Europe Car Rental Tips:
Planning a car rental in Europe? Here's what to know before you book and when you pick up.
- Book early: We recommend booking your Europe car rental as far in advance as possible. Rates are generally better when booked early and peak travel periods — summer, school holidays, major events — can get significantly more expensive closer to the date.
- Check your insurance coverage before you leave — if relying on a credit card for coverage, get a letter of coverage from your provider in advance. European agencies often require documentation at the counter and may not accept verbal confirmation.
- Manual vs. automatic transmission: Cheap car rentals in Europe frequently come with a manual (stick shift) transmission. If you're not comfortable driving a manual, make sure to select automatic transmission when booking — automatic vehicles are available but typically cost more.
- Know the road rules: Traffic laws vary by country and infractions are often enforced by traffic cameras rather than police stops. Fines can be costly and may follow you home. Research the rules for each country you plan to drive in before you arrive.
- Stick with major agencies for a more consistent experience. Use the agency drop-down in our search to filter results to major European car rental companies only.
- Use a credit card with no international transaction fees when paying at the counter — it saves a few dollars and avoids unexpected charges on your statement.
- Print your confirmation from the agency's website — our booking system connects directly to rental agencies, so log in to the agency site after booking and save or print a copy of your reservation directly from them as a backup.
- Franchise locations: Many European rental locations are operated by franchises rather than corporate branches. Terms, conditions, and service quality can vary — check our reviews for your specific pickup location and read the terms carefully before confirming.
- What is the British Collection? We now offer Land Rovers, Jaguars, and Minis at select UK locations. Search your UK pickup location to see if British Collection vehicles are available for your dates.
Pro Tip: Most US coupons and US discount codes do not apply to European rentals. For the best rate on a Europe car rental, use an international discount code from our Europe car rental page — these are specifically valid for European pickups and will produce better savings than a US coupon codes.
