Although Americans are often renowned for not owning a passport this has changed somewhat in recent years as more Americans plan to vacation abroad. Europe is a favorite destination for American tourists because of its wealth of cultural history. If you plan to take your next vacation in Europe and want to visit more than one country while you are there, then it’s likely that you will find it is cheaper to go for auto rental than to travel by bus or train. You’ll need your Green Card which is an internationally recognized auto insurance document.

When you hire your car it is a good idea to check with the rental agency whether they provide a certain amount of cover and if so, what that cover entails. You will usually have third party insurance but not collision insurance, which means you could be liable for the cost of the rental car. If you plan on visiting France and driving through the beautiful city of Paris then you might want to sort out car rental before you go because that way you will know whether French law requires you to take out a collision damage waiver. You can either purchase this at home before your vacation or you can pay the European rental company.

You should expect to pay around $25 a day for the waiver, but if you are involved in a collision – and this is more likely in Paris than it is in New York, then it is a drop in the ocean compared to any costs accrued as the result of a collision.

If you are a sensible tourist then you should check out any insurance and cover implications before you go on your trip – your insurer may even be one of the few who offers international cover, check it out.