Your guide to Car Hire

1. Pick the right company

First off, make sure you pick the right company. A good price is of course important, however you need to make sure that car hire company is reliable too. Check out their Google reviews for exemple, this will be a good indication of how they will treat you. The company will need to take care of you in case of a breakdown and give you back your deposit, so don't just blindly book your car.  

2. Automatic or Manuel?

If you're are from Europe like me, then you are probably used to driving a manuel car.  Even though daily I drive a manuel, on holiday I prefer driving an automatic. When it is the first time exploring and driving in a country, driving automatic will just make it much easier. You already have to pay attention to the route, the road and the locals driving style. Especially in a location with lots of mountains, an automatic can be blessing as driving in a hilly environment is very different. 

3. Check the hiring conditions

Most car hire companies have age restrictions (or a fee to pay for young drivers), so make sure to check their policies before booking! Also check how long you need to have had your license for, in some case you need to have passed it at least 3 or 4 years before rental date. 

If you are hiring a car abroad, also make sure if you need an international drivers license. If so, make sure to order one with your local authorities long enough in advance. 

4. A credit card is almost always required

Just a simple Visa or Mastercard is often not enough. Your card needs to specifically be a credit card, debit cards are often not accepted. You will need to present it when picking up the car to pay the deposit. They will place a temporary payment on the card that they will cancel once you bring back the car (in one piece ;) ). If you are not sure whether you have a debit or credit card, ask your bank before leaving so you can order one in case you don't.  

5. Review the driving laws 

Make sure you go over the driving laws of the country before arriving. The last thing you want is to get home from your holiday and receive a fine, or even worse, get stopped by police during your holiday. 

6. Bring car accessories

Certain car accessories are vital to your trip. If you want to use your phone for navigation make sure you bring a phone holder as well as a charging cable (often USB A to USB C).

Have fun and drive safe !