Car Rental Companies
Before you commit, ask about whatever's applicable to your situation:
- Weekly unlimited mileage rate
- Age restrictions
- Insurance cost
- CDW options (including "super CDW" or "zero-deductible" coverage)
- Theft insurance (required in Italy)
- Cost of adding another driver
- Drop-off fees within a country or in another country
- A list of offices in the countries you're visiting (consider the most efficient pick-up and drop-off points)
- Whether it's cheaper to pick up the car at the airport or downtown
- If there is a covered trunk
- Availability of extras, such as automatic transmission, child safety seats, or GPS
- Restrictions on driving the car in all countries (particularly in far-eastern Europe)
- Additional charges or local taxes such as VAT (value added tax), and airport fee, or a mandatory refueling fee
Before you drive away, ask about:
- Local laws you might not be aware of (for example, whether headlights are required to be on at all times)
- Length of the grace period for drop-off (can be 30–59 minutes)
- How to use the wipers, alarm system, lights, radio, etc.
- What type of fuel the car takes (diesel vs. unleaded), the local term for that fuel type, and how to release the gas cap
- Location of insurance "green card" and other paperwork
- Making repairs and emergency roadside services
- Changing a tire
Updated for 2009. For lots more tips, check out our best-selling Europe Through the Back Door travel skills guidebook.