Driving In Europe

While driving in Europe for the first time may make most people feel uneasy, AutoEurope Australia hopes to help you incorporate a few simple ideas into your European driving holiday to avoid any frustration or unneeded stress.

• Before you start your journey make sure to have a rough idea of where you want to travel. Grab some street maps, familiarise yourself with your journey and the direction you will be travelling.
• Check with hotel to see if they will provide off street parking and any additional costs associated with this service.
• Always book from home, this will guarantee less stress when you are trying to read the terms and conditions of your car rental.
• Rent or Buy a GPS unit - keeping your eyes on the road instead of a map will save you time and frustration.
• Most major Car Hire Companies in Europe require you to have a credit card, which they will freeze an excess amount on in the case you damage or the vehicles stolen while in your care.

• Get yourself an international licence from your local licence provider. By having an international licence this will cut out a lot of confusion in the case you are pulled over by the police why driving. International licences provide a translation of your Australian licence.
• Know the local road rules and road signage before setting out on your journey
• Check over and familiarise yourself with the vehicle before you leave the car hire depot. A car in Europe may have a different layout to your car back home
• Rent only what you need. Roads in Europe can sometimes be narrow therefore rent just enough to fit your luggage and your passengers (plus it will allow you to save on fuel)
• Avoid trying to drive in any of the major cities - many of the major cities are very hard to drive into and also some cities require special passes which will not be included on most rental cars.

Tip: When booking an Automatic vehicle you will need to book these from a larger depot such as an Airport or Major city location. Automatic vehicles are not seen as often in Europe and generally have a higher rental rate.

If you're now ready to book your European car hire, give one of our friendly and experienced reservations staff a call on 1300 656 601 or simply hop onto our website and book your car hire yourself!