The car rental tips that save Americans the most money in Europe all target the same traps: the damage deductible, the deposit, border and one-way fees, fuel, camera-enforced city zones and highway vignettes. For most trips, book a manual car early, pick it up and return it in the same country, and choose full-to-full fuel. Settle how you’ll cover the deductible before you reach the counter, then compare Hertz cars and rates for your pickup city on those terms. The biggest avoidable bills come after pickup: Italian ZTL camera fines at around €100 (about $110) a pass, and undeclared border crossings that void your coverage.
Europe car rental tips: the traps at a glance
| Trap | What it can cost | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Damage deductible | The deductible per incident, or the car’s full value without CDW | Pick your coverage before you travel |
| Deposit hold | A full tank plus €500 (about $555) at Hertz France without SuperCover | Credit card with spare limit |
| Unpermitted border crossing | Void coverage, €500 penalty at Hertz France | Declare every country at booking |
| International one-way | Roughly $250 to more than $1,200 | Same-country return, train across |
| No International Driving Permit | Missing a required document in Italy | $20 AAA permit for US licenses |
| Italian ZTL | Around €100 per camera pass | Park outside, register with your hotel |
| No vignette | €200 (about $225) in Austria, CHF 200 (about $240) in Switzerland | Buy it before the first highway |
| Paying in dollars at the counter | The rental company’s exchange rate plus a service fee | Pay in euros on a no-foreign-fee card |
| Fuel | Above-pump price plus a service charge | Full-to-full, keep the receipt |
| Unrecorded scratches | Repair cost plus an admin charge | Film the car, return during business hours |
Do you need extra insurance to rent a car in Europe?
Not always, but you need a plan for the deductible. In Hertz’s rental terms for France, third-party liability insurance is always included, and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection (TP) often are. Both carry an “excess,” Europe’s word for the deductible: the amount you still pay per incident, shown on your rental agreement. Without them, you’re liable for the car’s full value.
Americans have four ways to cover that deductible:
| Option | What it does | The catch | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental company top-up (Hertz calls it SuperCover) | Removes or reduces the deductible and waives damage admin charges | The most expensive option | Short rentals, and no argument at return |
| Primary card coverage (Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve) | Pays for theft and damage first, without involving your own auto insurer | Pay with the card, decline the CDW, confirm the country | Most travelers with a premium travel card |
| Secondary card coverage (standard American Express) | Pays only after any other insurance | Not available for cars rented in Italy | A backup, not a plan |
| Standalone policy (Allianz Rental Car Protector) | Primary coverage up to $75,000 for $13 a day | US residents only; no liability cover | Cards without primary coverage |
Chase says Sapphire cardmembers get primary coverage when they pay the full rental with the card, are the primary driver on the agreement, decline the rental company’s CDW and rent for less than 31 consecutive days; the Reserve covers up to $75,000. Chase says the benefit applies in “some countries abroad,” so call before you travel to confirm your destination. American Express describes its standard car rental cover as secondary and says it isn’t available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy and New Zealand. Many Visa benefit guides exclude Israel, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. If your card excludes the country, take the top-up or a standalone policy such as Allianz’s Rental Car Protector, which Allianz Travel Insurance sells to US residents at $13 a day.
The price gap is real. In a June 2024 Which? test for UK travelers renting for a week in Malaga, rental firms’ super damage waivers averaged £177 (about $235), against £23 to £38 ($31 to $51) for standalone policies. None of the card or standalone options include liability insurance, but under Hertz’s terms that’s already in the rate.
Waivers have exclusions. Under Hertz’s terms, putting the wrong fuel in the tank, ignoring a warning light or driving into a barrier that’s too low counts as gross negligence, and CDW, TP and SuperCover then don’t apply.
Hertz also sells Glass & Tyres, a cheaper add-on covering glass and tire damage only. It earns its price on gravel roads, which is why our Iceland ring road itinerary says to get gravel protection.
How big is the deposit, and can you use a debit card?
Expect a large hold. At Hertz in France, it’s any amount still owed (on “pay later” rates and counter extras), plus a full tank of fuel with a minimum of €200, plus €500 if you haven’t bought SuperCover. Hertz warns that an unused hold can take up to 30 days to drop off your card.
The same terms allow the hold on a debit card, but then it freezes real money in your checking account for the trip and the weeks after. A credit card with enough spare limit is the easier choice, and it’s the card that carries any rental coverage you’re relying on.
Should you pay in dollars or euros at the rental counter?
Pay in euros. At participating European locations, Hertz asks whether you want to be charged in your home currency. Say yes and its Dynamic Currency Conversion sets the exchange rate and adds a service fee, according to its terms. Choose the local currency and let your card do the conversion instead.
