Vacation abroad: what should you keep in mind?

Renting a car for a vacation abroad? These are the rules!

Don’t own a car or don’t have a suitable car for your vacation, but still want to travel by car? In that case, you can rent a car for a longer period and take it across the border

There can sometimes be uncertainty about the rules that apply when using a rental car outside the Netherlands. Below, you’ll find the key points to consider when going on vacation with a rental car.

Is cross border travel allowed?

You can travel abroad with a rental car without worry. However, a few restrictions and rules do apply. For example, when picking up the car, you must inform us that you plan to drive abroad with the rental car.

In addition, it is only permitted to drive from the Netherlands to the following countries: Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Austria, Spain (excluding Ceuta and Melilla), the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Switzerland.

You can always find this information, and more, in the most up to date [rental terms and conditions][1].

Returning the rental car

In most cases, you will travel both to and from your destination with the rental car. In some situations, it is also possible, upon request, to return the rental car abroad using the One Way Service. This service is available only for passenger cars and passenger vans and involves an additional fee, depending on the type of vehicle you rent.

Renting a car abroad

Renting a car for your vacation abroad? You can, of course, also fly to your destination and rent a car locally. Avis offers an international reservation system for this. Within Europe, an international driver’s license is not required. This is only necessary for certain countries outside the EU.

Traffic rules abroad

It’s always a good idea to check the national traffic regulations of the country you’re traveling to before you leave. For example, in England it’s mandatory to use headlight beam deflectors. Sounds strange? Not really. Dutch headlights are adjusted toward the roadside and can dazzle oncoming traffic in England, as they shine toward the opposite side of the road. That’s exactly why it’s important to prepare for country specific traffic rules like these.

Want to know more about driving abroad with a rental car? Please contact our call center at +31 88 900 5555 5 or email info@avis.nl.