What you should know about renting a car in Europe in 2014 - A Special Report by Robert & Andrew Bestor www.gemut.com 800-521-6722
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What you should know
about renting a car in
Europe in 2014
A Special Report by
Robert & Andrew Bestor
www.gemut.com
800-521-6722Table of Contents
Why rent a car in europe?.........................................3 Avoid Full-Size & Larger Cars...........................9
Keep It Simple...................................................................3 Stick With One Driver...........................................9
Beyond the Basic Price...............................................3 Think Twice About Intl. One-Way Rentals......9
Value Added Tax......................................................3 Request a Diesel.....................................................9
Premium Station Fees...........................................3 Don’t Have the Car Delivered to Your Hotel....... 9
Road Tax.....................................................................3 For the Best Rates, It’s Probably Germany...10
Navigation.................................................................3 European Rental Car Checklist............................10
Other Costs.............................................................4 Before You Go.......................................................10
Insurance.........................................................................4 At the Pick-up Location......................................10
CDW/Theft: Credit Card or Purchase?..........4 The End of the Rental........................................11
CDW/Theft in Italy, Ireland and Israel............4 Overseas car rental brokers...............................11
Rules for Credit Card CDW/Theft Coverage.......4 Insurance................................................................11
Credit Card Insurance Limitations.................4 Currency Guarantee.........................................12
WHEN CDW/THEFT IS INCLUDED IN THE RATE...........5 Cancellations, Changes, Early Returns...12
Other Rental car Charges........................................ 5 What if Something Goes Wrong.....................12
extra Equipment............................................................ 6 Adding It All Up......................................................13
Transmission................................................................... 6 Navigation: GPS - Maps................................................13
Age Restrictions........................................................... 6 ABOUT VEHICLE CATEGORIES.......................................13
Geographic Restrictions.......................................... 6 MECHANICAL PROBLEMS................................................13
International Driving Permit (IDP).......................... 6 VIGNETTES........................................................................14
about Winterization .................................................... 7 restricted zones in Italian cities...........................................14
GERMANY..................................................................... 7 Beware Multiple Reservations........................................14
Austria........................................................................ 7 taking a rental car to Eastern Europe................................14
Switzerland............................................................. 7 The Myth of the Full-Size Rental Car..............................15
France........................................................................ 7 DRIVING EUROPE’S Autobahns, & Autoroutes .........15
Lease instead of rent.................................................. 7 Left lane, right lane, a big difference.......15
The Right Rental Car for You.................................. 7 Tips on Passing......................................................15
Save money & avoid problems................................... 8 Rolling with the Big Boys.................................16
Avoid Airport Pickups.......................................... 9 Etiquette.................................................................16
Avoid Sunday Rentals........................................... 9 Speed Traps............................................................16
Avoid Small Towns................................................. 9 Summary..........................................................................16
Avoid Small Companies......................................... 9www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
Why rent a car in europe? the $75-to-$300 international drop charge.
A rental car remains the most flexible, Beyond the Basic Price
liberating way to see Europe. Except in
Most car rental quotes for Europe include
Switzerland, where there are a handful of car-
unlimited kilometers, value added tax, and third-
free villages, the automobile offers access to
party liability insurance. However, to make their
the tiniest hamlet. Keep in mind, the European
prices look as low as possible, some companies
continent has many more miles of paved roads
advertise the basic price of the car without tax or
than passenger rail lines.
extras, but when all is said and done you’ll pay a
Renting a car in Europe has become more lot more than the basic price.
complicated in recent years. The rental car
Value Added Tax
shopper must be knowledgeable about insurance,
currency exchange, European automobiles, Most car rental quotes include this tax. It
and the many ways rental companies and ranges from 8 percent in Switzerland to 25
brokers obfuscate the charges—many of them percent in Norway. Germany is 19 percent
mandatory—that are added to the basic rental percent, France 19.6 percent, Italy 22 percent,
rates. Making the right decisions regarding type and Austria 21 percent. It is mandatory and,
of car, insurance coverages, origination and except in very rare, extraordinary circumstances,
return point, can save the renter hundreds, not refundable.
perhaps even thousands, of dollars. Premium Station Fees
This booklet has been designed to assist the In Germany, if your rental originates at an airport
reader in making those decisions. or rail station the fee is an additional 22 percent.
Here’s how it’s figured: if the base rate of the car is
Keep It Simple $100 you add the 19 percent VAT to get a price of
‘Keep it simple’ is good advice in many $119 That’s if you pick up downtown. If the rental
of life’s endeavors, including renting a car in commences at an airport or rail station, however, the
Europe. Avoiding frills and extras will reduce price becomes $119, plus the 22 percent “premium
costs and headaches. station” fee, for a total of $145.
As we begin the year, the best and most Austria’s “premium station” fee is 17 percent,
straightforward European rental car deal is in Switzerland’s is 20 percent; and Italy is 15 to 17
Germany. There, for under $175, including the percent. Holland is 18 percent with a minimum
19% value added tax, you can get a compact €65. For these countries, substantial savings can be
car, VW Golf or similar with air-conditioning achieved by arranging to pick up the car at an off-
and four doors, for a full week. That price, airport/rail station office. Some countries charge a
however, can quickly escalate if you start adding flat fee; in France it’s about €40 and Belgium around
such extras as additional drivers, automatic €60. There is no additional charge for returning a
transmission, navigation (GPS), starting and rental car to an airport or rail station.
ending the rental in different countries, and so aTip: The premium station charge only
on. Such embellishments can also add a variety applies to rentals originating at airports and
of complications. rail stations; you can return the car to these
Recently, a customer wanted to rent a car in locations and still avoid the charge.
