only 75-80. Profitable, is not it?
The subtle point of renting from a broker is, of course, his reputation. There are a good thousand rental companies on the Internet, one more beautiful than the other. But only a few provide truly high-quality service - in particular, the above-mentioned British company Economycarrentals. Save and take risks, overpay for confidence, or carefully select a broker - the choice, as always, is up to the consumer.
The third option for renting a car is the hotel reception. Somewhere hotels are rented out own cars, but more often act as agents of rental companies. Respectively, prices will obviously not be lower than when ordering a car directly on the rental company’s website.
Conclusion: very reliable and the most affordable way rentals - a good rental broker. The most common and “transparent” is contacting directly rental company. Well, cars in the hotel are for those who are used to doing everything spontaneously and at the last moment.
What documents are needed to rent a car in Europe?
The list of requirements for a potential tenant is not that long. To conclude an agreement you will need:
- a bank card on which the deposit for the car can be frozen - 200-1000 €. Car rental companies most like credit Visa or Mastercard, but a personalized debit card of the “Standard” class or higher will do just fine.
- national driver license. Simply put, a plastic card that traffic police officers are sometimes interested in.
- international driver's license(IDP). “Book”, which can be obtained upon request from the traffic police. There is no need to take additional exams; the state fee for providing the service is 1,600 rubles.
- They may well ask for a passport with a valid visa, but it is assumed that they probably already have one.
In many countries (for example, Greece or Spain), you can rent a car without an IDP, although this is formally prohibited. Therefore, if you don’t want to spoil your vacation, it’s better to get international law. Of course, in advance.
What is included in the cost of renting a car?
A standard contract usually includes:
- use of the selected car without mileage limitation;
- compulsory insurance in case of accidents and against third parties; theft insurance;
- local taxes and fees;
- service fee at the station/airport, if such a fee is provided;
May be included in the price or paid additionally:
- surcharge for a second driver;
- one-way rental (a car is rented in one place and returned in another);
- theft insurance without deductible;
Paid by the driver himself:
- refilling the car;
- road tolls;
- taxes and fees, no provided for by the agreement(for example, a “vignette” for entry into Switzerland if the car was rented in France and for traveling within France);
- winter chains necessary for driving in the mountains.
The section “what is included” and “what is paid separately” - perhaps the most important in the lease agreement. There is no uniform practice, and conditions in different companies may vary significantly. Special attention you need to pay attention to insurance - in particular, the size of the deductible.
What do you need to know when renting a car?
There are several unshakable rules and everyday tips that you need to learn before visiting a rental office:
- the car is provided to the client with full tank fuel, the same applies to return. For violation of this rule, the refueling fee and the fine stipulated by the contract will be charged from the card.
- the car is provided in a clean and in good condition. It must be returned in the same form. Natural wear and tear, of course, doesn't count.
- children's chairs and others Additional services are available upon request and usually at an additional cost. Everything you need must be ordered in advance, at the stage of booking a car.
- rental companies, like many others, operate on a standard schedule. Something like a 40 hour work week, Monday through Friday. Of course, this does not apply to counters at airports or hotels, but surcharges apply at late/early hours. That is, renting a car, for example, at 11:30 (and returning it at the same time) is cheaper than, for example, renting a car at 01:00 and returning it at 21:00.
- Many companies allow the return of a car without the participation of an office employee. The client leaves the car in a specially designated parking lot, the keys in the mailbox. In case of deficiencies ( empty tank, or damage), expenses are reimbursed from the traveler's bank card.
That's probably all for today. I tried to highlight the main issues and the darkest places related to renting a car in Europe. I hope the article was useful. Finally, I’ll give you one more piece of advice.
The first rental is always a certain stress and freezing. Agreement drawn up on English language, leaves more questions than answers. A walk in a convertible along the embankments of Nice seems like a nightmare in your mind, in which franchises, money frozen on the card, accidents, broken cars and lost keys. Although in reality everything is not like that.
Millions of people rent cars every day. All of them, regardless of nationality, income and status, did it once for the first time. As you can see, nothing bad happened to them. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid. Renting a car is a chance to see more in less time, get into the spirit of the country and feel like a local resident. Do not neglect this opportunity, there is not the slightest reason for this.
If you find yourself in Europe without transport, tour packages with paid trips and without friends with personal car, then most likely you will be interested cheap rent cars in Europe.
There are quite a few companies in Europe that rent out cars, and just listing their names will take quite a lot of time, so here are the organizations whose cars can be most often found on European streets: Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Goldcar and Centauro.
