Renting a car in Europe unlocks the continent in a way no train or tour can match. But the rental industry is full of traps for the unwary. Here is everything you need to know to do it correctly.
Choosing a Company
The major international brands — Hertz, Avis, Europcar — are reliable but rarely the cheapest. For the best combination of price and service, comparison platforms like QEEQ and Auto Europe aggregate rates across dozens of providers and apply automatic price drop protection. Book at least three weeks in advance for summer travel; last-minute rentals in Italy, Spain, and Croatia can be extremely limited.
The Insurance Trap
This is where most travellers lose money. The rate you see advertised typically includes only basic third-party liability — it does not cover theft or damage to the rental car itself (CDW). At the pickup desk you will be offered full coverage for an additional €25–40/day. Whether this is worth it depends on whether your credit card or travel insurance already covers rental car damage. Check before you go, not at the counter.
Cabinly Tip
Many premium travel credit cards include rental car CDW as a cardholder benefit — simply pay for the rental on that card and decline the desk insurance. Verify the coverage terms in advance; some policies exclude luxury vehicles or rentals over 30 days.
Vignettes & Road Tolls
- Austria: e-vignette required for motorway use (buy online before you go)
- Switzerland: annual vignette required — sold at borders and post offices
- France, Spain, Italy: toll motorways, paid cash or card at booths
- Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia: vignette systems, buy online
- Germany: no motorway tolls for passenger cars
The Best Two-Week Drive Route
If you only have two weeks, the circuit from Nice through Monaco, the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and back north via Naples is the single best European road trip available. It includes some of the world's most beautiful coastal driving, three UNESCO sites, and world-class food at every stop.
Plan this trip
