How to rent a car abroad and what to watch out for

Traveling abroad in a rental car is an excellent way to discover even the most remote places on your own. However, just like buying plane tickets, a first-time car rental can be intimidating for many. It’s no wonder. There are numerous rental companies and brokers on the market who don’t exactly prioritize a professional approach, and inexperienced travellers often pay the price.

So, what should you watch out for when renting a car and which practices should you avoid? Conversely, what should you focus on to ensure you avoid car rental horror stories?

We have prepared a practical and very comprehensive guide for you that will prepare you for renting a car abroad in every way—including proven tips on how to save money and avoid being unnecessarily ripped off.

When (not) to rent a car – pros and cons

We are big advocates of renting a car, motorcycle, or scooter at the destination we fly to. On the other hand, we will quite likely try to talk you out of renting a car. Thanks to a car, you can easily get almost anywhere you want.

At the same time, you will miss out on a lot of potential adventure, human encounters, and the element of chance. Much depends on where you are going, what your plans are, and specifically how you want to use the car.

Why rent a car abroad:

• It’s the easiest way to get to most places you’ll want to see
• You will have total flexibility with your time
• Except for big cities, you’ll save a lot of time on transfers
• Rental + flight can be much cheaper than driving your own car to the destination. If the journey involves a ferry, this applies even to long stays
• Compared to driving your own car, you save a lot of time on tedious transit. From the Czech Republic to Portugal, it really is better to fly than to spend three days driving on highways
• In some places, traveling by rental car is cheaper than public transport, especially for groups of three to five people

Why you might not want to rent a car:

• For locals, you will fall into the “rich tourist” category – though this is usually elegantly solved by a scooter or motorcycle
• You’ll miss the chance to meet locals while traveling by public transport, carpooling, or hitchhiking
• You will walk much less and miss many interesting “ordinary” places
• Because of navigation, you won’t just get lost. And that’s a great shame when traveling
• A car tempts you to try and see as much as possible
• Sometimes it’s much better to have your own vehicle with you, for example, one converted for sleeping – even if the journey plus rental would be cheaper

Many people don’t rent a car because they are afraid of scams or potential trouble in case of a breakdown or accident. Or they feel that renting is too expensive.

We’ll show you that most trouble can be avoided in advance. And you’ll learn how to find rentals for reasonable money.

We usually consider whether renting a car really brings such a significant advantage that it compensates for the loss of the adventure element. We are naturally quite lazy and know full well that with a rental car, we’ll mostly just be driving everywhere…

When we do decide on a car, we often rent it only for specific days and trips. At the same time, we sometimes deliberately take a completely different route than the one the GPS suggests as the best. We turn off based on random tourist signs by the road or stop for a while in a small town along the way to go for a walk.

Alternatively, we just rent a motorcycle or scooter and crisscross the mountains in northern Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, the remote north of Scotland, or perhaps national parks in Kenya.

Where to rent a car and how to avoid paying too much?

Sometimes it’s enough to type “car rental” + location into a search engine; other times it’s not that simple. Finding the best car rental deal on the market is sometimes an art, especially if you’re looking for a low-cost yet reliable company.

We’ve found it best to search and book on Rentalcars.com, but for a better overview, we also look at the competition and the rental companies’ own websites. So, where and with whom should you look?

Car Rental Companies

Car rental companies are the direct providers of the rental cars. The vast majority of them operate online, so you can book a car in advance through their websites, or by phone or in person at a branch.

Generally, compared to search engines (brokers), car rental companies tend to have higher rental prices. However, this rule isn’t 100%. If you’re heading to popular tourist spots or, conversely, remote areas, it’s worth checking the price lists of smaller local rental companies as well.

A big advantage of car rental companies is direct contact with the firm that is renting you the car. You’ll appreciate this especially regarding insurance and in case of any problems. We’ll get to all that.

Some of the best-known car rental companies operating worldwide include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Alamo, and Thrifty.

Brokers

Search engines like Rentalcars.com or Discovercars.com are brokerage platforms that aggregate offers from available car rental companies and compare them. In just a few clicks, you have an overview of approximate prices and general conditions without having to go through individual rental websites.

The principle is the same as with flight search engines, only in this case, we recommend booking a car through a broker. If you book through verified sites like Rentalcars.com, you don’t have to worry about scams and will very likely find the lowest possible prices.

