Here in this article you can find some tips and ideas to make a great deal and also to make sure that you have all the necessary documentation and the your driving is safe in abroad.
At any cost book your rental car in advance. Since rental rates will be higher in the table then over the phone. If you have ample time visit the websites of several car rental agencies and search for the cars that fits you on your travel dates.
Make it possible to make all the necessary arrangements from booking a rental car to payments all are done before you leave your place. This will generally make all things cheaper, easier and safer. This will also help you to avoid unexpected problems like unfamiliar rental specification, language barriers and also the cultural differences.
Ask whether the car rental company has any weekend specials, penalties for returning the car late and gas charges. Since there might be some hidden discounts or some hidden costs which you will not be explained at the time of rental. Be aware that all the countries have their own minimum and maximum age limit for renting the cars.
If you are planning to have a airport pickup then rent a smaller car since the airport fleets with larger car are used by the business travelers and at the same time you will also receive some free upgrade for choosing a subcompact package. But this will not fit for the people who are extra-tall and having lot of luggage or for people traveling with family or in groups. In this case do not take a risk you try to rent a car that fits in your needs.
An American driving license is enough if you are traveling to an English-speaking country but many countries specifies that you need an international driving permit. IDP is nothing but a piece of paper that just translate your information into 10 different languages and it is globally recognized and accepted in 150 countries. So if you are going to rent a car in abroad then you need to submit this international driving license along with your state license and you should be 18 years of age.
Make sure that you get your international driving license before you leave your home since you IDP must be issued only by the home country. It is not a license it is just a translation for the license issued for you from your home country. So in any situation if you are stopped by any law enforcement officials then you have to produce both your IDP and home driving license.
Before you leave make sure that you know the realistic price that you have to pay for the car fuel in the country you are going to visit. Ensure that you have left some big space in your budget for the gas expenses. Get your self familiarize with the local road rules of the country before you get into the car. The best solution for this is to get the country's consulate or embassy and keep yourself updated. If you have any insurances, then check with your auto insurances company that if you rent a car abroad will be covered under their policy. So at the time of booking itself you have buy the insurance from the car rental company.
If you are planning to drive extensively then don't forget to your road map or atlas it would be worth for the price you will be paying for it.