Rental Car Tips For A Memorable Trip

We love renting cars and rambling around countries of the world...

It does add to the cost of your trip, but it gives you great flexibility to see the backroads, small towns and all the countryside.

If you travel with friends and can split the cost, all the better.

Just be sure you realize what you're in for...

• Driving on the left sometimes
  
• Unfamiliar road signs
  
• Long tunnels
  
• Maybe ferries that can be small or large, crowded or infrequent
  
• The roads may be narrow or dirt
  
• And always think about the price of gas.

Reserve Your Rental Car Ahead

• The more remote the area you're going to, the more you'll probably want to go with a well known company so you will have more options and protection if something happens... and easier contact once you're home. We've rented cars in Papua New Guinea, Namibia, and on the border of Botswana to get to South Africa... and the well known companies we used made it easy.

• When you compare prices between companies be sure to compare "apples to apples". Make sure they quote all the charges.... airport fees, taxes, drop off fees, any compulsory insurance... and that you are comparing the cost for the same size car.

• It may be cheaper to rent the car in town rather than the airport. If you're going to more than one country... research which country has cheaper rental car fees (especially taxes), and plan your itinerary accordingly.

• Do you want to do a one way rental... and pay the drop off fee...? Or do you want to get back over the border to avoid a drop off fee...? Or do you want to drop off where you rented?

• Can you take the car over borders to the countries you want to visit?

The rules change all the time. Check all of this each time you rent. Write down the details and your confirmation number, so when you arrive you make sure you get the deal you reserved for.

Ask each agency you check with if it will be OK to take the car over a border. Some agencies will let you, others won't. You might have to declare the countries you plan to drive in when you rent the car. We often change our minds about destinations when we're on a trip, but this will definitely be a factor. The first time we went to the Czech Republic, we couldn't take the car in from Germany.

Picking Up Your Rental Car

Rental Car Safety

Will you be comfortable driving on the left?

Should you drive in the dark?

Should you stop to help a stranded motorist?

Where should you park the car for the night?

Should you pick up a hitchhiker? We did, but that's another story... that and more tips for rental car safety on another page.

Can You Read the Road Signs?

...And they may be not only in a different language, but in a different alphabet!

If it's a circle with a slash, does that mean mean no entry,
...no parking
...or what?

Some make you laugh, like this warthog sign, but you need to know what road signs mean to drive your rental car safely and get where you want to go.

Know What The Roads Are Like

Consider the Problems That Might Occur

You Want A Rental Car But...

If you decide you do want a rental car, just use good common sense and drive defensively... you'll have a great adventure!

Search our site for more information or to see some of our stories about travels.

Even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Happy Travels!   Judy and Mark