These sites also often provide insurance that is cheaper than the insurance offered by the rental company. However, in the event of an insurance claim, the hassle is on you and you won’t avoid paperwork. Another disadvantage can be that rental conditions are often updated or changed during the booking process. We highly recommend reading the full terms and conditions very carefully, and doing so twice – on the initial offer page and then before the final booking confirmation.

Give a wide berth to brokerage websites that do not provide specific information about the car rental company for a particular offer.

Travel Agents, Travel Agencies, and Airlines

Many travel agents or travel agencies offer comprehensive services including car rentals. The good news is that they will arrange everything for you; the downside can be the final price of such a service.

Some airlines also offer car rental services as part of packages or special deals. Here, advice is hard to give and we can only say “it depends…” to any questions. Always carefully read the terms, check online reviews, compare prices with other providers – and decide based on that whether to go for such a rental or not.

When looking at reviews, always search for situations where something needed to be resolved. Otherwise, you won’t learn anything valuable.

Carsharing and Renting from Locals

If you plan to use a rental car for a longer period, or if you’re staying in one place for a long time and want to rent a car occasionally for trips, look for carsharing services.

This trend is gradually spreading from Europe and the USA to most of the world; search for “carsharing + country/city”.

The second option is renting a car directly from locals (as opposed to a shared fleet from a carsharing company). This is especially worthwhile for longer rentals or in countries where cars with sleeping conversions are very popular. We rented a converted van like this in New Zealand; we’ll write more about it later.

Examples of websites where you can rent a car from locals include Carrenters.is in Iceland or GetAround.com in the USA.

You can also make arrangements with hosts on Airbnb or private accommodations on Booking.com.

A great option is also to get a car along with free accommodation through house sitting or home exchange. In both cases, it’s common to receive car keys alongside the house or apartment keys.

What kind of car to choose?

Rental companies usually divide vehicles into classes, which you choose from. You can select a small, medium, large, or luxury car, a van, an SUV… Often, you only find out the specific type or model of the car when you pick it up.

Even if the booking system lets you choose a specific car, you’re still not guaranteed to get it. Rental companies are prepared, and the note “or similar” is listed with almost every offer.

It is therefore very important to pay close attention to the conditions and parameters of the vehicle. What specifically should you focus on?

Size and Comfort

The first thing you should consider when choosing a rental car is its size and comfort. How many people are going on the trip? How much luggage will you have? Are you planning long trips or mostly short transfers?

A larger car will offer more space, but parking or squeezing through narrow streets can be more difficult.

Of course – the bigger and better the car, the more expensive the rental and insurance will be.

When traveling with children, with more than three adults, or for planned long transfers, it’s well worth paying extra for size and comfort. Similarly, if you’re carrying specialized equipment, such as for snowboarding, golf, paragliding, or diving, you’ll appreciate a large trunk.

Otherwise, feel free to go for compact cars like the Hyundai i20, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, or Volkswagen Polo, or even three-door models like the Renault Twingo, Peugeot 208, and Fiat 500. At least it won’t tempt you to bring unnecessarily large luggage.

Automatic vs. Manual

Consider whether you want to drive a car with a manual or automatic transmission. If you’re used to a manual and are traveling to a country where they drive on the right, there’s nothing to discuss.

In countries where they drive on the left, an automatic transmission is a huge relief even for experienced drivers.

In the United States, for example, you’ll hardly ever come across a car with a manual transmission. If you do, renting it will likely be much more expensive than an automatic.

If you’ve never driven an automatic, don’t worry. You’ll learn in no time, though you might not want to switch back to a manual when you get home.

Don’t forget that to start the car and change the driving mode from park to drive or reverse, you need to press the brake pedal. Don’t look like an amateur by calling the rental company to say the car won’t start.

Mileage Limits

Will you be driving a lot? If so, it’s important to check if there’s a hidden note in the rental terms about a mileage limit.

Some companies offer “unlimited mileage,” while others charge extra fees for every kilometer over the limit.

Usually, you’ll find that the limit applies to a single day. For example, 200 km/day. Of course, it works so that at the end of the rental, the total number of kilometers is divided by the number of rental days.

Cost for Additional Drivers

Are you planning to take turns behind the wheel? Then check how much it costs to add another driver. With some companies, this service is free, but in the vast majority of cases, an additional fee is charged.

The same applies to insurance. Make sure that all drivers are listed in the insurance policy. If someone other than the officially listed driver is driving when damage occurs, even the best insurance won’t save you. Your claim for compensation will be void and the entire car rental will become radically more expensive.

