When you are planning a European vacation then you may want to avoid the hassle of taking your own car with you. It can cost a lot of money to have your vehicle transported so you may do better getting a vehicle through one of the many rental agencies on the Continent. There are plenty of agencies and if you book ahead then you will probably be able to arrange to pick up the vehicle from the airport – but check this out with the rental agency.

If you do decide to go through a rental agency then you will be better off if you book the vehicle before you travel as that gives you time to iron out any problems in the small print before you go. Most rental agencies only provide basic liability insurance, which means that if you are involved in a collision, the only person who is insured for damages and medical costs is the other driver – that could leave you with medical bills and the cost of any damage to the rental vehicle. Make sure that you have extra insurance or International insurance if you plan on driving in a foreign country. The rules are different overseas, and while you might be ok on your home turf, that is not always the case elsewhere.

You should check with your insurance provider about the kind of temporary cover you may need when you hire a rental car abroad. If your provider does not deal in International policies they will probably be able to refer you to one who does, just for the journey. While you can get some cover when you are abroad you could find that it’s more expensive than the price of insurance at home. Get covered before you go and then you’ll feel a lot happier about driving abroad.