Whatever office you choose, it is important to remember that caution and awareness help save nerves and money.
Europcar– although it is a fairly large European company, it does not have the richest fleet of vehicles, and finding a car for yourself is not easy. Bribes low cost and the number of offices in Europe. The reviews are different, there are also negative ones, which are mainly related to the withholding of large sums from the deposit and the quality of service.
It is possible to pay for full insurance, but upon delivery the car is inspected for damage and scratches, and if something is “wrong”, you have to pay.
Before delivery, you need to fill the tank; for the missing liters, again, they will withhold money for gasoline, and much more than the market price.
Features of car rental from Sixt
Sixt– the fleet is quite large, prices are low, which makes the company very popular among visitors and Europeans themselves. Judging by customer reviews, there are problems with the deposit, which is not returned on time or partially returned (after contacting support, the deposit is usually refunded, explaining technical failures).
You can take out full insurance, including against minor damage to the body and interior. You must return the car with a full tank.
Rent a car from Hertz
Hertz– pleases with a large fleet of vehicles, you have the opportunity to choose the right car even without a reservation. From the reviews, the most common problems are with the wear and tear of cars and, accordingly, possible technical problems during operation, and the technical support service is often unable to provide timely assistance.
Often regional representatives do not warn about additional costs, as a result, the amount to be paid may differ significantly from that announced in advance.
You can pay for insurance in case of an accident. You can pay for the “full tank” service in advance or return the car with gas.
Cooperation with Goldcar
Goldcar– has one of the largest fleets of vehicles among competitors; it is easiest to find an automatic transmission here, although the rental cost is somewhat higher. The rental price includes the “full tank” service, however, if the car is rented for 3 days or less, the money for the remaining gasoline in the tank will be refunded.
Goldcar does not include a franchise; instead, there is full insurance against accidents and theft. However, their full insurance has a catch, it does not include glass, tires, headlights, for this there is another insurance that can be paid at the company counter, or you can leave an insurance reserve, which will be returned if the car is in order.
Renting a car is a pleasure - you hand over the keys and leave! There are several negative reviews regarding the company, but all of them are mainly of a private nature: the interior was smoky, the engine rattled, the cigarette lighter did not work.
Before vacationing in Europe, you should know. Perhaps you choose this particular country.
And in this article you can learn about the attractions of the island of Crete.
Rent a car from Centauro
Centauro– does not have the richest fleet of vehicles, but the cars are completely new. The “full tank” service is already included in the price, but despite this, the rental cost is low. Often the company's representative office is not located at the airport itself, so they are delivered there by official transport.
Full insurance is available. Negative feedback few, and they all represent isolated cases.
You can contact intermediary companies, they will find you the right car in a place convenient for you. In addition, some car sales offices (Mercedes, Volkswagen, Toyota, etc.) rent out their cars.
What you need to rent a car in Europe
To rent a car, you will need: foreign passport, international driver's license, Visa card(better if in the name of the driver), and the amount required for rent. If the card is a debit card, and there is no money in the account for a deposit, then most likely you will be denied rent.
Even international companies do not always have an English- and especially Russian-speaking employee, so it is better to learn or write down the basic phrases related to renting in the language of the country you are flying to.
It is better to rent a car through the website, so you can book the car you like. Rental prices sometimes change, so it's worth visiting your booking page from time to time to see if you can rebook at a lower price (usually by canceling your old booking and making a new booking).
It is important to immediately discuss with office representatives all possible expenses that will be charged to you as soon as you return the car, otherwise the amount may turn out to be significantly higher than what you expected.
Full insurance may be required in case of an accident– usually part of the cost of restoring the car comes from your deposit, the rest is covered by the insurance company. In companies such as Goldcar and Centauro, when you pay for full insurance, they do not take a deposit from you, and after returning the car they do not even inspect it.
What to watch out for
Although rental companies are trying in every possible way to simplify the car rental process, there is still no need to relax. There are many pitfalls to be wary of.
Even when driving a car that is not your own, do not forget about the rules traffic, otherwise a fine for traffic violation will find you even in Russia, and the rental company will charge from your card 25 to 30 euros for processing data for this offense.
It is important to find out what is included in your car insurance, otherwise you will be surprised by a charge for a stain in the interior or a tank that is not filled to the brim. Always check your vehicle before leaving the lot, because even if your insurance covers all types of damage, a breakdown can pose a road hazard for you and your family.
Even if you rented a certain car, in reality it may turn out to be a completely different one, but of the same class (for example, instead of a Citroen C4 - a Ford Focus or AudiA1), these are legal actions and you should expect that this can happen.
