Renting a Car in Europe
From Autorati.com
More often than not, a person will base his or her entire decision on the price. This is especially true when one is on-line creating his or her own itinerary without the help of a travel agent or trained professional, something that within 5 years from now will be standard practice. While price is undoubtedly one of the most important things to consider when making a reservation, it is not the first priority. The first priority is to determine what kind of car you will need, based on a few different factors.
To begin, you must know how many people will be accompanying you on this trip. Remember that the European equivalent of a rental category will be smaller than its US counterpart, so make sure that you take notice of the model that they are quoting you for, along with the supposed size. Once you know what the model is, look it up on the internet and make sure that it will work for you. Some companies will quote you for what they bill as an intermediate car when it is in reality a compact size. Usually for 1 or 2 people, an economy will suffice, provided you have one suitcase apiece. In the event that you have more luggage than this, you may opt to put it in the back seat or upgrade to a larger vehicle. Keep in mind that if you are planning on stopping at any places where your luggage will be visible from outside the car, it is best not to keep it in the back seat.
For 3 people, a compact should be suitable. Sometimes, if you do not mind being a bit cramped on shorter trips, this will also accommodate 4 people. You may have to put some luggage in between the people in the back though. A car this size should be roughly the equivalent of a Ford Focus or Toyota Corolla here stateside. If you can afford it, I would definitely recommend an intermediate 4-door vehicle for 4 people.
For anything above 4 people, it is best to get a van, or more than one car. Once again, if you don’t mind being cramped, then get an intermediate wagon. This will allow you to seat 5 people and have room for the luggage. However, luggage for 5 may not fit under the pull-shade most wagons are designed with to eliminate luggage visibility, therefore increasing your chances of a break-in if you leave the vehicle unattended. Vans are typically much more expensive and use a lot more gasoline, which is a commodity in and of itself in Europe (current average of about $4.00 USD per gallon, less for diesel) and sometimes even more expensive than two compact vehicles.
There’s nothing less embarrassing than trying to squeeze too many bodies and suitcases into a car that’s not designed to take them. That is, unless you get a stick shift vehicle and don’t know how to drive one. Americans (myself included) have generally been spoiled with unlimited access to automatic transmission. Most of the rental cars in the States are automatic as well. The opposite is true in Europe. While most major locations do stock automatic vehicles, you will not get a very good selection to choose from and those that are there will cost anywhere from fifty to one hundred percent more than the manual version. On top of that, you will lose 5 to 10 miles per gallon in gas efficiency. However, if you are uncomfortable with a stick, it costs a lot less in the long run than taking a chance in getting in an accident, which costs you time, money and overall enjoyment of the experience. This is especially true in countries like England, Ireland and Cyprus, where the cars (and drivers) are on the opposite side.
James Martin advises the following things to watch out for when renting abroad:
- You'll probably want the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). It's insurance that covers the high deducible that the normal insurance comes with. Used to be that some Gold Cards covered this cost, but you'll really need to check, since some have stopped offering that service. You might check your own insurance policy as well for coverage.
- The rates quoted in advertisements seldom include all the costs you'll incur in renting a car--there are many hidden costs, such as having more than one driver. Plan where you'll drive your car, then get a final, all-inclusive quote before you compare the costs to leasing.
- It often costs more to rent from an airport, because the airports charge the rental companies to run their businesses there. If you land in a big city, and want to explore that city--why not spend time there and rent the car when you're ready to leave town?
- Reserve the car in the U.S. You'll often get a better rate than you might as a walk-up and you'll get peace of mind as well.
Click here to reserve a european rental car.
In conclusion, remember that in most cases you are planning for a vacation. Sometimes in order to enjoy it, you have to be willing to spend a little bit more. Keep an eye out for my next installment, when we discuss the best way to get the car you really need for the price you really want.