Insurance Cost and Potential Deductible

Insurance is a chapter in itself that you should definitely devote enough time to. Carefully check the coverage terms and also the deductible (the maximum amount the rental company can demand from you in case of damage or theft).

Cancellation Policy

Find out what the cancellation policy is so you know what to expect if your plans change.

For example, Rentalcars.com offers free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of the rental. This is typical for most search engines, whereas rental companies themselves often don’t offer this option and require cancellation fees.

Fuel Policy

Investigate the fuel policy the rental company follows. There are several options to choose from – and the most advantageous is the so-called full-to-full.

Full-to-Full

The ideal solution, where you get the car with a full tank and are expected to return it full as well. This policy is the fairest because you only pay for the fuel you actually use.

Note: Some companies require a receipt to prove your last refueling, to confirm the distance you drove from the pump to the rental office.

If you don’t return the car full, you’ll face a refueling fee. The prices will very likely be higher than those at regular gas stations nearby.

Return as Received

Another option is “return as received.” This means that if you get the car with half a tank, you should return it with half a tank of fuel as well.

It’s important to record the exact fuel level when picking up the car; it’s not just about the fuel gauge needle – also note the remaining range shown by the trip computer.

Empty-to-Empty

The “empty-to-empty” policy is a bit of a minor rip-off. The rental company gives you the car with an empty tank and expects you to return it empty too. The problem is that it’s hard to return a car completely out of fuel, so in most cases, you’ll end up giving the rental company a little “extra.”

Vignettes and Tolls

Are highway vignettes or tolls included in the price? If you’ll only be driving around town and the surrounding area, you probably won’t use this service and it’s better to choose a different offer. You’d be making the whole rental unnecessarily expensive.

If you plan to use highways, find out in advance how it works with that particular rental car.

Crossing Borders or Seas

If you’re planning to take the car across borders, you’ll likely have a tough time finding a suitable offer. Most European rental companies don’t even allow this for travel within the EU – and if they do, it’s for a high surcharge.

But it works in some places… for example, in the Balkans. Always inform the rental company of your plan in advance so they can prepare any necessary documents in time.

Taking a ferry within one country can also be an issue. For example, from Scotland to the Orkneys. Again – communicate this with the rental company in advance; you’ll probably reach an agreement. Or you’ll find it’s worth returning the car, taking the ferry as a foot passenger, and renting another car on the other side.

Area or Road Type Restrictions

Sometimes you’ll have it explicitly written in the contract that you must not go to a specific part of the country. Or that you cannot drive on unpaved roads (a common thing in New Zealand, for instance).

If you plan to go to those areas, look for a different offer or communicate your intentions with the rental company.

Definitely don’t try to bypass these rules. In “forbidden areas,” your insurance and rental assistance wouldn’t apply – and believe us, you can’t just hide the fact that you drove off-road.

Pick-up Location and Time

Another important “detail” is the location and time of vehicle pick-up. Is the rental office at the airport or nearby? How will you get there and what are the branch opening hours?

Keep an eye on this, especially in the case of night or early morning arrivals. A closed rental office door is the last thing you want to see at such a moment.

What to prepare for and what might surprise you

Even picking up the car might not go as smoothly as we’d imagine. So make sure you’re clear on the following points.

Payment and Deposit

Credit Card vs. Debit Card

When renting a car, they almost always require a credit card to serve as a deposit. Usually, a hold on a debit card can be arranged, but be prepared for unpleasant haggling and the possibility that they won’t rent you a car in the end. Plus, they are blocking your money, not the bank’s money.

If you already use a debit card and don’t have a credit card, it’s better not to even mention it – it usually goes through (if you have a sufficient reserve in your account). It also depends on the type of insurance and the amount of deductible you’ve paid for.

It’s also very important that the card you use for the deposit must almost always be in the driver’s name. So watch out for company bookings.

Never head abroad with just one payment card. We keep our finances in several accounts and, to be safe, don’t leave without a Revolut card, which offers many benefits, including free airport lounges.

Deposit

Some (especially local) rental companies don’t want credit or debit cards but require cash deposits. Usually in USD/EUR rather than local currency.

Generally, the deposit amount usually ranges from €100 to €2,000; for more expensive cars, campers, or motorcycles, it can be even higher.

Releasing the deposit often takes more than a week after returning the car; sometimes it can stretch to three weeks. When planning your finances, count on the fact that you won’t see this money for a while.