Dublin then drop it in London. Yes, that’s possible Road Tax
we told him - provided you’re willing to spend
several thousand dollars. However, since Avis, Almost every driver of a European rental car
Hertz, National, Europcar, et al, simply won’t these days pays some kind of road or license fee.
allow it, the only option would be a vendor that These range from about $1.50 to $5 per day, often
specializes in exotic rentals. there is a maximum charge. Sometimes the road tax
will be built-in to the overall rental cost, sometimes
While that’s a rather extreme example, it’s a separate fee paid locally.
we hear every day from people who, with just
a small adjustment, could save hundreds of Eco Fees
dollars. The idea of picking up a car in Salzburg Some countries charge environmental fees.
and dropping it somewhere in Germany is a case France, for example charges €5 per day to a
in point. Why not instead take a 10-minute train maximum €30 on all automatics.
ride to Freilassing in Germany and begin your Navigation
rental there? You’ll get the car in Germany where
When available, some GPS (Global Positioning
rates are lower than in Austria, and you’ll avoid
System) devices work only in the country of
Gemut.com Car Rentals 3 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
rental, though the trend seems to be toward don’t walk away until you’ve paid the deductible.
devices that cover other countries. The larger In addition, failure to file a police report is often
and more expensive the car, the better the grounds for invalidating purchased insurance.
chance it will come with a factory-equipped GPS. Some CDW coverage sold by rental companies
Technically challenged renters may find limited excludes one-car accidents. In other words, if
availability of rental agents to assist them in you get a dented fender while your car is parked
learning how to operate their car’s nav system. and you can’t locate the other car’s driver,
In Germany, if your car is midsize or above, and you’re on the hook for the repairs. Many CDW
the supplier is Avis or Europcar, you have a good policies also exclude damage to the car’s roof,
chance of getting a free GPS, though it may be windows, wheels, undercarriage, side mirrors
a portable. In other countries, however, there is and interior.
much less availability. When GPS is an option, CDW/Theft in Italy, Ireland & Israel
charges range from about $6 to $20 per day.
In both Italy and Israel, CDW and theft
Other Costs coverage must be purchased from the rental
company. Some credit cards offer coverage in
There are plenty of other ways rental
Italy, but it means nothing because all major
companies pile on extra charges. The most
rental companies require the purchase of CDW
common are registration fees, contract fees,
and theft insurance. The only question left is
cross-border fees (usually to go into eastern
will your credit card reimburse the deductible in
countries), winterization charges, even credit
case of damage or theft? Apparently Visa will,
card fees. Inquire when booking. Also see page
but confirm with them. This a murky area.
5, Other Rental Car Charges.
You may also wind up purchasing CDW/
Insurance theft in Ireland as only Mastercard’s World Card,
This is a complicated topic but here, in Business Card, and Diner’s Club cards provide
general, is what you need to know: coverage there. In addition, in order to avoid
purchasing CDW/theft from most Ireland rental
All European rental companies are required companies, the renter must also produce written
by law to protect themselves and their rental proof of credit card coverage.
customers with millions of euros in third-party
liability insurance. In other words, the rental Rules for Credit Card CDW/Theft
company covers you for damage to property Coverage
and persons outside your vehicle. What you are Prior to your U.S. departure, be sure to
responsible for is damage to, or theft of, the car contact your credit card company to find out if
you rented. For that you need Collision (CDW) your card provides free CDW/theft coverage in
and theft insurance. Europe. Once you know you’re covered there
CDW/Theft: Credit Card or Purchase? are just a few basic rules to follow to make
certain you will be reimbursed if your rental car
Except in countries where you are required is damaged or stolen.
to purchase CDW/theft, we recommend rentals
be paid for with a credit card that provides • Decline the CDW/theft coverage offered by
free CDW/theft coverage. Those who sell CDW/ the car rental company. Don’t sign any contract
theft point out that most credit cards offers only unless you are certain that by doing so you are
“secondary” coverage. While that is true, it’s NOT accepting the company’s offer of coverage.
also irrelevant. Since you won’t have any other If you accept the proffered insurance two
coverage in Europe unless you purchase it from bad things happen: one, you pay for expensive
the rental company (something you don’t want CDW/theft insurance, and, two, your better
to do, especially since the credit card coverage credit card coverage is invalidated.
is so much better) your credit card becomes • Pay for the entire rental — deposits, taxes,
primary. The CDW/theft insurance sold by rental extras, everything—with the same credit card
companies costs $10 to $40 per day and usually you used to reserve it. Don’t pay that 20 euro
has a high deductible, between $800 and $3000. road tax at the end of the rental in cash or
Your credit card...provided it offers CDW/theft with a different credit card. You’ll invalidate the
insurance (be sure to check)...is free and zero insurance.
deductible.
• Notify the credit card company of damage
Proponents of buying CDW/theft are fond or loss within their specified time period. This
of saying that in the event of damage you “just period varies, depending on the card, but we
walk away” at the end of the rental. Not so. You recommend immediate phone notification. It is
Gemut.com Car Rentals 4 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
likely your credit card company has a toll-free based car rental brokers to offer insurance for
number you can use overseas. collision (CDW) and theft as part of their basic
• Submit your reimbursement claim within price, not as an option. Sounds great but there’s
your credit card’s specified time limit, typically a catch. The included CDW and theft insurance
within 45 days after the damage or loss, though often carries a substantial deductible, usually in
that may vary by credit card company. the $1,000 to $3000 range and you do not have
the option of declining this coverage and relying
Credit Card Insurance Limitations on the insurance coverage provided by your
• Coverage applies to the cardholder whose credit card. In order to reduce the deductible or
name appears on the car rental contract. Other “excess” to zero or near zero you will have to
drivers listed on the rental contract are also purchase additional insurance, often referred to
covered. as ”Super CDW.” For more on this see page 11.
aCaution: If you use your credit card to
pay for another person’s rental, that person will Other Rental Charges
not be covered for CDW/theft unless you are Knowing in advance precisely how much
listed as a driver on the rental contract. your European rental car will cost is becoming
• Be aware that some vehicles are exempt an ever more difficult proposition. Most people
from credit card CDW/theft coverage. Exotic understand there is a basic rate plus value added
cars and expensive vehicles such as Porsche, tax but after that it gets complicated.
Bentley, Ferrari, 9-passenger vans, trucks, and Following is a checklist of possible extra
top categories of Mercedes, BMW and Audi are charges and strategies for dealing with them:
usually not covered. However, most 7-passenger • Extra Drivers: Adding an extra driver is
vans and selected BMW, Mercedes, and Audi seldom free and can cost as much as $6 to $25
cars are covered. Check with your credit card per day. aYour strategy: Use one driver. If
company. that’s not practical, then determine the cost in
• Your credit card limits its CDW/theft advance and factor it into the rental decision. The
coverage to a certain number of rental days. lowest rental rate may not be the best overall
Some Mastercards cover rental contracts of up to deal once you add extra driver charges.
