Tips for renting a car in Europe
Are you planning a trip to Europe, and considering renting a car during your stay? Here are some important tips you need to know beforehand:
1. If you choose to pick up a car from a car rental company straight from the airport, train station or port, you must be warned that there are ”premium station” taxes involved, varying from 15-20% of the fee, or a fixed sum ranging from 30 to 60 USD, depending on the country. To avoid this initial tax, you can take a cab to the closest car rental company and pick up your car from there, tax free. A good idea is to do some research on such companies found in close proximity to the place of your arrival, taxi fees, etc. You can drop off the car at the airport when you are leaving though – no fee involved there!
2. If you plan to drive from one country to another, even though most countries are in the European Union, there are usually damage fees for picking up a car from one country and dropping it off in another. Do your research, because sometimes these fees can reach up to 4,000 USD!
3. Be careful when comparing the prices of different car rental companies. Ask if the road and licensing taxes and fees are included in the price, because in some cases it can reach up to 5 USD per day.
4. Always try to return the rented car before the time agreed upon in your initial contract, because in most cases even if you are just half an hour late, you will be charged for an extra day. Also, remember to fill it up before returning it and keep the receipt – otherwise you will be charged damage fees for that too.
5. Some European countries have additional taxes for winter tires. So if you are going skiing in the Alps, you should check this beforehand, otherwise, you may end up paying up to 21 USD a day.