Going on a trip to another country can often call for needing to rent a car to get around. Particularly if you plan on doing some exploring across borders or staying for an extended amount of time.
However, before you sign any dotted lines in a language you don’t understand, or write a check for the price of a small island, make sure that you know what you’re getting into when you rent a car for international travel.
You Don’t Need To Get The Most Expensive Insurance They’re Pushing
Although they will urge you to buy the most expensive insurance that they’re offering which will cover you in the event of getting into an accident, you don’t necessarily have to buy it.
Your credit card will usually cover up to a certain amount of damage and possibly even your liability auto insurance which you already have back at home. Make sure that you talk to your insurance company before you go to see if you can use your policy internationally when renting a car before overpaying for insurance you may not need.
Booking Online Is Usually Cheaper
Booking your travel plans online ahead of time doesn’t just save you the worry of not having something ready to go upon arrival, but it is often much cheaper. Looking at websites which offer last minute deals or are teamed up with your bank or credit card company can be one of the best places to find great deals on cars.
Just make sure that you use a reputable website with positive customer reviews. The last thing you need is getting ripped off.
You May Need an International Drivers Permit
Depending on which country you’re traveling to, you may be required to have an international driving permit in order to legally get behind the wheel. It’s important to know that this doesn’t substitute your actual driver’s license, but is a supplemental document.
It’s as simple as applying for one at your local DMV and paying the fees which are required. If you are in a last minute rush you can apply for an expedited permit for an extra fee.
Renting Manual Transmission is Cheaper
Even though automatic transmission is quite common in the United States, manual transmission is usually the norm in the rest of the world.
If you don’t know how to drive a stick shift, then you may want to learn before you go since it is often cheaper to rent than an automatic.
Consider Taking Photos of The Car When You Return It
Since you never can be too sure about the honesty of a car rental company, you should consider documenting the condition of the car which you returned it in so that you avoid any accusations of damage.
