How are car rentals outside of the United States different from those here?

As a shout out to my fabulous international clients, and my American clients who love to travel abroad, I’ve dedicated this week’s blog to international car rentals!

So we ask: How are car rentals outside of the United States different from those here?

Each and every country has its own rules and regulations, but here is a short list of some issues that you may want to consider before renting a car abroad:

You may need an international drivers license or permit in addition to your U.S. driver’s license. This goes for both Americans and the international community. Many countries do not recognize a U.S. driver’s license, but most accept an international driving permit (IDP). They are honored in over 150 Countries.
Some countries charge a fee for a permit that allows you to drive on their roads.
The rental contract may not be in English, for my monolingual friends this could be a problem. See if they will have any English speaking counter personal available to assist you in when you arrive. One way to avoid this mess is by renting the car online before you leave, through a well established company (or, for example, www.danasglobaltravel.com). You can get most terms and conditions online through the company’s website!
Your personal insurance or credit card coverage may not be valid or acceptable to the rental company, so you may need to purchase extra coverage. Before going away take a moment to see what is covered in your current auto insurance.
Rental cars in other countries tend to be much smaller than cars here in the US, so beware of that when you pick up your tiny rental abroad, don’t be shocked or angry, they simply don’t have them! Also, keep this in mind when packing or else your luggage and travel companions may not fit into the car!
Many foreign rental fleets will have a large percentage of manual transmission automobiles. They should have some automatic transmissions as well, but only a limited number. If you prefer not to drive a manual, consider reserving your car well in advance, and picking up your car as early in the day as possible
This may be stating the obvious, but remember: road signs will be in different and may even be in unfamiliar languages. Do some homework before you go and learn the signs…it could save your life!
The direction of the lanes may very well be the opposite of those in the States. Here is a link to a website that lists which countries drive on which side of the road: http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/#listofcountries
Road conditions will vary a great deal depending on the country that you are driving in. Some road conditions may be considerably worse and some will be considerably better! Look out and be aware before you rent a car.
Gauges may only read in the metric system, so you might have to remember your 5th grade math! 100 Kilometers=60 Miles. Gasoline in many countries is much more expensive than it is here in the States (and we do a lot of complaining about our gas prices, ha) and gas is usually sold by the liter, so re member 3.78 liters= 1 Gallon.
Many countries have very high taxes on rental cars, so book and pay in advance online so you will know your expenses before you go.
Some countries have both a minimum and a maximum rental age. So if you are under 25 or older than 75 look into local laws before you book a rental car!


Links of Interest:
http://www.international-license.com/?gclid=CPiZit-xrJYCFQMQswodLV9nyA
This is a link to the International Driving Permit website, you can order your license right on the internet

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html
Refer to the section on International Driving Permits

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