How to rent a car abroad without problems

If you are planning a long trip that includes visiting several cities or countries, consider renting a car. This way, you will not be tied to public transport, you will avoid delays or inconveniences, and you will be able to move at your own pace. Car rental is available almost anywhere in the world and makes it easier to organize business trips, but there are some nuances. We will tell you in detail what you should pay attention to, and you can start booking your plane tickets and hotels.

Best companies

There are several types of companies that rent out cars. International ones have an excellent reputation and have branches in several countries at once. The most famous are Europcar, Hertz and Avis.

Local companies operate within one state or city - find out about the quality of service from reviews on the Internet. There are also intermediaries that collect all available local car rental companies on their aggregator sites. They offer the lowest cost, but also provide the fewest guarantees.

Rent abroad

It is worth starting to search for the right car a few weeks before the trip. To rent a car in most companies, you need to use online booking. Choose the model you like on the website, check that it is available to you, make an advance payment and receive a letter with a voucher.

Another option is to rent at the airport. Many companies open their offices there. But be prepared that the choice will be small - from what is left. If there are no rental points on the territory of the hub, use the function of organizing transfers from the airport to the nearest company.

Documents for rent

Documents required to receive the car:

• Passport (both foreign and domestic will do);
• Driver's license (please note that some countries require international ones, while in others the standard Belarusian ones will do - this is due to the fact that some countries have signed the Geneva Convention, while others have signed the Vienna Convention);
• Booking voucher if you booked online (print in advance).

It is important that in order to rent a car, the driver must be over 21 years old and have more than a year or two of experience - the conditions vary in companies. Keep this in mind when organizing foreign business trips .

Car insurance

Insurance is a mandatory part of car rental. Its amount is usually already included in the price. There are many tariffs at different prices and with different options.

CDW or LDW is a standard option. The car is insured against all types of damage, except for theft. If damage is caused to the vehicle, the driver pays a certain amount (deductible) set in the contract, and the insurance company covers the rest.

PAI is a medical insurance for road accidents. The insurance company covers the costs of treatment of the driver and passengers within a certain amount.

TPL — third party liability insurance. If an accident occurs due to the fault of the driver of a rented vehicle, the insurance will cover the medical expenses of the injured (except for the guilty party) and damage caused to other vehicles.

Price comparison

The cost of car rental depends on many factors: the brand and class of the car, the country, the type of company, etc. On average, per day of transport rental will require from €20 (economy class) to €120 (SUVs and vans). The lowest prices in Europe are in Spain and Portugal, the highest - in France and Germany.

Renting a car will make it easier not only to travel on vacation, but also for corporate travel. And to find a transfer, book hotels and air tickets, use the TravelHub service for organizing business trips for employees.