Insurance

Always insure the car – preferably with “full coverage.” At Travel Bible, we believe that you shouldn’t skimp on insurance. Accidents happen even to the most careful drivers, and you never know who or what you’ll run into out there.

Rental companies themselves offer car insurance in several variants, which differ in their scope, the amount of your deductible, and the payout. The rental price usually includes basic insurance for accidents, theft insurance, and third-party liability insurance.

Basic Rental Car Insurance

Basic accident insurance, also known as Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), covers only damage to the bodywork and does not apply to other parts of the vehicle, such as glass, wheels, roof, or interior. It almost always includes a deductible, which means you won’t avoid paying in case of damage to the car. However, your financial responsibility is limited to the amount of the deductible (most often around $1,000), with the rest of the damage covered by insurance.

Financial coverage for theft (Theft Protection, TP) covers the theft of the vehicle and damage caused by a thief. It also usually includes a deductible, which is similar in amount to the basic accident insurance.

Third-party liability insurance covers situations where you cause damage to another vehicle or property. Unlike the previous two mentioned, it does not include a deductible.

Additional Insurance

Additional car insurance options include zero deductible (Full Damage Waiver, FDW), reducing it (Loss Damage Waiver, LDW), or extending coverage to other parts of the vehicle besides the bodywork.

The price of insurance with no deductible often exceeds the cost of renting the car, but it offers the certainty of covering all damages.

Where and How to Arrange Car Insurance?

Insurance provided by car rental companies is more expensive, but it makes handling any damages simpler. Additionally, it can help you reduce the deposit or avoid it entirely (thus solving the credit vs. debit card dilemma).

Comparison sites like Rentalcars also offer insurance, which is usually more affordable. In this case, the claimed damage is first deducted from your card, and you then claim it back from the insurance company.

Another option for additional insurance is external companies like Rentalcover.com.

Driver’s License and Age Restrictions

Most rental companies require a driver’s license valid for at least X years. Usually one, two, or three. The time is counted from when you obtained the license – the issue date must be recorded on the license.

Almost everywhere, renting is more expensive for drivers under a certain age (24, 25, or 30) and over a certain age limit (e.g., 65+).

Almost everywhere outside the EU, you also need an International Driving Permit. Note that there are two types, which differ depending on your destination. They’ll help you issue it at the office – just tell them which country you’re going to, and they’ll give you the right one. It costs very little and they issue it while you wait; you just need your standard license and a passport photo.

Also, remember that an international permit is useless without your Czech license. You must always have both with you.

Car Selection

As we’ve written, you’ll likely get a different car than the one you ordered (though with matching parameters and in the same class).

If they try to push a clearly inferior one (smaller, manual vs. automatic, no AC…), contact the support of the site where you booked the car (e.g., Rentalcars or the rental network), or bargain hard with local rental companies.

Practical tips on how to save on car rentals

We never book the first car we like; quite the opposite. We set aside enough time to find the right offer and compare options. Often, we manage to lower the price of the rental car significantly using the following tips.

Compare Prices

Just like with flights or hotels, it pays to compare prices from different companies when renting cars. Comparison sites will help you find the best deals, and it’s possible you’ll come across better prices there (especially compared to large rental companies like Hertz or Sixt).

Try Incognito Mode or a VPN

Again, the same advice as with flights. Search engines sometimes change prices based on what you’ve already done on the site, or based on your destination or device.

Search for Local Car Rental Companies

You can sometimes find unbeatable offers at smaller local car rental companies (if you rent a car directly from them without a broker). However, a low price might come at the cost of a language barrier, which can be troublesome especially when dealing with an insurance claim.

To find a local car rental, use a translator for the word “car rental” and search for this translated word along with your destination. Another option is to search directly on the national domain.

For example, to find an Icelandic car rental, you would search for bílaleiga island or bílaleiga site:is.

Book in Advance

You’ll rarely come across last-minute car rental deals. It’s best to book a car well in advance. For such cases, we use comparison sites that don’t have cancellation fees, and we change/cancel our booking if we find a better offer or change our plans.

Rent a Car Outside the Weekend

If you can, avoid renting a car for the weekend, when prices tend to be higher. If you have no choice, try to play around and explore prices for multi-day rentals when searching for the best deal. The longer the rental, the lower the daily price tends to be. It might be worth renting the car a day earlier or returning it later.

Also, watch out for holidays, school breaks, and other major events in the rental location. They can drive the price up by hundreds of percent.