That only saves money on a card with no foreign transaction fees. On cards that charge one, the fee typically runs 1% to 3% of each purchase, according to Capital One, which doesn’t charge it. Check your card’s fee table before the trip, because the rental, fuel and tolls all go through it.
Can you drive a rental car to another country in Europe?
Usually, with permission. Under Hertz’s terms, you may only drive in the country of rental unless you get prior permission and pay a Cross-Border Fee, which extends your insurance, waivers and roadside assistance. Each pickup country also lists forbidden countries. For a car rented in France, entering one voids every insurance and waiver, including third-party policies, and costs a €500 penalty, plus €2,317 (about $2,580) if the car has to be brought back.
So name every country at booking, even a lunch run across the Swiss border. Rick Steves’ guide to booking a car in Europe also flags geographic restrictions in eastern Europe, so check early if your route heads that way.
One-way rentals across a border
Dropping the car in another country is the priciest way to rent: Rick Steves’ guide puts international drop-off fees at roughly $250 to more than $1,200. Plan a loop that ends in the pickup country, or return the car before the border and take the train for the next leg. Hertz tells you at reservation whether a one-way journey is allowed, so check one-way availability and the drop-off fee on Hertz before you build the route around it, and price it against a same-country return plus a train ticket.
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Europe?
With a US license, yes for several countries, and it’s cheap insurance for the rest. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation booklet that only counts alongside your actual license.
- US license holders: get one from AAA. Italy requires a non-EU license to be carried with an IDP or a certified Italian translation, according to the Automobile Club d’Italia. AAA, which the US State Department authorizes to issue IDPs, charges $20 for a permit valid for one year, and you don’t need to be a member. AAA also notes that Hungary requires an IDP and that Spain accepts a US license with a certified translation, which the IDP provides.
- Apply early or in person. AAA’s online applications take about five business days plus shipping, while many branches issue the permit the same day. AAA warns that websites other than AAA and AATA selling “international driver’s licenses” aren’t authorized.
- UK license holders: with a UK photocard license, you don’t need an IDP in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, according to GOV.UK.
How do you avoid ZTL fines in Italy?
Many Italian historic centers are a zona a traffico limitato (ZTL), a limited traffic zone where cameras at every entry gate read license plates. If your rental car isn’t authorized, each pass can be a separate fine. The European Consumer Centre Germany puts the fine at around €100 per passage, depending on the city, and says rental companies usually add a handling fee of up to €50 (about $56) per fine. The police have 360 days to notify you after the rental company passes on your details, so a notice can take about a year and a half to reach your mailbox at home.
According to the City of Florence’s official Feel Florence guide, the ZTL is active Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it’s off on Sundays and public holidays. From the first Thursday of April to the first Sunday of October, it also runs from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. An electric sign at each gate shows green when entry is allowed and red when it isn’t.
How to stay clear of fines:
- Don’t let the GPS drive you into the old town. A navigation app may route you straight through a ZTL gate, so ask your hotel for the route in before you set off.
- If your hotel is inside a ZTL, give the front desk your plate number on arrival. In Florence, hotels pass it to the municipal police, and a luggage drop without parking allows up to 3 hours inside. It covers that hotel’s zone only.
- Park outside the zone and walk or take public transit in.
- Don’t pick up the car on arrival day in a big city. In Rome, take the shared shuttle from Fiumicino to Termini and pick up the car when you leave town. Our Fiumicino airport guide compares the train, buses and taxis.
If Florence is your base, a rental car mostly sits in a paid parking garage. The Tuscany day trip to Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa with lunch at a winery covers the classic hill-town circuit from Florence without any ZTL or parking risk.
Which European countries need a vignette?
Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and Czechia charge for highways with a time-based vignette, a prepaid permit linked to your plate or stuck on the windshield (prices checked October 2026). A car rented inside one of these countries usually has the local one (confirm at the counter). The trap is driving in from a neighbor, such as Germany or Italy, in a car that has none.
| Country | Options for a car (2026) | Penalty without one | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1 day €9.60 (about $11), 10 days €12.80 (about $14), 2 months €32 (about $36), year €106.80 (about $119) | €200 substitute toll; €300 to €3,000 (about $335 to $3,340) if unpaid | ASFINAG online shop or sales points |
| Switzerland | Annual only: CHF 40 (about $48), valid 1 Dec 2025 to 31 Jan 2027 | CHF 200 fine plus the CHF 40 vignette | Official e-vignette webshop, or a sticker at post offices and most gas stations |
| Slovenia | 7 days €16 (about $18), 1 month €32 | €300 fine | Official DARS e-vinjeta shop or gas stations |
| Czechia | 1 day CZK 230 (about $11), 10 days CZK 300 (about $14), 30 days CZK 480 (about $22) | Up to CZK 20,000 (about $915) | edalnice.gov.cz |
A few details that catch people out:
- Austria’s 18-day delay. Digital 2-month and annual vignettes bought online only become valid on the 18th day after purchase, according to Austria’s government portal; the 1-day and 10-day ones work immediately. The €200 substitute toll has applied since 1 January 2026, up from €120, according to the European Consumer Centre Germany.