15 days. Most Visa, American Express (see Tip • In Which Currency is the Price of Your
below), and Diner’s Club cards provide coverage Rental Guaranteed?: If you pay for the rental
to 31 days. If your rental period exceeds those in Europe, the rate will be guaranteed not in US
limits you will not be covered for any portion of dollars but in local currency, so you won’t know
the rental. Check with your credit card. the exact amount in dollars until your credit card
In some cases, in order to decline the rental bill arrives. aYour strategy: Pay in advance in
company’s offer of insurance, you may have the U.S., making sure, of course, that you can
to provide proof of insurance. Your credit card cancel without charge.
company can email you a letter that proves you • Credit Card Fees: If you wait until you
have CDW/theft coverage. We suggest you carry get to Europe to pay for your rental, most credit
that letter with you to Europe to show at the cards will charge a 3-percent foreign transaction
rental counter. charge. The same goes if you book through
Another purchase option that offers better an overseas broker. aYour strategy: Pay in
rates than those offered by car rental companies advance in the U.S.
is Travel Guard’s $9 per day CDW and Theft • Late Charges: Bring the car back a few
coverage. The deductible is $250. Other travel minutes late and you’re likely to get an extra
insurers have similar policies. day’s rental charge tacked on to your bill. Gone
aTip: American Express card members are the days of a one-hour grace period for late
may find it worthwhile to enroll in the company’s returns. aYour strategy: Check the pickup
Premium Car Rental Protection. Enrollees in this time stamped on your rental contract and make
plan get CDW/theft coverage on rental contracts sure you return the car earlier than that time.
as long as 42 days. The cost is $19 to $25 • Fuel Charges: If the rental company
per rental but coverage is “primary” and there has to fill the fuel tank when you return the
are other benefits, including coverage of more car, you’ll pay as much as $18 per gallon, and
expensive cars and the 9-passenger van. perhaps a refuelling charge as well. Bring back a
When CDW/Theft is Included in the Rate near-empty tank and you might pay more than
It is standard procedure for online, Europe- $200 for fuel plus a refueling charge. aYour
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strategy: Fill up as close to the return location Some GPS systems operate only in the country in
as possible and save your gas receipt in case you which the car was rented.
are billed post-rental refueling charges. • Seats for Children: These are mandatory
• More Fuel Charges: Whether you want it in most countries. Expect to pay about from €10
or not, some European rental stations charge for to €50 per rental, per seat.
the first tank of gas and expect you to return an • Winter Tires: Mandatory in some
empty tank. aYour strategy: Not many options countries, but virtually unavailable in countries
here other than to bring the car back on fumes. other than Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
If that doesn’t work, you might get a credit if The winter tire fee is usually included in the basic
you return the car with at least a quarter of a rate.
tank, but you’ll probably have to stand in line to • Ski Racks: Available for most cars at about
request it and then wait while the tank level is $10 per day to a maximum of about $60 per
confirmed. rental.
• Cleaning Charges: Returning a rental car • Luggage Racks: Generally, these are no
that requires extraordinary cleanup measures longer available in Europe.
– pet hair on the upholstery, for example - can
trigger extra charges on your credit card bill. Transmission
aYour strategy: Take care of your rental car; An ability to drive a car with standard
don’t assume the rental agency will accept it any
transmission will save you money on your
condition.
European rental car. In addition, automatic
• One-Way Fees: If you want to rent a car transmissions are rare in vans and station
in, say, Paris and drop it in Nice, it’s very likely wagons. In some countries, automatic
you’ll pay no more than if you returned the transmission costs 50-percent more than
car back to Paris. With a few minor exceptions the same car with manual transmission. The
(Hertz charges 20 euros for all one-way rentals message is clear, learn to drive a ‘stick.’
in Germany), this is true of most European
countries; seldom will you be charged a one-way Age Restrictions
fee within the same country. However, if you There is no upper age limit for renting a car
want to drop the car in a different country, you’ll in most countries. However, a few companies in
pay an international one-way charge. These Ireland, the U.K., Denmark, and certain eastern
range from about $100 to over $5,000. One-way countries won’t rent to older drivers, though
fees on rentals that involve Italy or Spain are exceptions are often possible. Minimum renting
expensive, typically in the $500 to $1500 range. age ranges from 19 to 24 and in almost all cases
A one-way rental between Scandinavia and Italy, drivers in this age category must pay extra fees
provided you can find a rental company that will and/or purchase CDW.
do it, will be at least $1500. High fees also apply
when pickup is in an eastern European country Geographic Restrictions
and drop is in a western European country (and Most European rental cars can be driven
vice versa); sometimes it’s just not possible. anywhere in Western Europe. Cars that can
So don’t paint yourself into corner by booking be driven to former Eastern bloc countries
“open jaw” travel that has you arriving in, say, such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Frankfurt and leaving from Rome or Warsaw, Slovenia and Hungary are available at a slightly
without first fully understanding the cost of travel higher price. Cars bound for countries such as
between the two cities, be it by car, air, or rail. Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and former Soviet
• Other Charges: Some rental cars in Union countries will cost more and may require
France, mainly automatics and larger cars, additional insurance. Certain expensive cars may
pay an environmental fee. In Ireland, some not be taken to Italy and most cars rented in
companies charge a one-time credit card fee. Europe are not permitted to travel to Africa or
There are often “cross border” fees for driving certain islands. When reserving the car be sure
between countries in Eastern Europe. to ask about geographic restrictions.
