I’ve had good experiences renting cars while traveling abroad. I prefer renting if I’m planning to visit places outside major cities. Having a car provides the flexibility to change my plans, linger at destinations, and feel less “scheduled.” A downside is parking, especially in larger cities. If you rent, be sure to find out if the car has a manual (stick shift) or automatic transmission. A good starting point for finding a rental car in Europe is DiscoverCars. Another is TuroCarRental where owners rent their cars to others.
In many places a passport and driver’s license are all you need to rent a car. However, a few countries require you to have an international driver’s permit (IDP). IDP’s aren’t much more than documents that explain your driving credentials in other languages. You can obtain an IDP through organizations such as the American Automobile Association.
An additional consideration is finding out if you can take your rental car across international borders (a nonissue in most of Europe). For example, in South America you need permission from the rental company as well as additional documentation to cross borders. Be sure to share your full itinerary with rental car companies you are considering and be aware that some charge an extra fee if you plan to take the car to another country. Also, be sure to investigate insurance coverage through your regular provider as well as the company you are renting from. You should also ask about procedures in the event of an accident or other mishap.
Car rentals are not available in some places (i.e. parts of Africa). Elsewhere, it may be inadvisable to rent a car because of safety or security concerns. In those places you should consider arranging for a car and driver. Depending on where you go, the cost may be only slightly more than renting a car in Europe or the U.S.