Play with Pick-up and Return Times

The price is also affected by the hour of pick-up and return. Sometimes it pays to play with the exact times and perhaps wait a few hours or return the car a bit earlier.

Simply because a rental day is usually calculated as 24 hours.

Avoid Airport Pick-up and Return

Picking up and returning a car away from the airport is usually cheaper, but not always. And sometimes the few crowns saved this way might not even be worth it, considering the transport to the off-airport branch and its opening hours.

Return at the Same Location You Picked Up

Always try to return the car at the same place you picked it up. Returning it elsewhere can be expensive – rental companies often charge a fee that is higher than the entire car rental.

Bring Your Own Equipment

If you’re traveling with children, you’ll save money by bringing your own car seat, which most airlines (even low-cost ones) transport for free. The same applies to using your own navigation. Fortunately, most rental cars today support CarPlay or Android Auto.

Try Offering a Ride

You can share the cost of gas and sometimes the rental itself with fellow travelers. Either through classic carpooling – we occasionally offer a seat on BlaBlaCar during transfers – or more often by arranging joint trips with other travelers. It can be someone different every day.

Such trips are best arranged in hostels and small guesthouses. Alternatively, use the power of Facebook groups like Australia Backpackers, New Zealand Ride Share, or even Czechs and Slovaks in Vancouver.

What to watch out for

To summarize, even personal communication with the rental company requires a dose of caution. What should you focus on when picking up and returning a rental car to avoid unexpected fees?

When Picking Up the Car

Before you sign the handover protocol when picking up the car, be extra thorough. Failing to notice even a small crack in the windshield can be very costly. Take your time.

• Have the card you used for the booking with you
• Report all drivers
• Read the contract thoroughly
  • Make sure the final contract you sign includes all the services and details you ordered
• Photograph scratches and damage
  • Before leaving, thoroughly inspect the car and photograph or film any scratch and damage, including the windshield, lights, mirrors, and rims, as well as any dirt or damage inside
  • Don’t be shy; it’s completely normal. A fair rental company will expect it of you
• Go through the handover protocol
  • Make sure all information is correct and all scratches or damage are recorded in the paperwork

Picking up a car can sometimes be quite confusing, and more than once we’ve forgotten to check something in a hurry. Some travelers therefore head to the rental office with a prepared checklist containing all the important points to focus on. You can use the following for inspiration when creating yours:

Check:

• Paintwork
• Rims
• Front and rear windshield
• Mirrors
• Air conditioning
• Clutch and brake
• Overall interior condition
• Car locking
• Car documents
  • Registration certificate
  • Signed rental agreement
  • Handover protocol
  • Car manual

Make sure that:

• The car has equipment for a flat tire and especially a jack that can lift the car
• I know who to call in case of problems (contact for the local rental branch)

Ask:

• How parking works in residential zones
• Whether I can take the car anywhere
• How it works with highway vignettes or tolls

Offer of a Better Car

It can also happen that during handover, they offer you an upgrade to a better car class than the one you ordered. Of course, for a very “favorable” price. Sometimes they just want to make some extra money. But an upgrade can actually be economical for you in some cases – ideally, check similar cars on a search engine for comparison.

Very likely, it happened that the rental company simply doesn’t have a car of your ordered category available. At that moment, they don’t have much choice but to rent you a better one. Of course, they’ll try to make money on it first.

If they offer an upgrade, try to discreetly find out what’s behind it first. For example, ask to see the car you paid for first.

Maybe you won’t mind renting a smaller/worse car than you originally ordered. Perhaps even just for the part of the rental when they don’t have your car available. You’ll get quite a bit of money back, especially in high season.

In any case, bargain. Hard and relentlessly; you are fully in the right.

Before Returning the Car

• Does the fuel level match?
  • Before returning the car, make sure the fuel level matches the agreed policy. Do you have a full tank? Or did you rent the car with an empty tank and will return it that way too?
• Clean up major dirt
  • It’s good to wash a dirty car before returning it. Rental companies can charge additional cleaning fees (this also applies to the interior), which will cost more than a visit to a car wash

When Returning the Car

When returning it, on the other hand, the rental company employee will likely be very thorough. Especially if your conscience isn’t completely clear, distract them. Tell stories of your experiences, ask about their kids, ask for directions to the airport. Here, too much attention on the car doesn’t play into your hands.

