When you are renting a car it is typically a simple process. You start out by obtaining quotes online or on the telephone, you then decide on which deal is best, next you make your rental reservation and lastly you arrive at the rental company and pick up your vehicle. This is a very simple and straight forward process, however if you are traveling internationally there are a few additional steps that you will need to take in order to rent your car for the visit.

To start with you may be required to obtain an international driving permit in order to rent a vehicle at an overseas destination. This permit is not always required for your international travel rental, but it is mandatory by many other countries. If required, your international driving permit needs to be obtained prior to leaving your country, therefore you will want to look into this several weeks in advance to ensure that if the permit is required you have enough time to get the documentation and paperwork together. In addition to needing an international driving permit, many countries also require that you have a valid drivers license so you will want to be sure that you have both documents on you when you go to pick up your rental.

Next you need to find out if the country you are visiting requires an international insurance card, as proof that you are insured while driving your rental internationally. This is usually required for all international rental cars, so what you really need to do is contact your insurance company and inform them that you are in need of this documentation. Many insurance companies are regionally located so the insurance card that you receive will let the rental company know that you are a carrier of valid insurance, therefore you are eligible to rent your vehicle. Much like the international driving permit, you will be required to obtain this form in your home country, so you will want to check with your rental company several weeks prior to your visit to ensure you have enough time to obtain the required documentation.

When you are looking at international rentals you will most likely feel more secure if you rent from a company that you are familiar with. Many of the companies that you are familiar with in the United States are also located in countries around the world. In addition to going with a rental company that is reliable you will also want to reserve an extras that you feel you will require during your traveling. Rental companies offer many additional items for you to rent including child safety seats, ski carriers and GPS devices. If you require these, or other items, you should reserve them in advance as there is not an unlimited supply. One wise addition that you should always take, if available is a GPS, especially when you are traveling internationally. This will allow you to easily maneuver around the region you are visiting without worrying about trying to read the road signs or getting lost. Not only will the GPS assist you in getting around, it will also assist you in finding emergency services, restaurants, gas locations and other areas that you may be looking for during your travels.

As long as you inquire about, and obtain, all the required documents for your international car rental everything should go fairly smooth. Just make sure to have all you need and reserve your rental, along with your additional services, well in advance. If you follow the advance that was given in this article you should be smooth sailing from the time you pick up your rental to the time that it has to be returned. Happy Travels and Drive Safe!

Share This