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Anyone ever rented a car in Europe?
Posted on 1/23/23 at 6:19 pm
Posted on 1/23/23 at 6:19 pm
Renting in Vienna, traveling to northern Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, then back to Vienna. Decided to rent a car rather than trains since we are going to some small towns.
Any tips?
What type of insurance should we get?
Do we need an international drivers license?
Any tips?
What type of insurance should we get?
Do we need an international drivers license?
8
Posted on 1/23/23 at 6:36 pm to Yesca11
Several times in Italy and France. I find that the driving is easy and the highways are good, at least outside of the cities.
Basic insurance automatically comes with the rental car.
Check with your credit card company. Many provide additional insurance for free.
Get an international driver’s license before you leave. I get mine from AAA on Causeway Boulevard which you can do even if you are not a member.
Basic insurance automatically comes with the rental car.
Check with your credit card company. Many provide additional insurance for free.
Get an international driver’s license before you leave. I get mine from AAA on Causeway Boulevard which you can do even if you are not a member.
Posted on 1/23/23 at 6:46 pm to geauxpurple
Good advice...also, look into a sporty cruiser from Sixt auto rental !
Posted on 1/23/23 at 7:44 pm to Yesca11
I've rented a car in Italy - it's easy.
Got the international DL and the cheapest insurance.
Got the international DL and the cheapest insurance.
Posted on 1/23/23 at 7:56 pm to Yesca11
I’ve never been asked for my IDP when I’ve rented over there, but you ever but you never know.
This is an LSU board so I assume everyone knows how to drive stick, but if you can’t an automatic may be available for an extra cost
Slovenia, I believe, requires a “vignette” (not sure of the Slovenian word) to drive on the freeways. Your Austrian rental may have an Austrian vignette but not a Slovenian one. I think the cameras will bust you and send the fine to your rental car company who will obviously charge your cc per the rental agreement. Italy freeways are toll and you pay as you go with cash or cc.
I find the Euro freeways to be in much better shape than in the US.
Eta: check your rental agreement about taking the car out of A. They’ll let you drive to I but check the fine print regarding SLO and HR. The standard insurance may not apply in those countries without a supplement. We rented a car in HR and had to pay to take it to Bosnia and Montenegro.
This is an LSU board so I assume everyone knows how to drive stick, but if you can’t an automatic may be available for an extra cost
Slovenia, I believe, requires a “vignette” (not sure of the Slovenian word) to drive on the freeways. Your Austrian rental may have an Austrian vignette but not a Slovenian one. I think the cameras will bust you and send the fine to your rental car company who will obviously charge your cc per the rental agreement. Italy freeways are toll and you pay as you go with cash or cc.
I find the Euro freeways to be in much better shape than in the US.
Eta: check your rental agreement about taking the car out of A. They’ll let you drive to I but check the fine print regarding SLO and HR. The standard insurance may not apply in those countries without a supplement. We rented a car in HR and had to pay to take it to Bosnia and Montenegro.
This post was edited on 1/23/23 at 7:59 pm
Posted on 1/23/23 at 8:00 pm to Yesca11
quote:
What type of insurance should we get?
Do we need an international drivers license?
I would not count on a credit card for car insurance overseas. Just buy the insurance there and get the insurance that covers everything. It’s not expensive and can save your arse as it did mine.
An international drivers license is recommended and easy to get at AAA. It is not worth cutting corners if something happens.
I would not drive across borders without approval from the car rental agency.
This post was edited on 1/23/23 at 8:01 pm
Posted on 1/24/23 at 6:33 am to VABuckeye
quote:
An international drivers license is recommended and easy to get at AAA
The law in Austria(and other countries) requires an International Drivers Permit. The only people that will ask for it are the police.
quote:
I would not drive across borders without approval from the car rental agency.
The rental policy will state which countries you are allowed to drive in.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 6:39 am to Yesca11
quote:
Any tips?
