Europe is one of the most beautiful continents on the planet; it’s rich in breathtaking sceneries, culture, and history. That makes it one of the world’s top travel destinations. The fact that traveling around the continent is super easy, thanks to the Schengen agreement, makes a road trip sound like a great idea. If a Euro-road trip is on your travel bucket list, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about renting a car in Europe.

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I crossed this one off my bucket list a few years ago, and even though it felt like a dream come true, I’ve come to an important realization – renting a car in Europe is not always rainbows and butterflies, my fellow nomad! There’s the good, the bad, and the ugly. My friends and I had the time of our lives; however, a friend of mine ended up with a blocked credit card and we were all left in debt! So, from one avid traveler to another, I believe that it’s just fair enough to share some eye-opening insights before you embark on this wild adventure.

Your Guide to Renting a Car in Europe

For starters, how do you even rent a car in Europe in the first place? It’s the Internet age so, everything is just a few clicks away. Here are some of my favorite websites for car rentals that should get you started.

Skyscanner

The most convenient way to rent a car is hands down Skyscanner since that’s probably where you’ve booked a ton of flights before. The travel fare aggregator doesn’t just compare flight tickets and accommodation deals, it compiles car rental options from different websites as well. The process is quite similar to that of booking a flight ticket. You just need to enter the dates and points of departure and arrival and Skyscanner does the rest.

Discover Cars

AutoEurope

Rentalcars.com

Here are a few other platforms you could check out if you’re renting a car in Europe:

• Sixt
• Oui Car
• Expedia
• Europcar

Wait… Could you even drive in Europe?

Before renting a car in Europe, you need to ask yourself, could you even drive there? For one to drive in Europe, he/she needs an international driver’s license just like anywhere else in the world. Other than that, a driver’s license issued from a country in the Schengen area would do as well.

The Ugly Side of Renting a Car in Europe

Now that things are getting clearer, it’s about time to open your eyes to the experience’s ugly side. Here are some downsides to renting a car in Europe that you need to know in advance:

There’s an extra cost

You might be saving the cost of a hefty flight ticket from Paris to Amsterdam, but there are some extra costs you need to bear in mind before opting to rent a car. For instance, toll gates can cost you a fortune in some countries like France, and the longer the distance, of course, the more you pay. There’s also the extra cost of gas you shouldn’t forget about.

In addition to the cost of parking, of course. From someone who’s lived in Europe, I tell you, the car will only come in handy for traveling. When it comes to moving around the city, you’ll find that it’s much easier to use public transportation. Finding a parking spot wherever you go is not that easy; I’ll delve more into that in the next point. So, that means that you’ll end up leaving your car in a parking lot overnight; hence, a longer stay and that eventually translates into an additional cost!

Also, bear in mind that everything is more expensive in Euros when compared to currencies in other parts of the world.

Parking

Speaking of parking and its extra cost, finding a parking spot is actually a struggle on its own. You might spend a lot of time trying to find a spot then end up walking a couple of miles to your hostel with your luggage in the middle of the night. You’re a backpacker and have no extra baggage to worry about? Well, that won’t be the case when you fall behind your schedule because you parked far away.

Or let’s talk about going around in circles trying to find your car in the middle of the night after a long day of sightseeing and partying. I mean, it’s an unnecessary hassle, right? All that you need at 3 AM is to find comfort in your bunk bed right away so you wouldn’t miss check-out!

Insurance could be tricky

You’ll probably be all chill and relaxed thinking that insurance will cover you in case of an accident or robbery, God forbid. Well, I was exactly like you when I rented a van with my friends in Europe.

Actually, contracts can sometimes be tricky. They might entail that there’s a certain cap for your car’s insurance. Or even worse, you might be giving them permission to charge your credit card just by signing the contract. Things like that, especially because they’re written in a super tiny font, can easily go unnoticed. And, if you’re not very fluent in the language of the contract, just like my friend who signed our contract, then you’ll be needing your loved ones’ prayers.

In my case, we were unlucky enough to have the van’s door scratched and the gas lid stolen; I don’t know who would steal that anyway! So, of course, my friend, whom I told you about earlier, got her card blocked due to insufficient funds.

Turned out that insurance only covered 800 Euros, and the damages cost us even more! I remember we had to pay extra 100 Euros each – we were nine travelers! After e-mails back and forth with the company, I asked for the bills to justify the ridiculous amount.

It turned out that it was because labor was so expensive in Europe, unlike mechanics in Egypt, where I come from, which are super cheap compared to this. And, of course, those who have cars would not be surprised when I tell you that paint was included in the equation, we all know what that means in terms of fees.

You might have to drive back to your starting point

Let’s say you rented the car in Berlin and you’re ending your trip in Amsterdam. then you’ll have to return it to the person who rented it for you in Berlin! Lucky me, I was already residing in France when I went on the road trip, so I was going back to where I rented the van anyway.

On the other hand, in case you’re on vacation, this will not just be a waste of money, but also a waste of time. If you’d like to avoid this hassle, it’s better to rent from a provider that operates in several countries where you can pick up and drop off the car wherever you wish.

Countries on your itinerary must be members of the EU

This might vary from one company to another, but I was asked about my exact itinerary before renting the van and was told that if I go to a country that’s a non-EU member, it won’t be covered by insurance in case anything happens there. So, don’t forget to check if that’s the case with the company you’re dealing with. If so, you need to double-check whether or not the countries you’re visiting are EU members, because some countries are in the Schengen area but not in the union and vice versa.

Alternatives for Renting a Car in Europe

In case the aftermath of a road trip is too much for you to afford, then here are some alternatives that will save your trip.

Cheap Flights

For starters, you don’t need to resort to expensive flights to travel around the continent. There are plenty of other means of transportation, and if flights have to be one of them, well, you can actually land yourself some cheap flights.

Aim to fly with low-cost airlines like RyanAir or EasyJet if you don’t mind having nothing on you but a backpack. These low-cost carriers offer you low fares in exchange for compromising luxury and a bit of comfort. Meaning that you’ll have to give up on things like luggage, food, and comfortable seating so the company would be able to reduce its expenses, and hence, reduce the price of your ticket.

Buses/Trains

I personally prefer trains and buses; I just love getting lost in the beauty of Europe’s landscapes on the way. There are lots of common bus operators in Europe including Flix Bus, Eurolines, and Oui Bus. And if you’re taking the train, Rail Europe is a great website to find options.

The Best of Both Worlds

I love to compare my options on Omio, formerly known as GoEuro, which is a website where you enter the details of your trip and it shows you all the available options; buses, trains, and flights. This way you get to easily compare all relevant results, in terms of price and duration of ride, on one platform without going back and forth between websites.

Carpooling

Another cool option is BlaBlaCar, an online carpooling platform where you simply enter the cities from which you’re departing and arriving, as well as the dates. The website will then recommend available drivers, that are traveling with the same route, accordingly. Don’t forget that carpooling also comes with a definite plus, making friends on the road!

The Bright Side of Renting a Car in Europe

Whether you end up driving around Europe or get someone to do it for you, you’ll love the road with all its ups and downs. The adventure and the adrenaline that come with it are still worth it! Whichever way you choose to opt for, you’ll still stumble upon breathtaking sceneries and you’ll meet amazing people on the road. The memories you’ll make and the experience itself are the things that truly count. So, now that you know what you need to know, you should be good to go.

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Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.

SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.

This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

GET INSURED NOW – Nomad Insurance

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