Hiring a car abroad: everything you need to know

The cheaper the car hire, the more likely you are to encounter issues and extra charges.

That’s why it’s so important to read our advice before you book and travel. Over the years, we’ve investigated a huge range of car hire problems from readers, and devised a set of guidelines to help avoid or resolve the most common ones.

Read on to make sure you can enjoy uneventful car hire on your next holiday.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

1. Compare prices but not on car hire comparison sites

Don’t use a comparison site. It may appear to offer a cheap rate for your dates, but once extras like fuel and insurance get added later, the real price can be much higher.

Comparison sites also throw up a mix of brokers and providers that you’ll likely never have heard of, and in many cases should not trust. Unfortunately, the holiday car hire industry has more than its fair share of unscrupulous operators, and the risk of a rip-off off is just too high to take a punt.

Instead, check rates with Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) Zest Car Rental, a broker that covers territories worldwide. Or, if you’re going to the Canary Islands, try the only car hire providers that have Which? Recommend Provider status – AutoReisen and Cicar.

If you still haven’t found the right car at the right price, then check our ratings of the best car hire brokers and the best car hire providers for a suitable alternative. 

2. Read the small print

Always check the T&Cs of a potential car hire provider. In particular ask these key questions:

• Will I need to get a shuttle bus from the airport? Off-airport rentals are often cheaper, which is fine until you arrive late, laden with luggage and with tired children in tow. Companies with an on-site office are usually more convenient.
• Are there age-related surcharges? Those aged over 70 and under 25 can sometimes face fees that are payable on arrival, or restrictions that mean you can’t take the car. These should be made clear when you book, but our research has found that they are often hidden.
• What’s the fuel policy? Avoid full-empty deals (where you drive the car away with a full tank and return it empty). It’s a con. You’ll pay a premium for the fuel you use, and it's impossible to return the car empty, so you’re bound to lose out.
• Is my mileage limited? Some companies restrict you to driving a set amount of miles per day. Any more and you’ll face a hefty surcharge.
• Will I be charged extra for an additional driver? Factor this in when choosing a provider. You’ll pay around £75 per week for an extra driver if you book up front, and more if you don’t mention it until you get to the rental desk. But many companies, including WRP Zest Car Rental, often throw it in for free.

If you’re worried about hidden costs, read our advice on how to avoid the latest car hire rip-offs.

WHEN YOU BOOK

3. Book early and pay up front (with a credit card)

Book your car hire immediately after you book your holiday, especially if you’re travelling during peak periods. You’ll get more choice and – usually – better rates. But make sure you book with a provider or broker that offers free cancellation. That way you can cancel and rebook at the cheaper rate if prices drop. 

Pay by credit card to gain Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act - all purchases over £100 are protected. This gives you a route to reimbursement if there is a problem with the rental.

Finally, our research has found that it's usually around £30-£50 per week cheaper to pay up front when you book than it is to ‘pay at location’ on arrival.

Read all of our tips and advice on how to get cheaper car hire

BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY

4. Get car hire insurance (never leave it till the rental desk)

When you hire a car in Europe, basic insurance is always included in the rental. But that insurance is subject to an excess, so if the car is damaged or stolen, you'll need to pay a contribution – up to around £2,500 – towards repair costs. 

Car hire firms will try to sell you insurance to reduce that excess. Don’t buy it. It’s overpriced and usually offers inferior cover to the excess reimbursement insurance (ERI) you can buy online from specialist insurers and car hire websites. 

Not sure which insurance to buy? We’ve rated dozens of policies in our reviews of the best car hire insurance 

5. Make sure you’ve got a credit card in the name of the booking

If you don’t buy your insurance from the car hire provider, they will require you to leave a deposit for the excess on a credit card. They usually won’t accept a debit card, prepaid card or even a credit card stored on your phone. 

We’ve heard from customers who have been turned away, or forced to buy the car hire company’s additional insurance, because they didn’t have a physical credit card with them.

The card must belong to the person that made the booking and it will need to have enough credit on it to cover a hefty deposit (usually around €1,200). 

Most firms take a pre-authorisation, which means you can’t spend the money until it’s released. In most cases this won’t take longer than a week. However, Goldcar told us it can take up to 28 days for your deposit to be accessible. 

