The use of public transport is recommended in many cases, but renting a car abroad may be the best (or only) solution. Who doesn't love a great road-trip?
The freedom and flexibility to explore new places, stop whenever you want, stretch your legs, take photos, rest or just take in the scenery - without always running to catch the bus or any other public transport.
In fact, going on a road trip is one of my favourite ways of getting to know a country or region. I've rented a car and driven on almost every continent, from Mexico to Namibia, from the UK to Botswana, from Finland to Australia, from New Zealand to Guatemala. However, there are tips and tricks you should take into account when deciding to hire a car for your holiday.
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Renting a car abroad - what to consider
1Use a recommended site
The first piece of advice is to find a reliable website that allows you to compare prices, car types and all the extras and options you need - without hiding essential information. I regularly use and recommend the Discovercars website because it's easy to compare and shows all the prices in a simple way. Compare the different results and read the terms and conditions of each contract before entering your credit card details.
2Don't use a debit card
Debit cards are not accepted for renting a car abroad because they don't have a pre-authorisation mechanism to block the funds to cover any damage or administration fees. And, very importantly, make sure the credit card is in the name of the main driver on the booking, otherwise you may have to pay again. However, you should travel with cards like these for other payments.
3Flexibility in cancellation
When looking for the ideal car for your holiday abroad, opt for a flexible vehicle. I'm not talking about a plastic car, but rather a car that allows you to cancel the booking free of charge up to 24 or 48 hours before pick-up. This allows you to cancel plans at the last minute, in case of unforeseen circumstances, or even do a new search the week before and, if you find one, book a cheaper car. I've done this a few times.
4Choose the right car
It's important to consider the type of car carefully. Unless I'm driving very short distances, I always reject vehicles in the lower class. For the sake of comfort, safety and luggage space, I prefer to pay a little more for a higher class car (B or C).
It can be tempting to focus solely on the price of car hire, but a vehicle in the cheapest class doesn't always represent a saving. A medium-sized car may be more economical in terms of fuel consumption, while a city car will probably cost less on the rental bill but will probably spend more on fuel out of town.
Another issue to take into account is the type of road you're travelling on. Just because you're going to Iceland you don't need to hire a 4×4, unless you want to cross rivers or go on mountain roads. Also, don't forget to calculate the space for luggage and the number of passengers.
5Study the destination where you're renting the car
Read up on the road safety precautions you should take before hiring a car abroad. Check the level of accidents, the state of the roads and ask questions in the travel forums.
For example, I decided not to hire a car in Cuba because I've had a lot of negative feedback about the lack of signposting, the poor state of the roads and the various problems (including imprisonment) if you're involved in an accident. Also check if you need an international driving licence. For example, if you drive in Montenegro, you need to read these warnings.
6Choose the right place to pick up the car
In most cases, the airport will be the place of choice for car hire abroad. Also take a look at locations around the airport or in the region you're travelling to and compare prices for the dates you need.
Also, enter the correct pick-up and drop-off times and dates. Provide information on the flight number, because if the flight is delayed the hire company may wait until you arrive.
7Count every kilometre
When you run a simulation to find the best price for car hire abroad, pay attention to whether it includes unlimited kilometres. Several companies, especially small ones - which appear first in the list of results - limit you to 100 kilometres per day.
Depending on your travel plans, this may be enough, but it's good to keep this factor in mind. If you rent the car for a week you'll be entitled to 700 km, but if you exceed this limit you'll pay for every extra kilometre and that can cost you a lot.
8Refuse satellite and green lane
One of the ways that car rental companies try to increase their profits is, for example, by trying to sell you the rental of a GPS device or the green lane (or similar) for driving on motorways.
The prices are sometimes higher than if you bought a GPS. In fact, I ended up doing that when I was in New Zealand. Another way is to download some maps and mobile phone applications or buy a mobile phone card and use Google Maps.
As for the greenway, you can also refuse because you can drive on the motorway and pay manually. In Portugal, of course, you can't drive on the SCUTs. In Sydney, for example, you can drive on the motorway and then pay the tolls online.
9Watch out for extras
Renting a cheap car abroad can become more expensive if you have to add extras. You need to be careful with extras and read all the information before finalising payment on the website. For example, some operators charge for pick-up or drop-off at the airport. In one situation, in Lisbon, I was required to pay 25€ just to pick up the car at Humberto Delgado airport.
It's also very important to check whether there are any administration fees, cleaning fees (more and more companies are charging if the car is very dirty) or fees for late or after-hours deliveries.
There's usually a grace period of around 30 minutes. What I always do is set the drop-off time to be the same as the pick-up time, even if I know I'll be returning the car a few hours earlier - that way I'm prepared for any delays or unforeseen circumstances.
10Need an extra driver?
Adding an extra driver is also something that is not normally included, although there are exceptions. With the company I used in Namibia, it was possible to add an extra driver free of charge, something that I think should be made available to all drivers, as it can prevent accidents due to tiredness from long journeys.
11Hire a car for a week
If you want to hire a car for an extended period, do a simulation to see if the price drops. In some cases, a week is cheaper than three days. One of the places where this happens is in London, and sometimes I rent the car for longer to benefit from a lower price.
12Don't offer fuel
There are several options when it comes to fuel policy. Whenever possible I opt for the full tank option, as this way I can be sure that I'm only paying for the fuel I've used. It's becoming more and more the norm with smaller rental companies to have to return the car with the same amount of fuel at pick-up and drop-off.
This makes it more difficult to calculate how much you need in the end. However, if you take note of the kilometres when you pick up the car and when you go to the petrol station, you can have an almost perfect calculation. I've done this several times.
13Inspect the car and take photos
Check the type of fuel (it should be written in the contract). Putting in the wrong fuel is considered negligent and is usually not covered by insurance.
Inspect the car carefully, make sure that any scratches (small or large) are noted on the contract. Don't forget to check the tyres, rims, roof, windows, headlights, mirrors and, very importantly, the chassis.
Open the boot and check that the triangle, spare wheel and accessories for changing the wheel in the event of a puncture are there - as well as other items legally required in that country. When the car is delivered, take photos of it and, if you are accused of any damage, demand photographic proof.
14See if you need insurance
Buy extra insurance - I use Insurance4carhire (only valid for residents of certain countries). With this insurance I don't need to buy the extra insurance sold by the rental companies. Another option is to use a credit card that covers any damage to the car.
If you don't have any of the above options, then take precautions and pay for extra insurance, as rental companies are known for the way they extrapolate any minor damage.
Travel Insurance
Never travel without travel insurance. I recommend IATI Seguros or Heymondo (if you use either of these links you get a 5% discount). They are the best travel insurance (and the cheapest) and have Covid-19 protection.
Additional tips for car hire abroad
- Make a note of the hire company's emergency number
- Inform the hire company immediately if you are involved in an accident
- Confirm fuel type
- Examine the contract carefully before signing and ask questions if you have any doubts
- Check for extra charges
- Confirm inclusions and exclusions (glass, windows, etc.)
- Take your time checking the car
- Keep the receipt from the petrol station where you filled up before returning the car
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I've been to 60 countries, so if you have a trip in mind with a group of friends, family or work colleagues, contact me and I'll be happy to plan, organise and lead the trip you want. The itinerary can be customised, as can the budget and activities.
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