You have the right to cancel the order if the car provided is not of the same class as the one you booked with her manual box transmission instead of automatic or the provided vehicle has serious technical defects.
Many companies do not agree to take cash deposits, preferring to block part of the amount on your card. In this case, VisaElectron, Maestro and MasterCard cards may not be suitable; it is better if there is a regular Visa. Some banks do not immediately return the money they have frozen, but only a month after the reservation is canceled, so it is better to check with your bank for all the details.
It is not always possible to immediately find out the amount that was withdrawn from your bank card, so ask for a printout full bill with the company seal. When paying in cash, do not forget to take checks, otherwise your card may be debited again.
It is important to remember that, most often, even international companies insurance is valid only in the country where you took the car, therefore, if you are planning to travel around Europe, you need to clarify all the details at the rental desk.
The insurance is registered in the name of the driver, therefore, if someone else drives the vehicle, difficulties may arise with the insurance company during an accident; it is better to immediately announce possible drivers (they usually charge an additional fee for them).
If you go on a trip, then renting a car can be much easier and more convenient than looking for transport if necessary, but this also has its difficulties.
Having familiarized yourself with all the nuances in advance, you can have a wonderful vacation and visit wherever you want. All you have to do is choose a company that suits you, and you can hit the road.
CAR RENTAL IN EUROPE today is not a luxury, but one of the most convenient and economical ways to travel in those countries where public transport incredibly expensive. Renting a car is much more profitable than spending money on public transport. For example, one round trip for three on the Copenhagen metro will cost at least 3.5 * 3 * 2 = 21 euros, while for this money you can easily rent a car for the whole day! Moreover, than more people travels together, the more tangible the benefits of renting a car become. And there’s no need to talk much about the convenience of traveling by car. I think everyone understands perfectly well that there is a more convenient option independent travel simply doesn't exist!
However, you need to know all the subtleties and features well in order to avoid sad mistakes when renting a car. Actually, that’s why I wrote this article: to help you understand everything in detail.
We are already experienced travelers, having visited more than 45 countries. We rented cars in many of them: in Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, in and in. From European countries, cars were rented in Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus. We drove a rented car around Spain, France, Italy, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, we have already made 4 trips around Europe in our car, with a total length of more than 20,000 km.
In this article I will share all necessary information so that you can safely rent a car in Europe: what you need to rent, where it is more profitable and cheaper, what is the procedure, insurance, toll roads, parking, navigator, etc.
- Are looking for best deals V the right city for your dates. It is best to do this in advance, via the Internet. This way it always turns out cheaper and more convenient.
- We reserve a car on the website.
- We pick up the car at the appointed place at the agreed time. Here you will need to sign an agreement, make a deposit (deposit), carefully inspect the car for damage, be sure to note any damage found in the car inspection report. I recommend always filming your car. Walk around the car in a circle, take a video from all sides, the condition of the interior, roof, be sure to pay attention to the tires, windows, and note the fuel level.
- Let's enjoy the journey.
- We hand over the car at the end of the rental period. If everything is in order, then this procedure is much simpler and faster than the previous ones. To avoid unnecessary questions later, I recommend also filming the car from all sides.
Everything seems to be simple and clear. But there are many subtleties and nuances. Let's understand everything in order.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO RENT A CAR IN EUROPE
- Valid national driver's license with first and last name duplicated in English, as well as the inscription PERMIS DE CONDUIRE. This can be a new type of driver's license (plastic), or an old type (laminated). In most cases this is enough. IDP(International driver's license, gray book and a plastic card) for rent in most European countries it is not necessary to have, with the exception of Italy, England, sometimes France and Greece (quite big fine for the lack of an IDP for foreigners who are not EU citizens). I wrote about a simple way to make an IDP. For those who plan to travel frequently to different countries, I highly recommend doing IDP.
- The driver's age must be over 19-23 years old (depending on the rental office and the country, in most cases from 21 years old), if the driver is under 25 years old, then sometimes an additional payment is required for young driver in the amount of about 15-17 euros per day.
- Driving experience of at least 1 year. Sometimes they require at least 2 years of experience.
- Passport in the name of the driver
- Credit card in the name of the tenant to block the deposit. International car rental companies generally do not accept debit cards for deposit blocking. Local rental companies often allow you to leave a deposit in cash.
- Voucher if you booked a car on the website
- Passport, driver's license and credit card must be in the name of the main driver
TYPES OF RENTAL OFFICES. WHERE IS IT BETTER TO RENT A CAR?
