Planning a European road trip that takes you through more than one country? You might be hiring a car in Spain and heading into Portugal, or picking one up in France before travelling into Switzerland or Italy.
In most cases, you can take a hire car from one European country to another, but don’t assume you’re automatically allowed to. Rental companies have their own rules about cross-border travel, so it’s worth checking before you book.
Here’s what to look out for.
Can you drive a hire car across European borders?
Often, yes. But it depends on the rental company, the car you’ve hired and where you’re planning to go.
There’s no single set of EU rules covering car hire contracts, so individual rental companies can set their own conditions. Your Europe recommends telling your rental company when booking if you plan to drive through several countries. This gives them a chance to make sure you have the right documents, insurance and breakdown cover for your journey.
So, even if you’re simply hiring a car in Spain and popping across the border into Portugal, check first.
Do you need permission to take a hire car to another country?
You might.
The easiest approach is to tell the rental company every country you’re planning to visit when you book.
Ask whether:
- you’re allowed to take the car into those countries
- you’ll need any extra paperwork
- there’s an additional cross-border charge
- there are restrictions on the type of car you’ve chosen
- your breakdown assistance will still apply
It’s much easier to sort this out before your holiday than when you’re standing at the rental desk.
And if you’re planning to collect the car in one country and return it in another, check that separately. Being allowed to drive across a border doesn’t necessarily mean you can drop the car off there.
What about your car hire excess insurance?
It’s worth remembering that your rental agreement and your car hire excess insurance are two separate things.
Your rental company might be happy for you to drive into another country, but you’ll still need to check that your excess insurance is suitable for your trip.
With CHEW, you need to be eligible to hire and drive the car and follow the terms of your hire contract. You also need a valid driving licence for the country you’re driving in. Your hire dates also need to fall within the period shown on your certificate of insurance.
If you’re travelling through several countries, the simple rule is: check your route against both your hire agreement and your insurance documents before you leave.
Don’t forget that driving rules can change too
Crossing a border doesn’t just affect your rental agreement. The rules of the road can change as well.
The government website recommends checking the requirements for each country you’re visiting. Depending on where you’re travelling, you may need things such as reflective jackets, warning triangles, a UK sticker or an International Driving Permit. You can check this here.
If you’re hiring a car in the UK and taking it into Europe, there’s another important bit of paperwork. The government website says you’ll need a VE103 certificate to show you’re allowed to use the hired or leased vehicle abroad.
What if you have an accident in another country?
Hopefully you won’t need to think about this, but it’s worth knowing what to do.
Follow the local rules and contact your rental company for instructions. Keep any paperwork you’re given and take photographs where appropriate, as you may need this evidence if you make a claim.
A quick cross-border car hire checklist
Before you set off:
- Tell the rental company which countries you’re visiting.
- Make sure your hire car is allowed across those borders.
- Check whether there are any extra fees or paperwork.
- Check your breakdown arrangements.
- Make sure your excess insurance covers your planned destinations.
- Check the driving rules for each country.
- Make sure your driving licence is valid and find out whether you’ll need an IDP.
- Keep your rental and insurance documents somewhere easy to find.
A few checks before you leave can save a lot of hassle once you’re on the road.
