Renting a car abroad gives you the freedom to explore the country at your own pace. It also gives you a unique opportunity to have a deeper bond with your kids and significant other – the joy of exploring the unknown, figuring out which place to go and just the road trip itself are great and memorable experiences you can build with your family while you’re vacationing abroad.
That being said, renting a car is typically what vacationers do after they set foot in their destination country, so you know you are all sorted when you arrive (but you can also do a quick search online for any rental company in your area). Of course, you can opt to commute if that’s what you prefer, but if you want to explore the country at your own pace or you just want to get behind the wheel as you drive the new roads, then renting a car is the way to go!
There are things to consider before renting a car abroad such as cost, insurance, and fuel. But aside from that, here are some tips you need to consider or remember when renting a car abroad.
Have an international license
The first thing you have to do to rent a car abroad is to have an international driving license. Needless to say, without it, you won’t be able to drive around overseas. Aside from the license, be sure to carry your passport around (as you may need it in case you encounter a checkpoint) and any paperwork that you may need to have around.
Plan your trip ahead
Whether you’re planning to travel miles ahead or just a few blocks around the street, be sure to plan your trip ahead. This is to save you from potential headaches by avoiding any confusion or making road mistakes (i.e. mistakenly entering a one-way road). After all, you don’t want to get stuck in traffic because you entered the wrong road.
Review local traffic rules
You may think that road rules are universal, but it’s not; it may even be more different than you think. To begin with, some countries drive on the right side of the road while others drive on the left. But beyond the driving lane differences, there are subtle differences such as who has the right of way and speed limits.
Review the rental car company
Before handing in your hard-earned money, be sure to first do your due diligence to the rental car company you’ll rent your car from. Check for reviews (i.e. how they treat their customers, how’s their service, etc.) and especially check for legitimacy. It’s one thing to have a bad day because you end up with a bad car rental company, but it’s a totally different thing if you end up in legal trouble because the rental car company you rented your car from is not legal!
Book in advance
Booking in advance ensure that you’ll have a car before you arrive in the country of your destination. If you don’t book in advance, you might find yourself having a hard time finding a rental car depending on the availability (or lack of) cars at the given time. So, it’s best to book in advance to have your car ready.
Be prepared for potential extra costs
Finally, be prepared for potential extra costs. Even if you’ve planned your trip well, including the potential cost and budget for the trip, in reality, there are times when you may need to pay for extra costs here and there. For instance, for some reason, you ended up driving at a toll road even if your initial plan did not include driving on these roads. In these cases, you’ll have extra money to pay these unexpected charges.
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