There are only four types of rental companies in the world from which you can rent a car:
- World famous international rental companies ( HERTZ, SIXT, AVIS, Europcar, Budget, ALAMO etc.)
- Dealers, brokers or aggregator sites of these international rental companies. (On one site, offers from a large number of international rentals are collected at once) There are a lot of such companies, but I use the best ones, which have been repeatedly tested by me Rentalcars , Autoeurope , Discovercarhire And .
- Local (local) rental offices. Every country in Europe has its own.
- Aggregators of local rental offices (this is the least common group). A striking example in Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and the Czech Republic - Myrentacar
Each type of rental company has its own characteristics. As for local rental companies and their dealers, they are very common in the southern (resort) countries of Europe, but in central and northern Europe it is often more profitable to use international rental companies and their aggregators.
What is an aggregator? Essentially, this is an intermediary between the rental company and the client. This is a site that contains all the offers from rental companies in a specific region. It would seem that since this is an intermediary, their price should be higher. But no, from my own experience I am convinced that on such sites the prices are often even lower than those of the rental companies themselves. In the Emirates, for example, I rented a car through Rentalcars at a price 2 times cheaper than it was on the rental company’s website! It’s also cheaper in Denmark, but I’ll talk about this in more detail later. How this happens is still a mystery to me, but the fact remains a fact. I have repeatedly booked cars through intermediaries cheaper than if I rented directly from rental companies.
However, when comparing prices, it is important to consider what insurance is included in the price. On aggregator sites Rentalcars , Autoeurope , Discovercarhire and the price always includes mandatory insurance against theft, civil liability and insurance with a deductible. And here are the sites HERTZ, SIXT, AVIS, Europcar, Budget, ALAMO etc. They may show the price on the website without taking into account mandatory insurance, for which you will then have to pay extra.
Aggregator sites operate on a commission from each order. How more cars rented out with their help, the more commission they receive. Large intermediaries have a fairly significant discount from all rental companies, so they can set the rental price lower than the rental companies themselves. They are also forced to do this by intense competition in the car rental market.
From my own experience, and from the experience of studying various forums, I have long come to the conclusion that the MOST OPTIMAL SITES for car rental around the world are
but this site is currently only available in some countries.
Rental company GoldCar
I highly do not recommend using this rental company. They operate in many European countries and are the worst rental company of them all. They cheated us out of 1065 euros. And we are not the only ones, there are a lot of such reviews on the Internet. There will be an article later, but for now a video about our sad experience:
CHEAP CAR RENTAL IN EUROPE: proller or middleman? Tricks of distributors
Please note that almost all major international rental companies indicate the rental price on their websites without any insurance, but when you pick up the car, you will have to pay at least standard insurance: against theft and against damage with a deductible. And large aggregators show the price already with insurance included. To compare where it is cheaper, you must take into account the cost of standard insurance, because their cost takes up a significant share of the cost of renting a car.
Sometimes half the cost of renting a car is standard insurance.
When looking for a car in Denmark, I just encountered this situation. I described the process of finding a car and booking in detail in the article. Here I will briefly say that booking a car turned out to be 1.5 times more profitable through a large international broker Autoeurope, than directly through ALAMO or Budget.
A similar situation occurred when booking a car in the Emirates. There I booked a car through an aggregator Rentalcars and it also turned out to be 1.5 times cheaper than directly through the rental company DOLLAR. The same is true in Greece and Switzerland.
Therefore, IMPORTANT recommendation: ALWAYS CAREFULLY LOOK WHAT INSURANCE IS INCLUDED IN THE RENTAL PRICE, because in the vast majority of cases, international rental companies on their websites show the amount without insurance, and with standard insurance the amount will be 1.5-2 times higher! You count on one thing, but when you come to pick up the car, they demand you pay extra for insurance.
In general, when looking for a car in Europe, I can advise the following:
- if you don’t have the time or desire to look for a car on different sites, look at prices on Rentalcars, Autoeurope, Discovercarhire and. In the vast majority of cases, one of these sites will be the best option.
- If you are looking on other sites, carefully read the conditions and check what insurance is included in the price. In most cases, rental companies show the rental price without any insurance. And then, when you pick up the car, mandatory insurance will be added to the rental amount.
FEATURES OF CAR RENTAL IN DIFFERENT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
In the Czech Republic, I advise you to check the price on an aggregator of local rental companies Myrentacar
IN soon I also plan to cover in detail the topic of car rental in France, Italy and Spain.