EXTRA EQUIPMENT International Driving Permit (IDP)
• GPS Navigation: Sometimes free on An IDP is required to rent a car in Austria and
upscale cars but not on economy, compact or Poland, some renters report not being asked to
midsize vehicles. Prices vary from Europcar’s show an IDP. Even though you won’t need an IDP
6 euros per day to Hertz’s daily charge of €17. to rent a car in most places, in some countries
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you will be fined if you don’t have one. The Lease instead of rent
IDP is not a separate license but a translation
Unless you require a car for more than
and verification of your regular driver’s license.
about six weeks you probably will spend more
All rental companies in continental Europe
money on a lease than a straight rental.
recommend North Americans carry the IDP when
driving in Europe. The document supplements There are several advantages to the lease/
but does not replace your home driver’s license buy-back program:
which you must have to rent a car anywhere in • You get a brand new car to your
Europe. The IDP is available for about $15 at AAA specifications; exact model, engine type, and
and National Auto Club (NAC) offices. equipment
aTip: Beware online scammers who sell • You pay one price, there are no other
IPDs for from $35 to $100; only AAA and NAC charges
are authorized by the U.S. State Department to
• The deal includes full, zero-deductible
issue the IDP.
insurance
about Winterization • The car can be driven virtually anywhere in
Germany Europe.
German law requires winter tires when • No extra charge for multiple drivers
driving in “wintry” conditions and rental car
companies charge extra for them, though the
The Right Rental Car for You
charge is usually included in the basic rental When choosing a car to drive in Europe you
car rate. The penalty if your car doesn’t have should first come to grips with the reality that
winter tires, and you are caught driving in snow, there are no Ford Victorias or Lincoln Town Cars
is about €40. Worse, however, you may be in European rental fleets. That kind of passenger
financially liable if you don’t have them and are room and trunk space doesn’t exist. You can
involved in an accident on snow. And, since you rent S-class Mercedes, 7-series BMWs, and Audi
would be breaking the law, driving without winter A8s, but they start at more than $2,000 per
tires might also void your insurance coverage. week, require two credit cards at pickup, can’t be
driven into Italy or any eastern country, and are
Winter tires in are now mandatory for
probably excluded from insurance coverage by
Avis, Europcar, and Hertz rentals commencing
your credit card. So get used to the idea of Opels,
November 1-March 31.
VWs, Fords, Peugeots, Fiats, Seats, Skodas, and
The good news is if you’re not in the smaller Mercedes, BMW and Audi.
mountains, your chances of actually driving on
It is also very important not to get hung
snow are pretty low. And when it does snow in
up on specific makes and models. Every rental
Germany, roads are quickly cleared.
car company in Europe guarantees bookings by
Austria category, not make or model. So even if your
Winter tires are mandatory and included in reservation says Mercedes Benz C-Class, the
the basic rental car price. words “or similar” will be appended and thus you
could get an Opel Signa or another car in the
Switzerland
fullsize category.
Winter tires are also mandatory here and
Subcompact: Typical cars: Opel Corsa,
usually included in the basic rental car rates.
VW Polo, Fiat Punto. Okay for two persons not
France interested in burning up the Autobahn. Trunk
Europcar, which dominates the France space is small and once in a while there is no air-
rental car market, offers winter tires only on conditioning.
a few vehicles at a high cost. Hertz has snow Compact: Typical cars: Opel Astra, VW Golf,
equipment on request at only a few, mostly high Ford Focus, Peugeot 308. Comfortable at 80 to
altitude, stations. 90mph. Good trunk - figure one big suitcase and
Other countries two small ones, or two large ones. Should also
Four-wheel drive vehicles in all countries be room for a garment bag and/or a soft duffel
are scarce and expensive. Some companies no or two. Both two-door and four-door models,
longer offer tire chains as extra equipment. Some occasionally with a sunroof. Fine for three adults
drivers feel more comfortable with front-wheel who go easy on the luggage. Air-conditioned.
drive cars in ice and snow, though no rental Intermediate: Typical cars: Opel Vectra,
company will guarantee front-wheel drive. VW Passat, Renault Laguna, Audi A4. Our
Gemut.com Car Rentals 7 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
recommended category for two couples. O.K. on Europe. You can move up to a roomier nine-
the Autobahn but underpowered with four people passenger van but your credit card will probably
and luggage. not provide collision and theft insurance
Full-size: Typical cars: Mercedes C-class, coverage; you’ll have buy it from the rental
Opel Signum, Peugeot 607. Full-size is a company. Often two midsize sedans will be less
misnomer. Most of the cars in this category expensive.
are no larger, in some cases smaller, than the Seven and nine-passenger van have three
intermediate VW Passat. If you want a nicer car, rows of seating, similar to US minivans. The
by all means rent a full-size; but if you’re only nine-passenger assumes three persons per
moving up for extra passenger and luggage seat—three in front, three in the center seat
space, forget it, you’re wasting your money. (See and three in back. Seven-passenger vans have
About Vehicle Categories” on page 13) front buckets, a shorter center bench seat or
Station Wagon: Sometimes referred to two buckets, and a rear bench. Minivans are fine
in Europe as a Kombi. Come in three sizes: for four or five people, but beyond that, luggage
compact (VW Golf, Opel Astra), midsize space is a problem.
(Vectra, VW Passat) and full-size (Volvo aTip: Do not plan to rely on a credit card
V70). You pay more for a wagon than for the for CDW and theft insurance when renting a
same model sedan. Though wagons offer more nine-passenger van. Some credit card companies
luggage space, unless you pull the retractable exclude it from their insurance coverage (except
cover—which reduces the luggage space to sedan for the American Express Premium coverage).
size—your gear is exposed. For four people we Vans become scarce every summer. Book early.
like the midsize sedan over the compact wagon; Luxury Cars: Power and engineering make
more passenger comfort and almost as much them somewhat safer than the run-of-the-mill
luggage room. In a pinch, the midsize and full- Opels, VWs, Skodas, and Fords, but at a hefty
size wagons can carry five people but someone price. Expect to pay more—sometimes much
has to ride in the rear center seat. more— than $650 per week for an E-class
MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle): A recent Mercedes, 5-series BMW, or Audi A6. Weekly
addition to European rental fleets has been prices start about $1400 for S-Class Mercedes,
“crossover” vehicles such as the VW Touran, 7-series BMW, or Audi A8.
the Opel Zafira and the Ford C-Max. These
combination SUV/wagon/van vehicles have Save money & avoid problems
created a new rental category, “Intermediate Here are a dozen suggestions every
Special.” Though sometimes sold in Europe as Europe car rental customer should consider
seven seaters, in rental fleets they almost always when deciding on a car rental. Not every
come with just five seats, leaving the rear area recommendation will apply to every renter:
for luggage. In passenger and luggage room
Avoid Airport Pickups
they are comparable to a midsize station wagon.