Not sure when you are going but I would not miss out driving the Grossglockner if you are there when it is open.
https://www.grossglockner.at/gg/en/index
Depending on your route in Austria, there might be a few tolls. See the link below. There is a map at the link that shows all roads covered by the vignette and toll roads.
https://www.asfinag.at/toll/vignette/
Check renting a car through your airline. I have always found this to be cheaper.
This post was edited on 1/24/23 at 6:42 am
Posted on 1/24/23 at 8:09 am to Yesca11
Hope you aren't flying into Rome, I would still be trying to merge into traffic and I've been home for 3 weeks.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 9:01 am to BHS78
I wouldn't consider driving in Rome or Naples or on the Amalfi Coast. The Tuscan countryside? No problem.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 10:04 am to VABuckeye
I had a rental car in Rome for two days because we took a day trip to Tivoli. The only thing worse than the traffic was the parking. It was scarce and expensive.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 10:18 am to geauxpurple
We were in Spain in May and the rental car prices were so high that we ended up hiring private drivers for excursions and to get us between a couple of cities. Nothing like sitting in the back seat of a Mercedes 500 sedan and just enjoying the countryside passing by. It was worth the cost and lack of hassle for us.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 1:05 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
I would not count on a credit card for car insurance overseas. Just buy the insurance there and get the insurance that covers everything. It’s not expensive and can save your arse as it did mine.
An international drivers license is recommended and easy to get at AAA. It is not worth cutting corners if something happens.
I'm not arguing just offering some counter points and my experience.
I have a USAA CC and it has free international auto insurance. The insurance is usually about 2x the car rental, so it is not cheap imo. I was side swiped while parked somewhere in England and it caused about $1200 in damage. The auto insurance company through USAA was excellent and paid me back in about 30 days. The negative is you have to foot the bill yourself. I'm not sure what happens if its a major issue?
An international drivers license is nothing but a translation into multiple languages, that is what it is for is to translate your info for them. With us being English I don't think its necessary at all. I'm not in a big city so the closest AAA to me is 60 mins away. It was a PITA to get it done so I likely won't again, I've driven 4 times and only had the IDL once.
But as said OP driving overall is very easy. Italians drive like maniacs though, but its very fun. The biggest issue is make sure your rental car is allowed to go to those other countries.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 1:07 pm to Yesca11
Not sure if just Italy or all the EU countries, but be careful about driving into Green Zones in the cities. Got a few tickets for that last year. Only like $40 but still a pain.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 1:09 pm to baldona
I'm not arguing the point either but would you really want to deal with a credit card company and the rental agency or just hand the keys over at the end of the rental, damage or no damage? One you just walk away from and the other could be a frustrating process.
Domestically, I always use the insurance provided by the credit card company but internationally I have more peace of mind just being able to hand over the keys and walk away.
Domestically, I always use the insurance provided by the credit card company but internationally I have more peace of mind just being able to hand over the keys and walk away.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 1:20 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
I'm not arguing the point either but would you really want to deal with a credit card company and the rental agency or just hand the keys over at the end of the rental, damage or no damage? One you just walk away from and the other could be a frustrating process.
It all depends on the cost honestly. But I had a good experience with the CC insurance.
If you have a great CC or bank then honestly I'd feel more comfortable dealing with say AMEX then dealing with someone in Austria. Every situation is different.
The insurance is not cheap through any rental car company.
Posted on 1/24/23 at 6:23 pm to Yesca11
Get the top level of insurance. Sixt is great. I have rented the last four trips and never had the international license. I could be lucky and stupid. Who knows.
Posted on 1/25/23 at 1:07 pm to ericberryistheman
quote:
Sixt is great
Was just going to ask about them, so glad to see this. I just booked through them for Croatia. I've seen them plenty, but never rented through them.
Posted on 1/25/23 at 1:20 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
I wouldn't consider driving in Rome or Naples or on the Amalfi Coast. The Tuscan countryside? No problem.
I'm renting for a week in July. Picking up/dropping off at FCO, but headed to Tuscany. Any issues getting from away from the airport?
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