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Car rental in Europe
Posted on 4/15/24 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 4/15/24 at 1:08 pm
Heading to Europe in a few weeks and I was wondering if anyone had any do/don't/suggestions when renting a car. I'll be needing 2 separate rentals and (based on the research I've already done) plan on returning the cars back to the same originating city/country to avoid the surcharges.
Plan is to rent a car in Munich and use it for Munich and Austria. Then fly from Munich to either Amsterdam or Brussels. We'll use a car in that area before returning it and taking a train to Paris. Currently undecided about transportation in and around Paris, but leaning towards public transportation.
I'm looking for suggestions on whether it's better to use a site such as autoeurope.eu (or.com) vs the actual rental company's site. Also, I don't typically pay for the insurance on domestic rentals. For piece of mind, should that be considered for Europe?
I'll add that I know many of the cars are standards and that doesn't bother me since that's what I grew up driving.
Plan is to rent a car in Munich and use it for Munich and Austria. Then fly from Munich to either Amsterdam or Brussels. We'll use a car in that area before returning it and taking a train to Paris. Currently undecided about transportation in and around Paris, but leaning towards public transportation.
I'm looking for suggestions on whether it's better to use a site such as autoeurope.eu (or.com) vs the actual rental company's site. Also, I don't typically pay for the insurance on domestic rentals. For piece of mind, should that be considered for Europe?
I'll add that I know many of the cars are standards and that doesn't bother me since that's what I grew up driving.
This post was edited on 4/16/24 at 10:28 pm
10
Posted on 4/15/24 at 1:12 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
I had a very hard time figuring out how to get out of the rental car garage in the Munich airport, but other than that it was smooth sailing. I got the insurance for piece of mind. Driving around Austria was very easy. The cars should all have on-board nav if you don't pay for data to use waze in another country. I couldn't figure out how to change the language, but you can type the address in and just follow the directions. I drove from Munich to Salzburg and all the way to Vienna. It was honestly more stressful driving on I-10 in baton rouge.
Posted on 4/15/24 at 3:09 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
Can you drive a standard? If not, reserve well in advance because automatics are harder to get and are expensive. Edit: I see you answered this
Why do you need a car in Amsterdam? You can take public transport to get to places like Harlem or the tulip fields.
You def need one for Germany/Austria. However, I wouldn't get one until after the first few days. You won't need one while you are just sightseeing in Munich, which I assume is how you will start the trip.
You DEFINITELY do not need or want one in Paris. Just take the metro or taxis anywhere. The Paris metro is worldclass
Why do you need a car in Amsterdam? You can take public transport to get to places like Harlem or the tulip fields.
You def need one for Germany/Austria. However, I wouldn't get one until after the first few days. You won't need one while you are just sightseeing in Munich, which I assume is how you will start the trip.
You DEFINITELY do not need or want one in Paris. Just take the metro or taxis anywhere. The Paris metro is worldclass
This post was edited on 4/15/24 at 3:10 pm
Posted on 4/16/24 at 6:38 am to Tiger_n_Texas
Not sure which airline you are using, but check the cost of renting through them. I find it cheaper renting through AA at MUC.
You will need to get a vignette before you cross into Austria. Buy them at a gas station on A8 or at the border immediately before crossing. There is a map at the link below that shows which roads are covered by the vignette.
https://www.asfinag.at/en/toll/vignette/
As mentioned above, you will need an International Driving Permit for Austria. They are good for 1 year from the date that you choose.
Where in Austria do you plan to travel?
You will need to get a vignette before you cross into Austria. Buy them at a gas station on A8 or at the border immediately before crossing. There is a map at the link below that shows which roads are covered by the vignette.
https://www.asfinag.at/en/toll/vignette/
As mentioned above, you will need an International Driving Permit for Austria. They are good for 1 year from the date that you choose.
Where in Austria do you plan to travel?
Posted on 4/16/24 at 7:06 am to Tiger_n_Texas
Driving in Europe is so much easier than anything in the US, in my experience. Just watch your speed. I know I got caught with it since the speedometer reads in KMH instead of MPH, and I was doing 65, thinking nothing of it.
Posted on 4/16/24 at 7:45 am to Tiger_n_Texas
I have rented cars in several countries in Europe. Its funny because at home I will rent from whoever is the cheapest, but overseas I always try to rent with Hertz. Maybe it is brand familiarity or whatever, but I have not had a single problem with them.
Get an International Driving Permit before you go. Some say you don't need it, and you probably won't, but it is cheap and good to have.
Do not rent a car in Paris. The metro there is awesome.
Get an International Driving Permit before you go. Some say you don't need it, and you probably won't, but it is cheap and good to have.