In our opinion these cars are more comfortable Commence your rental at a European airport
for four persons and luggage than a regular and you’re likely to pay a tax of 15% to 22%.
intermediate sedan or even an intermediate Notable exceptions are France, Spain, Ireland, and
station wagon. the U.K. where airport and rail station charges
range from $35 to $80. In Germany, however, that
aWarning: Some companies advertise midsize VW Passat you can get at an off-airport
these cars for six and seven passengers. Yes,
location for, say, $200 costs $244 at an airport or
some MPVs come with two folding jump seats but
rail station, thanks to a 22% tax. This so-called
they occupy ALL the luggage space and are not
“premium station” fee also applies to rail stations.
suitable for more than five passengers.
It’s worth noting there is no extra charge for
Vans: You’re taking the family to Europe and returning a car to a “premium station.”
everybody wants to ride together in the same
Avoid Sunday Rentals
vehicle. One of those seven-passenger minivans
sounds like just the ticket for your party of six. The vast majority of off-airport rental car
There are two important reasons why you may locations in Europe are closed on Sundays,
be better off with two midsize cars; luggage making it likely you will have to pay an expensive
space and money. A seven-passenger vehicle airport pickup charge if you plan to start a rental
may be OK for hauling kids to soccer games but on that day.
it simply doesn’t have enough storage space Avoid Small Towns
to handle luggage for six persons traveling in Fewer cars to choose from and less savvy
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agents make renting a car in a small town a bit to full size is substantial. In Germany, the base
more adventurous than in Europe’s major cities. price for a midsize station wagon may be as
The small-town rental agent, who deals mainly little as half the price of a full-size wagon. And,
with European rentals, may not be completely though most rental companies slot the BMW 320
familiar with the terms and conditions of bookings wagon into the “full size” category, it has slightly
made in North America. Most Europeans, for less luggage space than the midsize Opel Vectra
example, do not rely on a credit card for optional wagon. (See About Vehicle Categories page 13).
collision and theft insurance and the small town Stick With One Driver
agent may assume you want that coverage when
you do not. As a result, you may find unwanted Most, but not all, rental companies charge
charges on your credit card when you return a substantial fee if you want to list more than
home. Not understanding that North American one driver on the rental contract. Early in this
credit cards provide free insurance, the agent report we mentioned a “best deal” price of less
may insist you buy his coverage. than $175 on a compact car in Germany for one
week. However, the deal is not so good if there
Another problem is the skimpy selection of will be more than one driver. Avis in Germany,
cars. You may have a confirmed reservation for a for example, charges €5 a day to a max of €50
car with automatic transmission but some smaller for additional drivers. Europcar in Germany
stations don’t have them in their fleets; they are allows immediate family members to drive free,
brought in on as-needed basis. Occasionally the and Hertz €10.7 per day, €53 per week to a
system breaks down and when the renter arrives maximum of €160.
there simply is no automatic available. When
that happens, the customer is left with what’s on Think Twice About International One-
hand and if there’s no automatic..... Way Rentals
Avoid Small Companies Two problems with a one-way rental between
countries: it can be expensive and sometimes
Most of the rental cars in Europe belong to is simply not possible. The one-way charge is
the “big three”: Europcar, Avis, and Hertz. Sixt always in addition to other rental charges and
is prominent in Germany and growing rapidly can range from around $100 to $4,000. At the
elsewhere. National, now owned by Europcar, lower end of the scale are one-ways between such
is mostly limited to major towns and airports. cities as Munich and Zürich, Paris and Frankfurt.
We recommend sticking with these five. If your Anything involving Italy, Spain, former eastern-
car breaks down, you want to be as close to bloc countries, and Scandinavian countries will
help - and a replacement car - as possible. Avis, be expensive. Stick to major cities. One-ways
for example, has more than 350 locations in involving small cities are frequently not possible or
Germany alone. Thrifty, on the other hand, has much more expensive. Recently a customer slated
offices that the company says “serve airports in to drop a Frankfurt car in Paris decided to instead
Munich, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt” and “20 other leave it in Tours. The drop fee went from $125 to
suburban locations.” Suppose you’re somewhere $350. One-way rentals within the same country,
up around the Baltic and the transmission in your however, are almost always free.
Opel starts making noises like a wounded cat;
would you rather it be an Avis or a Thrifty rental Request a Diesel
car? Make sure, too, that if you’re picking up a Diesel engines are no longer noisy, smelly
car at an airport, your chosen company really is and underpowered and they get great mileage.
at the airport. In Germany, for example, some The fuel is cheaper than gas in Europe and
smaller suppliers require that you phone from available at every service station. For the most
the airport and request a shuttle ride to their part, you usually can’t guarantee a diesel but
off-airport location. That means you’ll ride the you lose nothing by asking and, depending on
shuttle both ways, the start of the rental and at the country and vehicle, you have about a 50-
the end. For the most part, the major companies 50 chance of getting one. By the way, don’t put
mentioned above all have rental counters and gasoline in a diesel-powered car—and vice versa.
vehicles right at the airport; you’ll sign the
contract and walk to your car. Why we don’t like Hotel delivery
Understanding Full-Size & Larger Cars Yes, in past years this was a convenience some
rental companies offered free. Now, however, you’ll
If it’s a nicer car you want, then go for it,
pay at least $35 and what if the delivered car isn’t
spend the money. But if it’s space you’re after,
what you want? If you go yourself to the rental car
think twice before renting luxury and premium
station you’ll likely have a choice of cars.
category car. The price increase from midsize
Gemut.com Car Rentals 9 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
Best Rates? Probably Germany transmission car, yet one is not available when
you arrive. Call the number. Promised an
Though your itinerary may limit your choice,
upgrade, but the rental agent offers a Lupo? Call
it’s useful to know which countries have the best
the number. It’s your safety net.
rental car rates. Generally speaking, Italy has the
highest prices—partly because purchase of CDW/ aWarning: Do not leave the rental location
theft insurance is required— and Germany the unless you are satisfied with the vehicle you have
lowest. Get a quote. been given, and the contract you have signed.
