Driving abroad? International automobile rental tips

Need wheels for your next trip abroad? There’s more to think about than driving on the “other” side of the road. From international driving permits to liability insurance, renting a automobile in a foreign country can be a bit more complicated than renting one stateside. Here are some tips for getting a great deal, making sure you have the right documentation and driving safely while abroad.

Booking your carBook in advance. Rental rates are nearly always higher at the counter than they will be over the phone, even just 24 hours before pickup. If you have time, comparison shop. Visit the Web sites of several rental agencies and search for identical vehicles on your travel dates.

Whenever possible, make all automobile rental arrangements, from booking to payment, before you leave the United States. Doing it this way generally makes the process cheaper, easier, safer and less likely to include hidden clauses. Once you are overseas, shifting exchange rates, unfamiliar rental specs, language barriers and other cultural differences can cause unexpected problems.

Ask about weekend specials, late penalties and gas charges. Many hidden discounts or automobile rental hidden costs will not be explained at the time of rental, and it may be too late once you find out.

Ask what time a automobile is expected for drop-off. Many rental agencies begin charging for each 24-hour-period from the time of rental, and will bill a full day for vehicles returned after another 24-hour period begins.

Be aware that many countries have a minimum and maximum age for renters. Drivers under the age of 25 or over the age of 70 may face surcharges or not be permitted to rent at all.

Whenever possible, if you see an ad for a rental automobile special rate, clip the ad or write down the promotional code. Many of the ideal rates do not show up on agents’ computer screens without a tiny prompting.

Always ask about senior citizen, AAA, credit card and frequent flier program discounts or add-on offers.

When making reservations for automobile rental pickups at an airport, select a smaller automobile than you would typically desire. Airport fleets are often stocked with bigger cars, as they are primarily used by business travelers, and you will often receive a free upgrade from a subcompact booking. Be aware, however, that European vehicles tend to be smaller than their American counterparts; while this might be useful if you are planning on driving on narrow country roads, it’s not so great for those who are extra-tall, carrying a lot of luggage, or travelling with a family or massive group. In these cases, do not take a risk — be sure to order the size you need just in case you do not get an upgrade.

Most European vehicles have manual transmissions, even though automatic vehicles can be found, often at a price. If you can drive a stick shift, it could save you money and hassles. Driving in Europe is often more strenuous than driving in the United States, as back roads and even some highways tend to be hilly, winding and often precariously placed on a mountainside or ocean cliff. But do not anticipate one person to do all the driving. So if not everyone can drive a manual transmission, think about looking for an automatic. Also, if you are going to a country like England or Ireland, be sure everyone’s comfortable with driving on the left side of the road — it can be challenging!

International driving permitsIf you are travelling to an English-speaking country, chances are you will be able to get by with an American driver’s license. However, many other countries will ask that you also obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is basically just a piece of paper that translates your information into 10 different languages and is recognized by over 150 countries. If you are planning to rent a automobile abroad, you may be asked to present one along with your regular state license. You must be at least 18 years old to get an IDP.

To obtain one, go down to your local AAA with two passport pics (with your signature on the back of each) and a copy of your state-issued license. You will be asked to pay a fee of $15 for a one-year issue and fill out an application, which can be printed on-line beforehand if you want to get a head start. If you cannot get to a local office or would rather apply by mail, print and complete the application and send it with two signed passport photos, your $15 payment and a photocopy of both sides of your driver’s license to:

AAA/IDP1000 AAA DriveHeathrow, FL 32746Attn: Mailstop #28

Beware of phony IDP’s! Only two agencies in the U.S. are authorized to issue IDP’s: the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. Hundreds of Web sites sell fakes, many charging over $100, believe it or not. For more information or to locate the AAA nearest you, go to the official AAA Web site.

Be sure to get your IDP before leaving home, as it must be issued in your home country. An IDP is not a license itself, merely a translation of the license issued in your country of residence. If you are stopped by law enforcement officials abroad, you must present both your IDP and your U.S. license. The only driving record you have, therefore, is within the United States, so obey the local driving rules! Any infraction or citation issued abroad will be waiting for you when you return home.

Check with the consulate or embassy of the country you are visiting to find out their policies on international drivers.

Know before you goMake sure you have a realistic idea of how much you will pay to fuel your automobile in the country you are visiting. Generally, drivers in the U.S. pay less at the pump than drivers in most other nations. Leave plenty of room in your budget for gas expenses.

Familiarize yourself with the local rules of the road well before you actually get into the car. Study up on such details as which side of the road to drive on, who has the right of way in a traffic circle and whether you are permitted to turn right on a red light. The ideal sources for this type of information are the country’s consulate or embassy, or an up-to-date guidebook.

Check with your auto insurance company to see whether a rental automobile abroad would be covered under your current policy. Unless you are renting in Canada or Mexico, you probably will not be covered under your existing policy, so you will need to buy insurance from your rental automobile company at the time of booking. Be sure that your coverage, whatever the source, meets the foreign country’s minimum coverage requirements.

Don’t forget your map! Particularly if you are planning on driving extensively, the security of having a detailed road map or atlas is more than worth the price you will pay for it. If you own a GPS, you can usually download international maps (for a fee) on your GPS provider Web site. For example, a selection of maps are available at Garmin.com and TomTom.com.

Most automobile rental companies offer GPS rentals, so check the GPS rental rates for your rental automobile before you buy an international map from your GPS provider. Rates to rent a GPS are charged per day or per week; for a two-day automobile rental, you will be better off renting a GPS and paying, say, $12 per day than paying upwards of $100 for an international map download for the GPS you already own.

More Source:

International Car Rental Tips | IndependentTraveler.com
Road Safety Overseas
Rick Steves' Europe: Driving in Europe
Guide to hiring a car and driving abroad

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Submited at Monday, April 12th, 2010 at 4:00 am on Tips by samantha
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