Do not rent a car in Paris. The metro there is awesome.
Posted on 4/16/24 at 6:17 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
quote:
Can rental in Europe
Buddy if you can’t afford to purchase your own cans you probably shouldn’t be spending money on a trip to Europe.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 7:22 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
Tiger_n_Texas
Not sure exactly when you will be going to Austria but you might get a chance to play in the snow. All of the snow had melted in the ski resorts in Tyrol but the last week has been cold(below freezing during the day) and it has been snowing for 4 days with snow forecast for next week also.
Driving into Austria on A12, then heading toward Kitzbuhel on 178 will be some beautiful scenery if the snow stays on the mountains. I have gotten to see the Kitzbuheler Alps covered in snow in Feb 2020 and the real high mountains covered in snow in August several times.
Not sure exactly when you will be going to Austria but you might get a chance to play in the snow. All of the snow had melted in the ski resorts in Tyrol but the last week has been cold(below freezing during the day) and it has been snowing for 4 days with snow forecast for next week also.
Driving into Austria on A12, then heading toward Kitzbuhel on 178 will be some beautiful scenery if the snow stays on the mountains. I have gotten to see the Kitzbuheler Alps covered in snow in Feb 2020 and the real high mountains covered in snow in August several times.
Posted on 5/3/24 at 9:00 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
Thanks everyone for the tips and suggestions. We booked the rentals thru the airlines as it felt like the best option for price and brand.
6 days from Munich with Enterprise for 300 euro and 6 days from Brussels with Hertz for 240 euro, both standard SUV. Have to make the family pack LIGHT since everything is small over there.
Also went and picked up an international drivers permit from AAA; only took 10-15 min.
We're about 90% complete on logistics (rentals, hotels, tour tickets, etc). Still need to find a good canal tour in Amsterdam, catacombs in Paris, and concentration camp in Munich.
6 days from Munich with Enterprise for 300 euro and 6 days from Brussels with Hertz for 240 euro, both standard SUV. Have to make the family pack LIGHT since everything is small over there.
Also went and picked up an international drivers permit from AAA; only took 10-15 min.
We're about 90% complete on logistics (rentals, hotels, tour tickets, etc). Still need to find a good canal tour in Amsterdam, catacombs in Paris, and concentration camp in Munich.
Posted on 5/4/24 at 3:27 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
Yes, don’t do it
Posted on 5/5/24 at 11:18 pm to Tiger_n_Texas
You will get speeding tickets, particularly in the Netherlands, if you are seemingly 1km over the adjustable limit. And you'll get them weeks after the fact, even after you watch people with NL/BE plates fly past you. Except for the DE/NL transit on the plane, I'd be train all the way. I only ever rented in Northern Europe because I was driving to Bastogne, etc. The car never left the hotel garage otherwise in Paris.
You don't want to drive in Paris, except to get there. Imagine NYC with 2x third world mixed in, depending on where you are. It's not Naples, but damn, unless you've driven overseas, you're not only not prepared for the Champs Elysée, you're barely prepared to enter Paris at all. And if you have a woman with you, she will be hitting you repeatedly and often no matter what you do.
Paris' problem, at least to me, was too many f*@&% train lines. Olive green, mint green, kelly green, dark green, light green, etc. But it's also Paris, so once we hit the hotel, we walked everywhere over the course of a couple of days anyway (including my 8 year old who trucked 15 miles in a single day without complaint.)
I never advise booking through third party sites, it greatly limits your flexibility and recourse. I always book direct, because then the company you booked with can actually help you. When you book through third parties, the people at the desk can't do squat.
You mentioned two cars, and your comfort in driving stick (I presume you know stick in a truck is different than stick in a car), but what about the other driver?
You don't want to drive in Paris, except to get there. Imagine NYC with 2x third world mixed in, depending on where you are. It's not Naples, but damn, unless you've driven overseas, you're not only not prepared for the Champs Elysée, you're barely prepared to enter Paris at all. And if you have a woman with you, she will be hitting you repeatedly and often no matter what you do.
Paris' problem, at least to me, was too many f*@&% train lines. Olive green, mint green, kelly green, dark green, light green, etc. But it's also Paris, so once we hit the hotel, we walked everywhere over the course of a couple of days anyway (including my 8 year old who trucked 15 miles in a single day without complaint.)
I never advise booking through third party sites, it greatly limits your flexibility and recourse. I always book direct, because then the company you booked with can actually help you. When you book through third parties, the people at the desk can't do squat.
You mentioned two cars, and your comfort in driving stick (I presume you know stick in a truck is different than stick in a car), but what about the other driver?
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