Exchanging the car later on can be difficult and if
European Rental Car Checklist you have signed a contract that calls for payment
So you’ve made your Europe car rental of unwanted insurance, for example, a refund is
reservation, and your trip is fast approaching, but extremely unlikely.
you fear that upon your weary arrival something • Changes to the rental while in
will go wrong at the rental desk. Even the most Europe: Use the same toll-free number
savvy travelers have encountered problems. You mentioned above.
will need to be on your toes. Begin by reading • Decline insurance. Most credit cards
this valuable checklist: issued by North American banks offer CDW/Theft
Before You Go protection for auto rental in most of Europe. There
• Read your voucher/reservation are exceptions such as Italy, where the customer
carefully. This document covers all vital must purchase full-coverage. In all other countries,
aspects of your rental. Some rental details may we recommend that clients decline CDW/Theft in
not be discussed through e-mail or telephone favor of the coverage offered by the credit card.
correspondence in the booking process. Call your credit card issuer for details.
• Print copies of your voucher/ If you plan to rely on coverage from a credit
reservation confirmation. Put these with other card you want to be certain you’re not charged
trip documents and you will always have contact for expensive CDW and theft insurance by the
info for the company you booked the car with, as rental company. First, tell the agent you do not
well as the rental supplier (Avis, Hertz, etc.). want or need any additional insurance, and that
you are covered by your credit card. Prudent
• Local charges, know what to expect. renters will carry a “Letter of Coverage” provided
These can include road tax, airport tax, by their credit card company. Unfortunately, you
additional drivers, optional insurance, and any will be required to sign a rental contract in the
optional equipment you request. Local charges local language - German, French, Italian, Spanish,
vary by country, location, and company. Know etc. That is the law and, though it may do so as
what they are before you go. That way there are a courtesy, the rental company is not required to
no surprises. provide a copy in English (be sure to ask for one,
At the Pick-up Location however).
• Present your auto rental voucher. The Complicating this process is the fact that
voucher or written confirmation of your booking several rental companies no longer obtain customer
will have a confirmation number enabling the initials that indicate acceptance or rejection of
agent to easily find your reservation. It is also additional services; just one signature on the
confirms the cost of your rental and is your bottom of the contract is required. This signifies
defense against overcharges that you agree to all terms of the contract—which
aTip: If you reserved more than one may include a charge for optional insurance.
car with the same supplier, be sure to cancel Though with scant knowledge of the local language
any extra bookings prior to the rental date. it may be difficult to determine exactly the terms
Otherwise the rental agent may locate the wrong of the contract, you still should look it over and ask
reservation in his computer and issue a contract to be shown the parts that relate to CDW (most
at a different—higher—rate. European rental companies use the term CDW or
LDW—Loss Damage Waiver) and theft insurance.
• Call the toll-free-from-Europe
In German, you’re looking for the word abgelehnt—
help line. If you have booked with us, most
declined.
problems that arise at the rental counter can
be solved in minutes via a toll-free, 24/7 Customers booked through Gemut.com/
customer service help line (the number is under Auto Europe have a safety net. If they suspect
Terms & Conditions in your voucher) Say, they are being incorrectly charged for CDW/theft
for example, you have booked an automatic they can call a toll-free-from-Europe number and
Gemut.com Car Rentals 10 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
request a note to that effect be placed in their dents or dings are present. If you are returning
booking record. Of course, the signed contract is after-hours, take a few pictures of the car as
the controlling legal document but in a post-rental proof of it’s condition.
dispute where you are claiming an unauthorized • Get written proof that the car was
charge, that note in the record, made at the time returned full of gas with no damage. This can
of rental, may influence your credit card company be tricky and sometimes impossible which raises
in your favor. Some customer append this phrase the importance of the items above.
under their signature when signing the contract: “I
decline LDW, CDW, Theft insurance.” • Pay any balance due with the same
credit card you used to reserve the car. If
• Decline pre-paid fuel. Prepaid fuel is a you use a different card or pay in cash you will
bad deal. The offer works this way: you pay for invalidate your credit card insurance.aTip: Debit
the first tank and return the car empty. Not as card and the Discover card will not be accepted.
easy as it sounds and who wants to be driving
around on fumes, especially when heading to a • Decline Direct Currency Conversion
European airport to catch a flight home. Any fuel (DCC). When the time comes to pay car rental
left in the tank at the end of the rental is yours, charges in Europe you may be asked if you’d like
but you won’t get a refund. to be billed in U.S. dollars. This is called Direct
Currency Conversion and is simply a device
• Ask for instruction on vehicle whereby the purchaser pays for a worthless
operation. It once took me a full five minutes service. DCC enables the vendor, and the
just to figure out how to turn on a BMW’s company that sells DCC to the vendor, to use
windshield wipers. Radios, too, are often not an exchange rate favorable to them, not to you.
user-friendly and may have unfamiliar features. Estimates by consumer advocates estimate DCC
If you get a car with a GPS be sure it’s set on on an overseas transaction will cost the customer
English language mode. Finally, be sure you between an additional 3- to 5-percent. Demand
know whether you have a gas or diesel engine. to pay in euros with your credit card and take
Figure on a charge of about $500—and major advantage of the best exchange rate available.
inconvenience— if you fill the tank with the
wrong fuel. Overseas car rental brokers
• Inspect the car. If the car is dirty inside In the last few years a number of non-
or out, refuse it. Check for obvious and not-so- US-based, European car rental websites have
obvious damage (even small scratches). Make come online. For the most part, they are
sure any damage is noted in writing. If you have headquartered in the U.K., Ireland, Greece,
a digital camera, it’s a good idea to take pictures South Africa and New Zealand. All target the
of the car from all sides. Visually inspect tires for U.S. market and sometimes their prices are quite
wear and inflation level. Make sure there’s a spare. attractive. However, before you provide a credit
• Extending the Rental. Once you’re in card online for a car rental in Europe be sure
Europe, you may want to add days to your you’re aware of the following.
rental. Don’t just return the car late and expect Insurance
the same daily rate. If you booked with us, use
Since most European credit cards don’t
the 24/7 toll-free number to call back to the U.S
provide free CDW/theft insurance, many of the
to find out what the extra day(s) will cost.
