6 Tips for Renting a Cheap Car in Europe
Europe is an expensive place. There are just some things you got to accept if you plan on traveling around the continent. And one of those is that renting a car will cost you about $50 per day. But there’s ways to make sure your trip gets off on the right foot, and still allows for plenty of sightseeing with your rental car at a discounted rate.
Keep reading for 6 tips as below:
1. Decide where you want to go (and how fast)
For most European visitors, getting there is half the fun; it’s time they spend sipping lattes in quaint cafes along the way. For others, however, leaving their homeland by plane or boat can be anxiety-causing enough without adding hours upon hours behind the wheel to their trip. If you fall into the latter category, does your research before you leave home and plan a route that keeps travel time reasonable.
In terms of rental rates, it’s wise to remember that renting a car in a big city will always be more costly than doing so in a smaller town – even if the mileage limit is unlimited. This is because there are higher inventory costs associated with having hundreds of cars sitting on lots in large cities waiting for renters – who may never rent them – compared to smaller towns where few or no drivers are competing for each vehicle.
2. Rent by the week
Car rental companies do not charge an additional fee for using their vehicles over longer periods of time; therefore saving anywhere from a few dollars per day to a few dozen is simple.
3. Use your credit card
If you’re an international traveler from the U.S., you may think that using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees will rack up charges quickly when used internationally, but in reality, most rental companies in Europe do not charge for this service and there are no bank withdrawal charges associated with processing a credit card payment for a car rental. In addition, many credit cards provide complimentary loss and damage insurance when renting cars in Europe – usually at no extra cost to the renter. However, if you want that coverage, be sure to ask about it before leaving home because most companies only include this free of charge when the vehicle is paid by credit card.
4. Be flexible with your dates
Many renters are told by their travel agent or family members to book a rental car before they leave home so they can hit the road immediately when arriving in Europe. But this is often not possible, especially if you’re visiting during high season where rentals sell out quickly or need to fly into an area that’s already under siege with tourists. So instead of forking over upwards of $100 per day for a vehicle in peak periods, consider flying into an area mid-week and try searching for last minute deals over the weekend. There are usually significant discounts on cars rent Friday through Monday. But these are often far more expensive during weekly rates when there’s nothing left to rent!
5. Use all the resources at your fingertips
Searching for rental cars online may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising to see just how many people are unaware that there are other ways to save. Websites such as which specializes in European rentals have one very strategic advantage over the big boys – they partner with hundreds of small motorcycle and automobile rental companies throughout Europe that major car rental companies don’t want you to know about, because these competing firms will actually rent you their vehicles for significantly less money than the larger players.
6. Rent an Economy or Compact vehicle (at least)
It’s interesting to note that most travelers believe renting a four-door super-stylish luxury sedan is necessary when visiting cities such as Paris, London and Rome, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, it can be thrilling to drive a hot sports car around these European meccas of art, culture and cuisine for a day or two, but if you plan on renting more than one vehicle during your trip or exploring areas outside cities such as rural Tuscany where roads wind through vineyards and olive groves for miles on end, you’re going to need something with more room that also gets better fuel economy.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, as you can see from the list above. There are hundreds of ways to save money on your next rental car. But if you’re looking for a way to maximize those savings even further. Consider renting from an independent company that specializes in European car rentals. Because doing so could squeeze hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of a single trip!