With the official start of summer less than 2 weeks away, we’re certain many of you are getting ready to book your summer holiday abroad! To help you get prepared and take the stress out of your car rental, we have put together a list of things for you to consider before you jet off.
Documentation
First things first, documentation is the most important thing to have ready for your car rental. Without the right documentation, you may not be able to pick up your rental car and that would certainly put a damper on the start of your holiday!
We recommend bringing with you a valid driving licence, passport (or another form of ID), rental car confirmation, car insurance, a credit card for your deposit, and if needed, an IDP (International Driving Permit). If you are unsure whether an IDP is needed, you can check the government website by clicking here.
Expiry dates
You will need to ensure there is sufficient time before the expiry dates of your credit card, driving licence and passport. Many car rental companies will only accept credit cards and driving licences with 2 or more months left before expiration. As for passports, it is advised to have at least 6 months’ validity to be granted access to another country.
Car essentials
Should you run into any trouble in your rental car, whether it’s getting lost or an unfortunate breakdown, having a charged phone will help you quickly find solutions in your time of need! Most modern cars will come with a USB port where you can plug in your charger and replenish any battery that was lost prior to pick up. A charged phone ensures access to other car essentials like GPS or emergency contacts numbers!
Plan ahead
If you are a nervous driver or if this is your first time driving abroad, checking your route prior to driving might help settle those nerves! Google maps is a brilliant tool to utilise when planning your journey as its ‘street view’ mode allows users to virtually explore the roads from a driver’s POV. Additionally, familiarising yourself with local traffic laws and road signs may help you avoid moments of confusion behind the wheel.
Pocket change
You may find yourself in a scenario where you need to pay for a facility or service but they only accept cash. This could be at a toll booth, paying for parking or accessing a public restroom. We advise keeping a little bit of change on you just in case.
Ready to book?
Zest works with trusted providers across the globe, so you can spend your summer (almost) anywhere your heart desires. Have a look at our available destinations by clicking on the button below, and get yourself a quote!
I recently picked up a car from Olbia airport Sardinia i don’t have a photo driving licence only the old school paper one, they were reluctant to accept it even though I had passport and credit cards with my name on, eventually they did accept it but it was a worry for a while. Is it going to be mandatory to have a photo license in the future ?
Hi Brian,
Thank you for your comment.
Unfortunately, many providers are phasing out the acceptance of paper driving licences. Whether or not a paper licence is accepted varies depending on country and car rental provider. Going forward, if you book with Zest we can assist with finding you a provider who will accept your paper driving licence. Either give us a call or pop us an email – you’ll find our contact details here: Contact us
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any more questions.
Kind regards,
Katherine
Zest Car Rental
You don’t mention the many new emissions zones and restrictions in major towns in different countries. A summary of these would be useful – or is that impossible !!
Hi John,
Luckily we do break down emission zones in some country-specific blogs, for example Italy’s ZTLs and London’s ULEZ.
There are too many to list in a singular blog, but don’t worry, we’re working towards getting more emission zone blogs out!
If there’s any particular city or country you’d like information on, just let us know.
Kind regards,
Katherine
Zest Car Rental