Renting a car, scooter or bike abroad
Hiring a vehicle abroad is mostly about the small print: deposits, insurance excess, fuel policy and licences. What to check, and how the rental services differ.
A rental car turns a city break into a region: villages, coastline and viewpoints that no train reaches. It also comes with more small print than any other travel booking, and most bad rental experiences trace back to a line nobody read.
Before you book
- Licence. Some countries require an International Driving Permit alongside your national licence. Check the rules for your destination and your licence's country of issue.
- Deposit. Most rentals block a deposit on a credit card, and many desks will not accept a debit card for it. Some services offer no-deposit rentals for a higher price.
- Insurance excess. Basic cover often leaves you liable for a large excess. Decide in advance whether to reduce it, rather than at the desk.
- Fuel policy. Full-to-full is usually the fairest; pre-paid fuel rarely works out in your favour on a short hire.
- Cross-border travel. If you plan to drive into another country, confirm it is allowed and whether it costs extra.
Car rental services we link to
Localrent focuses on local rental companies in Europe, Asia and Africa, organised by country.
GetRentacar.com offers car rental without a driver in around 100 countries, with both deposit and no-deposit rentals.
EconomyBookings compares more than 175,000 cars at 20,000 locations worldwide.
QEEQ compares rental deals from brands including Hertz, Sixt, Alamo and Dollar, with optional rental insurance.
Auto Europe compares car rental rates at 180 destinations and also rents motorhomes; it has been operating since 1954.
Two wheels instead of four
On islands and in dense old towns a scooter or bicycle is often the better choice. BikesBooking.com rents motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and quad bikes in 1,700 locations worldwide. Check the licence category a scooter requires where you are going, and always wear a helmet.