prices quoted by overseas brokers include this
• When in doubt, call the toll free help line. insurance. That sounds good, but there is a
The End of the Rental catch. The included insurance carries a very high
deductible or “excess,” frequently more than
• Return the car full of gas. If pre-paid
$2000. In order to reduce that to zero you’ll have
fuel is a not a good deal, then the cost of having
to purchase additional coverage at about $15
the rental company fill the tank is an horrific one.
to $30 per day. Since your credit card requires
It likely will more than double the price you pay
that you decline any CDW/theft coverage offered
at a normal retail filling station.
by the rental company, to accept the rental car
• Keep your fuel receipt. Even if you just company’s insurance invalidates your free, zero-
top-off the tank and pay in Euros, you NEED deductible credit card insurance.
a receipt. If the agent makes a “mistake” and
Beware, too, overseas brokers who advertise
marks the tank even 1/4 empty, at $18 per
“Full Insurance, No Excess.” In the event of
gallon the charge will be substantial. Your receipt
damage, you will pay the “excess” or deductible
is the only proof otherwise.
and seek reimbursement from the overseas
• Inspect the car again. Be sure no new
Gemut.com Car Rentals 11 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
company. Read the fine print. There are many Rentals made through Gemut.com and Auto
posts at online travel forums made by customers Europe are guaranteed in U.S. dollars and,
who were unable to obtain this reimbursement. once booked, the quoted rate locks-in and does
Below, in italics, verbatim, is one broker’s rules not change regardless of currency fluctuation.
for getting your money back: And remember, if you pay for your car in euros
To obtain the refund we need you to strictly overseas you are very likely to be assessed a 3%
follow the instructions below in case of an foreign transaction charge by your credit card
accident, damage or theft: company. Get a quote.
• You have to inform immediately our local Cancellations and changes
car rental partner. Typically, there is a charge to change or
• You have to contact the police and take cancel bookings made through “off shore”
a written report, even for the smallest damage companies. These change and cancellation fees
made. When you pick up your rented car, please range from about $10 to the full amount of the
ask for details. rental. Read the site’s “terms and conditions.”
• When you return the car to the rental Virtually all bookings made via Gemut.com,
station, you also have to make a theft or damage however, can be changed as often as necessary,
report with our local car rental partner. or canceled at any time for any reason without
To get back the excess, you have to send the charge or penalty. As long as cancellation is prior
following documents to Economy Car Rentals by to the time of rental, all money is refunded.
post: However, unless you can prove a medical
• Theft / damage report and police report. emergency, it is unlikely you will received a
Vehicle must never be removed from the place refund for any unused rental days.
of accident until the police report has been What if Something Goes Wrong
completed. In case of any accident to the car, It would be nice if all of the hundreds of
you must immediately contact the nearest police thousands of North Americans who rent cars
station and make an accident report. If you in Europe each year had a smooth-as-silk
do not report it to the police and comply with experience. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
the requirements under the country’s law, the Hertz, Avis, Europcar, National and Budget —the
insurance becomes invalid. The report should companies who supply the vast majority of the
state if there was any influence of alcohol or rental cars in Europe—employ human beings.
drugs. It is essential that you also report any And, given the fierce competition for your rental
accident or damage to the Car Rental Company. car business, rental car company jobs are not
In case of other damages to the rented car, the high paying ones. While 99% of European car
above procedure should also be followed. If the rental employees are eager to serve, mistakes
vehicle is damaged while parked, you have to are made. Even with computers, reservations
report the damage to the police and to the car sometimes get lost and billing errors are all too
rental company before the car is moved. frequent.
• Copy of the rental agreement / contract. All this raises the question, how do you contact
• Receipts of payment, to prove how much and deal with an overseas company when:
you have paid, and your credit card statement • You are at the rental car counter and are
where we can see the amount that was taken told they don’t have the kind of car you booked
from your credit card. or they can’t find your reservation?
Currency Guarantee • You return to the U.S. and find an
“Off shore” online quotes are invariably in unexplained charge on your credit card?
euros or pounds sterling, with an accompanying When you book with Gemut.com, you are
estimate of what the US dollar amount will be. provided a 24/7 toll-free-from-Europe phone
Some sites use conversion rates that make their number. It is staffed day and night back in the
dollar prices look very attractive. However, since U.S. by personnel trained specifically by Auto
your booking will be guaranteed in a foreign Europe to assist customers having trouble at
currency, you won’t know the price in dollars the rental counter. They can and will go over
until your card is actually charged. Thus it is the head of rental counter personnel. Should
difficult to determine what your final cost will be. you have a breakdown (doesn’t happen often
The exchange rate used with the quote at the but it does happen) you may have to deal with
website is often not the one used when your card a rental company that is far from your location
is charged.
Gemut.com Car Rentals 12 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
and you may have to wait days - not hours - to time of arrival, current speed and much more.
get a replacement car. Our major suppliers, Avis, It’s a useful device but most functional in a
Hertz, and Europcar, have thousands of offices all European rental car when supplemented with
over Europe. good maps.
Adding It All Up aTechnology Alert: The Google Maps app
So, while it might seem that you’re getting in your smartphone will work as well in Europe,
a low rental car rate from an off-shore website, probably better, than the vast majority of GPS
any of the following occurrences could not only devices rented from car rental companies.
be inconvenient but wind up costing money you In the U.S. I use my iPhone exclusively. It’s
didn’t plan to spend: simply better than my car’s factory-installed
navigation device. The only hitch in Europe is
• If you get a scratch (or worse) on your car paying for data (WiFi in rental cars is coming but
• If the dollar drops is currently in its infancy.) However, on my last
• If you need to change your rental trip I bought a data package from AT&T that was
cheaper than renting a GPS from Europcar. Just
• If you need to cancel your rental
monitor your usage.
• If you are overcharged on your credit card
• If there is a mix-up in your reservation About Vehicle categories
• If you return the car a day or more early The categories to which European rental
companies assign their vehicles is often
Final Note: Gemut.com books all it’s inconsistent and confusing. For example, some
European rental car and lease customers with companies put the Audi A3 in the intermediate
Auto Europe, which, in many instances, provides category. Size-wise, however, it’s a compact;
special rates not offered by them to the general no larger than the VW Golf, Opel Astra, or Ford
public. Auto Europe puts more North Americans Focus. The full-size Opel Signum, which we
into European rental cars than any other U.S. car drove in Germany recently, is built on the same
rental company, including Hertz and Avis. Get a platform as the intermediate Opel Vectra. The
quote from us. Signum just has more features and upgraded
interior appointments. Most companies put the
Navigation: GPS - Maps three-series BMW, with its woefully inadequate
You should be aware that the GPS device trunk, in the standard category (same size as
provided with your European rental car may work intermediate). Some companies call it a full-size,
only in the country in which it is rented. And don’t though the trunk will not handle luggage for four.
expect there to be an instruction book in English.