- Switzerland has no short-stay option. Even a single afternoon on a Swiss highway needs the CHF 40 annual vignette, according to ch.ch. The e-vignette is valid immediately after purchase.
- Buy from official sellers. Resellers add handling fees. Czech prices are from the official price list in force since 1 January 2026.
Winter adds one more check. From 1 November to 15 April, Austria requires winter tires on all four wheels of a car whenever there’s snow, slush or ice on the road, according to the Austrian transport ministry. Hertz lists winter tires among optional equipment, so make sure a winter quote for the Alps includes them.
Which fuel policy is cheapest?
Full-to-full, almost every time. Hertz’s terms set out three options:
| Fuel option | How it works | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Refuel yourself (full-to-full) | Return the car with the same fuel level you got | Only what you spend at the pump |
| Fuel Purchase Option (FPO) | Pay for a full tank at pickup and return at any level | Usually more than local pump prices, with no refund for unused fuel |
| Return it low without FPO | Hertz refuels the car for you | A per-liter price above local stations, plus a refueling service charge |
Fill up within a few miles of the drop-off and keep the receipt; Hertz asks you to leave it on the driver’s seat if you return after hours. The FPO only makes sense when you’re sure to bring the car back almost empty. Remember that European pumps price fuel per liter, and a US gallon is about 3.8 liters.
Check the fuel type before your first fill. In Italy diesel is gasolio and gas is benzina; in France diesel is gazole. A wrong fill counts as gross negligence under Hertz’s terms, so no waiver covers the damage.
Automatic or manual: which should you book?
Manual, if you can drive stick. It’s the default in European rental fleets, and Rick Steves’ booking guide notes that automatics can cost more, may only come in bigger car classes and are in limited supply. If you need an automatic, book early, especially for summer: reserve an automatic with Hertz as soon as your dates are set, and check that the class you reserved is marked automatic.
What should you check at pickup and return?
Hertz gives you a Vehicle Condition Report listing existing damage at pickup and asks you to check it’s correct before you drive away. On return, it charges for new scratches longer than 10 mm (about 0.4 inch), or shorter ones that show bare metal or plastic.
At pickup:
- Film the car. Record every panel, the wheels, windshield and roof, then photograph the fuel gauge and mileage. Have any mark missing from the report added before you leave.
- Ask four questions: which countries you may enter, which fuel it takes, whether a vignette is on board and, in winter, whether it has winter tires.
- Check the safety kit. In Italy, a warning triangle and high-visibility vests must be in the car, according to the ACI.
- Skip the GPS rental. Your phone does the job. An Airalo eSIM gives you data for maps without your US carrier’s roaming charges; use code GUIDEZ15 at checkout if you’re new to Airalo, or GUIDEZ10 if you’ve bought from them before. Our eSIM vs local SIM comparison explains how to size a plan.
At return:
- Come back during business hours. Hertz says to allow 20 to 30 minutes at peak times for the joint inspection; if you can’t wait, new damage is assessed without you.
- Avoid the key drop box if you can. After an after-hours return, you stay responsible for the car, including any damage, until the location reopens.
- Watch the clock. Hertz allows a 29-minute grace period, then charges an extra day’s rental.
Before booking, also check the quote for a location service charge (airports and train stations) and a young driver surcharge (any driver under 25).
When is a car a bad idea in Europe?
A car pays off in the countryside and costs you in cities. Skip it, or rent one only for the rural part of the trip, in these cases:
- City-to-city trips. Trains run downtown to downtown, with no parking or ZTL to worry about. Compare train and bus fares for your route on Omio, and read our guide to cheap train tickets in Europe for saver fares and rail passes.
- Cinque Terre. One regional train line links all five villages, and hops between them take a few minutes. Our guide to Cinque Terre without a car covers tickets and trails; from Florence, the small-group Cinque Terre day tour handles the transportation for you.
- The Amalfi Coast from Rome. The Amalfi Coast small-group day trip from Rome uses the high-speed train to Salerno and the ferry along the coast, so nobody in the group drives the coast road.
Book on ViatorSmall Group Cinque Terre Day Tour from Florence
Book on ViatorAmalfi Coast Small-Group Day Trip from Rome Including PositanoA car is the right call where buses thin out. Our Slovenia 5-day itinerary, São Miguel itinerary and Iceland ring road trip all plan around one.
If your route passes those tests, book the car with Hertz with the settings above locked in: same-country return, full-to-full fuel, every border country declared and your deductible coverage decided. Then browse creator-made travel maps on Guidez to plan the stops along the way.
