Saving on Car Rentals in Europe
If you’re planning to rent a car for your trip, the time to do that is now. When you book in advance, rental companies and agencies compete for your business, and those prices fall.
Here are some tips for getting the best price:
Know the real cost of renting a car.
How much will that rental car really cost you? When you do a quick rental car search online, the rates you see will most likely not include taxes or insurance, and certainly won’t include the price of gas or the tolls that you’ll pay on major highways. And what about parking? Add it all up in advance to know what the total cost will likely be.
Book early
As most car rental companies allow you to cancel your reservation at no charge, we’d recommend snagging a reservation as soon as you think you’ve found a deal. (Make sure, of course, that you’re company does offer free cancellation!)
Picking up and dropping off in separate locations
This one is tricky…. X Can be really expensive… Check conditions…
Do you need insurance? Sure about that?
All about CDW, and credit cards, etc. X Even if you decline, the company might force you to put a higher deposit on your credit card.
A friendly word about gas
Diesel, unleaded.
Really inspect your car before leaving the dealership
Carefully inspect the car and report scratches and dents. Plus, really check out the gas situation. Turn the car on, if necessary to get a reading on the gas. (This happened to us this year in France.)
Don’t automatically start your rental on your first day.
Spending some time in Paris before driving off to Normandy? This might sound obvious, but don’t rent a car until you’re heading out of town! Many people instinctively book a car from the moment they touch down, regardless of whether or not they’ll be spending several days in a city (where the car will be locked away in a parking garage).
And if you’re thinking that you’re going to be driving the car around the center of these major European cities, we’d strongly encourage you to reconsider.
Next: Tips for Saving By Destination
About the author
About the author: Tom Meyers created and launched EuroCheapo from his Berlin apartment in 2001. He returned to New York in 2002, set up office, and has led the EuroCheapo team from the Big Apple ever since. He travels to Europe several times a year to update EuroCheapo's hotel reviews. Tom is also a co-host of the New York City history podcast, The Bowery Boys. Email Tom. [Find Tom on Google Plus]