The situation is better in France where full-
A GPS does not replace, but supplements, good
size could mean a Peugeot 607—192 inches long
1:200,000 or 1:150,000 scale maps. Even the
and 21 cubic feet of trunk space. I emphasize
best GPS devices sometimes create puzzling
“could” because one should never forget that
routes. So be sure that among the items you load
specific makes or models are never guaranteed
into your European rental car are maps of the
by European car rental companies, only a
regions you plan to travel. That way you’ll quickly
category is promised such as economy, compact,
know when the GPS is sending you the long way
intermediate, standard, fullsize, luxury, premium,
‘round. As old-fashioned as they may be, maps
etc. So the 64-euro question is, what happens
provide an overall perspective of the region
when you show up at the rental counter in Paris
and are useful in quickly locating interesting
expecting that 192-inch Peugeot and they hand
towns and sights. While the GPS is great in the
you the keys to a “full-size” C-class Mercedes,
countryside between towns and villages, it’s
which is almost a foot shorter and has much
positively indispensable in large cities.
less luggage capacity? Even the luxury/premium
Most experts say good portable GPS devices category E-class Mercedes is just 191 inches in
are superior to any automobile factory-installed length.
GPS. Our own experience with a Garmin
If you’re spending more money for a larger
Nuvi 660 bears that out...and, unlike many a
rental car in Europe, make sure the cars in the
European rental car’s GPS, it works throughout
category you’re booking are truly bigger, not just
Europe. The 660 not only directs us to our
more luxurious than the category below.
destination but provides other information such
as points of interest. The basics are distance to Mechanical problems
the next turn and to the destination, distance
already covered, distance remaining, estimated European rental cars are mostly new, low
Gemut.com Car Rentals 13 2014www.gemut.com Call for a quote: 800-521-6722
mileage vehicles and breakdowns are rare... • Hungary: 7 days, HUF 2975; one month,
but they do happen. If you have such problems HUF 4,780; one year HUF 42,890
during your trip you may be able to exchange • Romania: 7 days, €3; one month, €7; one
the car at another of the rental car supplier’s year €77.8
offices or get it repaired at a dealer, but both
those options may be inconvenient. If the car • Slovakia: 10 days, €10; one month, €14;
is no longer drivable, the rental company will three months, €13, one year, €28.
have provided a number to call for 24/7 towing • Slovenia: One week, €15; one month, €30;
service. If that happens, don’t expect a tow truck one year, €95.
to arrive in 15 minutes and depending on the • Switzerland: One year, CHF 40
circumstances, you may be expected to pay for
the tow. If, for example, the clutch goes out on restricted zones in italian cities
your manual transmission rental car, the rental We caution all customers who drive rental
company may take the position that you used the cars in Italian cities, particularly Florence, to
clutch improperly and wore it out. Not only will avoid restricted zones. Vehicles entering these
they not pay for the tow, they will likely want you zones are monitored by roadside cameras and
to buy a replacement clutch. Repairing a flat tire cars without permits are ticketed. Some unaware
is another example of a cost typically borne by visitors who drive in and out of these zones
the renter and not covered by any insurance. multiple times receive multiple tickets. The fine
for each violation is about €100. In addition, your
“VIGNETTES” rental car supplier will charge your credit card
European rental car drivers should be aware a fee to provide your name and address to the
that certain countries require vehicles traveling ticketing agency. Violators can be notified by mail
on motorways and autobahns to display a for up to one year after the date of the violation.
special windshield or windscreen sticker known These restricted zones are signed, but the signs
as a “vignette.” A car rented in a country that are in Italian. Rental cars do not come equipped
requires a vignette will be properly equipped for with the necessary permits. Read more about
that country, but will not come with vignettes this at http://www.bella-toscana.com/traffic_
for other countries. Thus, a traveler who picks violations_italy.htm.
up a car in a country which does not require a
vignette will be responsible for purchasing the Beware Multiple Reservations
necessary sticker if the vehicle is driven into a It’s easy to book rental cars online. Payment is
country that requires it. often not required to hold a reservation. Problem
Which countries require vignettes? is you might get one too many. Let’s say you book
Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Avis online, then call Gemut.com for a quote and
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland find they have a lower price, also with Avis. You
require a vignette sticker for driving on principal book the car with Gemut but, because there was
motorways that are similar to U.S. Interstate no payment involved with the first booking, you
highways. The motorist must purchase a different forget all about it. Now, at the rental counter the
sticker for each country that requires it. The cost agent uses your name to call up your booking in his
and duration of a vignette’s period of validity reservation system. Maybe he sees two bookings,
varies by country. maybe he just sees the first, higher-priced booking,
and that is the one he uses to print your contract.
Where to buy a vignette
In your jet-lagged state, you sign the documents
Vignettes can be purchased at border that are put in front of you without giving them
crossings and nearby gas stations. Fines for not much scrutiny. When you return to the U.S. you
displaying the proper windshield sticker start get a nasty surprise, you paid the higher rate. Of
at around €100. Cars without vignettes can be course, Gemut.com will fully refund your second,
detected by roadside cameras. unused, prepaid booking but you’re stuck with a
Approximate vignette costs rental that cost more than you planned. Avoid this
by canceling all bookings except the one you want,
• Austria: 10 days, €8; two months, €23.4;
and make sure the rental agent is handed a copy
one year €77.8
of the voucher you were sent by Gemut.com. (Get
• Bulgaria: 7 days, €5; one month, €13; one an email quote on a European car rental at http://
year €34
www.gemut.com/rental-quote.html, or, if you
• Czech Republic: 10 days, CZK 310; one prefer, phone Andy at 800-521-6722 x 1)
month CZK 440; one year CZK 1500
Gemut.com Car Rentals 14 2014You can also read