In general, I want to say that there is a significant difference in car rental in southern resorts European countries(Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece) and countries of central and northern Europe (Germany, France, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Belgium, etc.). In southern countries there are a very large number of local rental companies, which often offer best options than large international car rental companies. But in the countries of central and northern Europe, the best offers are usually in large international box offices.
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HOW TO CHECK WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RENTAL PRICE
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FEATURES OF TRAFFIC RULES IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
There is no big difference with our traffic rules. In Europe everything is logical and understandable. Roads good quality, there are markings and lane directions everywhere. If you turn left, a separate lane is allocated for this. Of all the European countries I've been to, I felt a little uncomfortable on small streets in Italy, Holland and Switzerland.
- In many European countries it is mandatory to use low beam headlights 24 hours a day
- Max. speed in the city - 50, outside the city - 80-90, on highways - 110-130 km/h (depending on the specific country)
- You need to stop in front of a zebra crossing before the pedestrian steps on it (it is enough for him to just walk up to it). This is strict here. Pedestrians must be allowed to pass
- advantage on roundabouts always among those who are already “in the circle”
- in Europe there is no difference between overtaking and ahead
- Using a phone while driving is prohibited; sometimes police officers stand on the highway with binoculars and look out for violators
- in most countries the use of radar detectors and anti-radar devices is prohibited
- Use “fog lights” ONLY during fog, or when visibility is severely impaired. Otherwise - fine
- The horn can only be used to prevent accidents
- The fines are very high, don't break them
These are just the main ones features of traffic regulations Europe, I recommend that you always carefully study the traffic rules in force in the territory of the country where you will go. Everywhere has its own nuances. For example, in Cyprus and the UK, traffic is on the left. I often use this on my trips. THIS website. Here you can find all the basic information about roads, speed limits, traffic rules, fines, parking, etc.
Phone number for emergency situations throughout Europe - 112
Road markings in Copenhagen FEATURES OF DRIVING ON AUTOBANS
Basic rules for driving on European Autobahns:
- when driving on autobahns, you need to stay to the right, Left Lane designed for overtaking.
- there is no need to “blink your headlights” for the car in front to let it pass, here it is customary to turn on the left turn signal
- If on the autobahn you see that the car in front has started to brake quickly or has turned on the emergency lights, start braking and also turn on the emergency lights so that the car driving behind does not catch up with you.
- You can get out of your car on a European highway only in reflective vest(therefore, check the availability of a vest when you pick up the car - they must be issued)
- On highways you can stop only in designated places. Only emergency stop(breakdown, etc.) is possible on the side of the road, but passengers and the driver are required to leave the car after wearing reflective vests.
- The maximum speed on a motorway differs depending on different countries Oh. For example, in France - 130 km/h, and in Switzerland and Portugal - 120 km/h. Usually in the rain maximum speed movement is limited to 90-110 km/h. If on a section of the motorway there are renovation work, then they usually put an 80 km/h sign there.
- Police rarely enforce speed controls on motorways, but sometimes carry out "raids". I usually look at how the locals drive and try to drive the same way, without standing out too much from the traffic. Specially installed signs usually warn about radars.
Video: paying for the autobahn in Greece (from 26m30s):
POLICE AND FINES IN EUROPE
Fines are very high everywhere. There is no point in listing the amounts. Try not to break it. If locals in the city are driving 50 km/h, you don’t need to overtake everyone, drive in the general flow. Please note that in Europe there are a lot of cameras on the roads, there are police officers who drive unmarked cars. We were caught like this in Montenegro and fined 50 euros:
There is no need to be rude to the police; always try to negotiate peacefully.
You can also be fined on highways, but higher fines for violation speed limit in the city.
Police car in Switzerland 
Police car in Portugal GASOLINE AND FUEL POLICY
There are several fuel policy options when renting a car, but the most optimal is when you receive and return the car with a full tank of fuel. If you have the opportunity to choose, I recommend this option. IN in this case You will only pay for the fuel you use.
If you plan to visit several countries during your trip, then look in advance where gasoline is cheaper.
Try not to refuel at gas stations along the autobahn; gasoline there is almost always significantly more expensive.
The procedure for refueling a car in most European countries: drive up, fill up with fuel for a certain amount, and then go to the cashier and pay with a bank card or cash.
On the highways, the cost of fuel is usually always 20-30% higher. If you want to save money, you should go off the highway to the side; there is a high probability that gasoline at the gas station there will be cheaper.
Video: cost of gasoline, procedure and features of refueling in Cyprus