• Go through the handover protocol and photograph it
  • Just like when picking up the car, it’s important to carefully go through the handover protocol when returning it. Furthermore, the rental company could later hold you liable for damage you didn’t cause, so it’s recommended to photograph the document
• Check your banking to see if the deposit has been unblocked

While Driving

We can’t help but mention following traffic rules. Keep an eye not only on your speed but also on parking, entering certain types of roads, or areas with restrictions. Fines from abroad are unpleasant and often completely unnecessary.

Gadgets and Equipment Tips

What to take with you in the car? It depends a lot on the type of travel and the planned terrain. You’ll need something different in the city than for trips on mountain roads or long distances.

Your basic kit should include the following:

• Phone holder, if the car doesn’t have CarPlay / Android Auto
• Phone charging cable, preferably in a version with both USB-A and the newer USB-C. It’s hard to guess in advance what you’ll find in the car
• Charging splitter, or an adapter for a standard socket (for charging a camera, etc.)
• Daypack for walking
• Luggage with organizers – a backpack or bag is almost always more practical than a suitcase

Don’t overdo it with the amount of stuff

Traveling by car sometimes tempts you to pack extra things you won’t use on the trip. Don’t get carried away and remember that everything not only has to fit in the car, but you’ll also have to find your way around the potential chaos. And that’s sometimes not an easy task.

Off-road equipment

Rental car equipment is generally nothing to write home about, so sometimes it’s better to bring your own. Even off-road vehicles occasionally lack logical essentials (e.g., they don’t have a tow rope). If such a trip awaits you, you can bring your own (a synthetic one weighs almost nothing).

Another useful item can be a power bank with jumper cables and a small shovel in case you get stuck.

When renting an “ordinary” car isn’t enough

Renting a motorhome

Renting a campervan and traveling the country in it is a dream for many travelers. In certain countries, such as Iceland, Australia, or New Zealand, it is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience maximum adventure while keeping your budget relatively grounded (by local standards).

Finding the right vehicle then requires a bit of creativity. Large rental companies usually offer classic (clunky and unnecessarily expensive) motorhomes, which we don’t exactly recommend.

You can find better deals from locals, who often offer converted vans or passenger cars modified for travel and sleeping.

In 2017, we headed to New Zealand, where we pre-arranged a smaller van with a sleeping conversion. There was just enough room for a large mattress, which was plenty even for three people. It had decent storage space under the bed and a slide-out kitchenette with a stove.

The website where we found it unfortunately no longer exists, but new ones are always popping up. Search for “rent campervan from locals” plus the country you are heading to.

Price-wise, a month-long rental cost us less than a third of what commercial motorhome rentals charge, and we didn’t have to worry too much about the van. The owner explicitly wrote that he definitely wouldn’t care which roads we took, let alone any scratches from stones. They wouldn’t have been the first anyway.

In our country, services like Campiri in Europe are available. You can also try your luck with local rental shops or among friends.

Renting a motorcycle

Motorcycle rentals are becoming increasingly popular worldwide and are an absolutely great choice for bikers with limited time and a desire to explore.

Renting a motorcycle has its specifics, though, and you face a slightly more complex process than when renting a car. Comparison sites don’t work very well in this case, and you’ll have to go through rental shops one by one.

Motorcycle rental prices also tend to be higher than for cars, mainly due to insurance costs, shorter service intervals, and faster depreciation.

For longer rentals, try to haggle – it’s not impossible that you’ll manage to bring the price down significantly. In most countries, motorcycle rentals suffer a lot from seasonality and weather whims, so long-term rentals represent a profitable, guaranteed income for them.

Never rely on communal gear from the rental shop and rather bring your own. We mainly mean a helmet and boots, but if it’s at all possible, take your own gloves, jacket, and pants too.

I have great experiences with both short and long-term rentals directly in Prague from www.motorky-pujcovna.cz – I even took their bike on a three-week trip to Scotland.

Several times I’ve rented large bikes to my full satisfaction in Northern Thailand, specifically at C&P Big Bike in Chiang Mai. All were new and in great condition. And without unnecessary hassle when I returned them twice in not-so-great condition. Unfortunately, they won’t rent them to you with off-road tires anymore.

Matous from Czech Travellers

Renting unusual cars

When you’re already renting, you can treat it as an integral part of the travel experience. In many places today, you can rent pure electric cars, but especially various sports cars, convertibles, or even an executive Mercedes.

It costs a lot, but for a few days and a romantic road trip… why not.