Budget tips for international car rentals
While the public transportation systems in many internationaldestinations are safe, clean, cheap and reliable, many seasonedtravelers prefer having their own transportation, and in manyareas it is necessary to rent a car to get from place to place.There are a number of thing to remember to make renting a carinternationally less costly and less of a hassle.One of the most important things to remember involves travelingto Canada and Mexico in an American based rental car. In mostcases, the insurance that comes with the rental car does notcover you once the car has left the country. If you are not sureabout your coverage, always be sure to check your rentalagreement. While this is important in Canada, it is vital inMexico. While it is possible to buy special Mexican carinsurance when traveling there, it is generally not recommendedthat casual visitors drive into Mexico. It is generally betterto park in one of the border lots and take the shuttle bus tothe border.If you plan to drive abroad, either in Canada, Mexico, Europe oranywhere else outside the United States, it is a good idea toobtain an international drivers permit. While an internationaldrivers permit is not required everywhere, it is a good idea toget one. The fee to obtain an international drivers permit islow, and the literature that comes along with it is quitevaluable. An international drivers permit can be obtainedthrough an AAA office.It is also important to check with the company that providesyour auto insurance to see if you are covered for internationaldriving. If your normal policy does not cover you, inquire aboutpurchasing a special policy for your trip. Also check with yourcredit card company to see if the rental car collision coveragethey offer is good outside the country.When arranging for a rental car, it is usually less costly to doso before you leave the United States. It can also beconsiderably more trouble to wait until you arrive to rent acar, and you always run the risk that the type of car you wantis not available.When renting cars in Europe, it is generally best to choose acompact or subcompact car, as many of the streets in Europeancities are quite narrow, and parking is often very limited. Itis best to rent the smallest car you feel comfortable with.If you plan to combine a car rental with a rail pass, there maybe discounts available. Always be sure to check with your travelagent and take advantage of any discounts to which you areentitled. Some hotels and airlines also have special deals onrental cars for their customers.If you will be dropping off your rental car in a differentlocation that where you picked it up, which is common inEuropean rentals, be sure to choose a rental agency that offersa low drop off fee.When planning your trip, always keep in mind that prices for gasand diesel fuel are generally much higher than those in theUnited States, often as much as three times as expensive. Besure to factor fuel costs into your travel budget. This is yetanother reason to rent the smallest car you can find.Another reason a small car is important is the frequent lack ofavailable parking in many resort areas and near many majortourist attractions. Even if you have a car, you may want toleave it at the hotel and take public transportation to thesetypes of destinations.When you pick up your car, be sure that you get the terms youagreed to before you left home. If the terms are not agreeablewhen you get there, be prepared to cancel the deal and makealternate arrangements.It is also important to take a company representative with youand carefully examine the car's exterior for dings andscratches. Be sure to note any preexisting damage to avoid beingcharged for it when the car is returned.
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