“Throw the keys by means of the kiosk’s open window. We’ll get the automobile after we open later”: These barely unorthodox drop-off directions I as soon as acquired from a Hertz supervisor in Croatia illustrate a few of the variations U.S. vacationers may encounter when renting a automobile overseas.

It pays to familiarize your self with the native insurance policies and protocols forward of time. Right here’s what you could know earlier than you settle for the keys.

You might want a global driver’s license

If in case you have a U.S. driver’s license, a global driving allow is formally required (alongside along with your state-issued license) in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Thailand, though its use just isn’t universally enforced. It’s additionally a good suggestion to hold an I.D.P., a booklet — barely greater than a passport — that interprets a U.S. license into 10 languages, when renting a automobile in a rustic whose language just isn’t written in Roman letters.

An I.D.P. prices $20, is legitimate for one yr and is issued to any applicant by an area AAA workplace (the one issuer in the US licensed by the State Division). You have to apply for one within the nation that issued your common driver’s license.

Acquainted manufacturers could also be franchisees

Automobile rental manufacturers acquainted to People function all through the world; these embrace Alamo, Avis, Hertz, Nationwide, Sixt and others. You’ll be able to reserve a automobile by means of an organization’s U.S. web site or by means of a rental aggregator resembling Autoeurope.com, to check charges.

The abroad branches of U.S. firms might not at all times be owned by the mother or father firm. The dialogue boards on web sites like Tripadvisor abound with commenters calling out franchise operations of main chains for not offering the service they anticipate from a U.S. operation.

Franchise or not, disputes with a overseas department ought to at all times be directed to the U.S. customer support operation, in line with Hertz and Autoeurope.

Test minimal (and most) age necessities

The minimal age to lease a automobile varies by country and firm, and it’s indicated on every rental company’s web site. Most international locations cost a “younger driver” surcharge for renters below 25. Some international locations, resembling France and Germany, enable (however don’t require) firms to lease to 18-year-olds, however 21 is the everyday minimal rental age for many.

On the different finish of the spectrum, Hertz gained’t lease a automobile in Northern Eire to anybody older than 79; these from 75 to 79 will need to have a physician’s letter stating that they’re in good well being, in addition to a letter from their insurance coverage firm proving that they haven’t had an accident inside the previous 5 years.

Minimize prices with a stick shift

Vehicles with guide transmissions are nonetheless in style in lots of European international locations, so in case you’re comfy driving one, choose that possibility. Renting a automobile with an computerized transmission can sometimes value a further 30 % or extra.

Test your bank card’s rental insurance coverage protection

Many U.S.-issued bank cards cowl injury to your worldwide rental automobile in case you’re in an accident, so long as you cost the complete rental charge to the cardboard. Some issuers additionally require that the identical card be used to make the reservation for the insurance coverage to be legitimate. That collision protection is major, in contrast to in the US, the place your private automobile insurance coverage would cowl the prices whereas your rental insurance coverage would pay for any deductible quantity. Even when your bank card covers injury to your rental automobile, you’ll be accountable for the price of injury to every other automobile if the accident is deemed to be your fault.

Be warned that commonplace rental insurance coverage for American Specific cardholders just isn’t accessible in Australia, Italy and New Zealand, and different playing cards might have completely different restrictions.

Familiarize your self with native driving and parking legal guidelines

Earlier than you go, study each country’s rules, together with the that means of varied highway indicators and markings. For example, merely since you see different autos parked with their wheels on the sidewalk — frequent in European cities with slim streets — that doesn’t imply that it’s authorized to take action.

Autoeurope.com has driving ideas for dozens of nations, not all in Europe, and Britain’s Car Affiliation lists highway guidelines for six European international locations. Don’t neglect that many locations moreover Britain drive on the left (together with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and quite a few Caribbean islands). And in case you get a ticket, don’t ignore it. The rental company will ultimately acquire from you, together with an administrative charge.

Seatbelt legal guidelines are sometimes strictly enforced, with a separate wonderful — generally issued on the spot — for every occupant not carrying one.

Lastly, many European cities restrict driving in central or historic areas to residents solely or these driving low-emission autos. Coming into these limited-traffic zone areas can incur heavy fines, plus an added charge out of your rental firm. Look ahead to indicators and gates (generally marked “ZTL” in Italy).

Know your fuels

Diesel engines are quite common in different international locations; placing diesel in a gasoline engine or vice versa could cause critical — and expensive — damage.

Whereas gas pumps are color-coded to point what they dispense, these colours fluctuate by nation and area. Gas necessities are listed on a sticker on the within of the filler door.

In the US, black signifies gasoline whereas inexperienced designates diesel. In Iceland and different European international locations, it’s the alternative: inexperienced for gasoline and black for diesel.