Renting a car abroad: compare car hire and save
Car hire abroad starts around €25 a day in Spain, but insurance, fuel policy and hidden fees often push the bill to €70. This guide covers what car rental costs per country, the paperwork you need, and 10 pitfalls that save you €30-€200 per trip.
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Book early - but not too early
Optimum is 4-8 weeks ahead. Earlier rarely cheaper. Last-minute (within 7 days) is 50-100% more expensive.
Brokers vs. direct booking
Brokers like Booking.com, Discover Cars and Holiday Autos are 20-40% cheaper than direct booking at Hertz/Avis. Same car, same desk.
Skip the insurance upsell
Skip the rental desk insurance (€10-€20/day). Get a yearly excess-waiver from Allianz/Insurance4Carhire (€40-€80/year covers all your rentals).
Watch fuel policy
Choose full-to-full, not full-to-empty. Full-to-empty means you pay €60+ for fuel that's already in the tank - you can't return it empty.
Check the car carefully at pickup
Photograph all sides of the car before driving away. Note every scratch on the paperwork. Saves disputes at return.
Cheap pickup locations
Airport pickups have a 10-15% airport surcharge. A city-center pickup at the train station is often cheaper.
Manual vs automatic
In Europe manuals are 30-50% cheaper. Reserve early for automatic if you can't drive stick - automatics sell out fast.
Toll roads in Spain/Italy/France
Budget €10-€30 in tolls. Get a Telepass/EU Toll device to skip queues. Cash-only tollbooths still exist on rural routes.
Cross-border driving fees
Renting in Germany and driving to Italy? Cross-border fee is €30-€80. Pick up in destination country instead.
Return the car cleanly
Return with the same fuel level and a vacuumed interior. Avoids the €30-€100 cleaning fee.
What does car hire abroad cost?
Prices vary widely by country, season and car class. These are realistic ballpark figures:
- Southern Europe, low season Small car (Seat Ibiza class): €20-35 per day. A week: €140-245 including basic insurance.
- Greek islands, peak season (July and August) Even a small car costs €60-120 per day on popular islands such as Santorini and Mykonos. Book at least 6 weeks ahead.
- Automatic transmission 30 to 50% more expensive than manual in Europe. Reserve early if you need an automatic: they sell out first.
- Extra costs Young driver surcharge (21-24, approx. €8-15 per day), additional driver (approx. €5 per day), child seat (approx. €10 per day), GPS (skip it, use Google Maps on your phone).
Popular destinations for car rental
- Spain (Malaga, Barcelona, Alicante) Cheapest car rental in Europe: a small car from €20 per day outside peak season. Great for the Costa del Sol or a road trip through Andalusia.
- Portugal (Lisbon, Faro, Porto) The Algarve is practically unreachable without a car. From Faro Airport you reach the best beaches in 20 minutes. Price: €25-45 per day.
- Greece (Crete, Rhodes, Kos) A car is essential on the islands. Crete is large: without a car you miss Samaria Gorge and Balos Beach. Cost: €30-60 per day in low season, €60-120 in July and August.
- Italy (Rome, Catania, Palermo) Avoid city centres (ZTL zones fine foreign plates), but for rural Sicily or the Amalfi Coast a car is ideal. Price: €30-70 per day.
- Morocco (Marrakech, Agadir) International driving permit required. Self-driving gives freedom to explore the Atlas Mountains and desert routes. Local suppliers are cheaper than the international chains.
What do you need for car hire abroad?
- Valid driving licence Held for at least 1 year. Within the EU your Dutch licence is enough. Outside the EU (Morocco, Turkey, the US, Thailand) an international driving permit is often required: apply at the ANWB or AA, approx. €17.
- Credit card in your name Required to block the excess as a deposit. Some suppliers accept a debit card, but the choice is more limited.
- Passport or ID card Your ID must match the name on the driving licence and on the booking.
- Minimum age 21 Young drivers (21-24) pay a surcharge. Under 21, renting is not possible with most companies.
Hiring an electric car abroad
Electric hire cars are on the rise: European rental companies like Hertz and DiscoverCars offer more EVs every year, including in popular holiday countries such as Spain, Portugal and Greece. Key points:
- Charging infrastructure In Spain, Portugal and Italy charging infrastructure on popular routes is good, but on remote islands (Crete, Sardinia) it is still limited for a relaxed EV road trip. Check the charging map via PlugShare or ABRP before you leave.
- Price EVs are on average 20-40% more expensive to rent than comparable petrol cars. But fuel costs disappear: charging en route costs €5-15 per 100 km, versus €15-20 per 100 km for petrol.
- Charging policy Check whether the car must be returned full. With full-to-full, pick a DC fast charger near the return location. Charging cables are usually included, but your own Schuko adapter is handy in emergencies.
- Range A compact EV (Renault Zoe, MG4) covers 250-350 km per charge. Fine for a day, but plan your stops. A larger Tesla Model 3 or Peugeot e-2008 gives more freedom on longer drives.
Compare hire cars, including electric
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Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to book a rental car at the airport or in town?
City-centre and train station pick-up points are typically 10-15% cheaper than airport desks, because airport surcharges and concession fees are built into the airport rate. If the location is convenient, pick up in town and save the difference.
What is the best way to avoid paying for rental car insurance twice?
Buy a standalone excess-waiver policy from a specialist insurer (Allianz, Insurance4Carhire) for roughly €40-€80 a year. This covers you on all your rentals worldwide and replaces the expensive daily top-up sold at the desk.
When is the cheapest time to book a rental car in Europe?
4-8 weeks before pick-up is the sweet spot. Any earlier and availability is fine but price changes little; any later and last-minute rates jump 50-100%. Avoid booking in the week before departure.
Can I rent a car in one country and drive to another?
Yes, but a cross-border fee of €30-€80 usually applies. It is often cheaper to drop the car at the border and pick up a new one on the other side, or to rent in the destination country from the start.
How much does car hire abroad cost on average?
In Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Greece) a small car starts from 20 to 35 euros per day. In peak season or on popular islands prices reach 60 to 100 euros per day. Using a comparison site you typically save 20 to 40% versus booking directly with Hertz or Avis.
Is an international driving permit required for car rental?
Within the EU your regular driving licence is sufficient. Outside the EU (Morocco, Thailand, the US, Turkey) an international driving permit is required or strongly recommended. Apply at the ANWB or an AA office, costing around 17 euros.
What is the minimum age for a hire car abroad?
Most rental companies require a minimum age of 21. If you are between 21 and 24, they often charge a young driver surcharge of 5 to 15 euros per day.
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