And some companies will actually withdraw the deposit (and refund it later) leaving you susceptible to currency fluctuations.

If you don’t already have a fee-free credit card for using abroad, check our advice on the Best travel credit cards 2024

6. Pack your driving licence – and international driving permit if you need one

Don’t forget to pack your driving licence and the licence of any additional drivers. 

Depending on where you’re travelling, and for how long, you may also need an international driving permit (IDP), a multi-language translation of your driving licence. 

If you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK, you won’t need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein. However it is compulsory or recommended in more than 100 countries. 

You can get an IDP (for £5.50) in person from certain shops that have PayPoint.

7. Get all the extras you need

Before you go, make sure you’ve downloaded a free satnav app to your mobile, if you’re worried about roaming costs. Apps such as Navmii can access maps offline without using data. Car hire companies charge around £75 per week to hire a sat nav, so it’s worth planning ahead.

You might also want to invest in a cheap phone holder and cigarette lighter charger to take with you. 

Baby, child and booster seats cost about £85 per week to hire; they're not always in great condition and rarely come with instructions. Many airlines (including Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet) let you take your own seats for free, or you can sometimes rent car seats elsewhere at the airport for a fraction of the price.

Check child car seat rules around the world

8. Can you get a better rental price?

A week before your holiday, check that rental rates haven’t dropped. This is unlikely if you’re travelling at peak times, but it’s always worth a look. 

If they have, and you used a broker/provider with free cancellation, then you can simply cancel and rebook, pocketing the difference. 

WHEN YOU PICK UP THE CAR

9. Let them know if you’re running late

Car hire T&Cs often include a clause stating that they will give away your car if you arrive more than 59 minutes late. 

You’re less likely to get caught out if you enter your flight details and an accurate pick-up time when you book. Staff should then be alerted to any flight delays, but if possible ring them when you land, too.

10. Always read the contract  

Even if you read the small print when you booked, it’s sensible to look through the contract at the rental desk and ask questions about anything you don’t understand before signing. 

It’s particularly important to look for any extra or unexpected charges. If they’ve given you a different car to the one you booked, make sure you’re not charged extra, especially if it’s an upgrade. And check that they haven’t added any additional insurance that you didn’t ask for. 

11. Inspect the car (inside and out) and take pictures

You should always inspect the car to make sure the damage report given to you at the desk is accurate. A whopping 40% of people in our recent survey told us they were charged for damage that already existed when they picked up the car.

Check the vehicle thoroughly at both pick-up and return and take dated photos or video proof in case of a later dispute. 

If you find anything that’s not recorded on the contract, report it before you drive off, or failing that, as soon as possible.  

WHEN YOU RETURN THE CAR

12. Don’t forget to refuel

If you rented the car with a ‘full-full’ or ‘same-same’ fuel policy, you’ll need to stop at the nearest petrol station before dropping off the car. 

Failure to do so not only means you’ll pay over the odds for the additional fuel, but you could also face a refuelling fine. 

13. Return the car on time, and in a reasonable condition

Don’t risk the late return of your car. Many companies give you a grace period, but we’ve found that can be as little as 29 minutes – so you’re only one traffic jam away from an unexpected charge.

Take photos of the car’s condition and allow enough time before your flight to stay for the inspection – just to put your mind at rest that there will be no nasty surprises when you return home. 

It’s particularly important that you take photos if you drop your car off out of hours, as you may be held responsible for any damage that occurs after you have left.

We’ve heard increasing reports of customers being fined for returning dirty cars. There’s no need to get your hire car cleaned, unless you really have made it exceptionally dirty. But it’s a good idea to get rid of your rubbish and brush out any excessive sand. 

14. Check your account when you return home

Car hire companies are notorious for taking payments regardless of whether the charge is disputed, or the customer is even aware of it. Always check your bank account when you get home to ensure that the deposit has been refunded in full, and that no additional charges have been taken from your credit card.  

We’ve heard reports from customers who’ve been hit with spurious charges and, in the worst cases, customers have had to chase the car hire company to find out why they have been charged.

Find out what to do if you’ve been treated unfairly by your car hire company