The car rental market remains structurally tense since the health crisis. Major networks (Hertz, Avis, Europcar) report in their 2023-2024 annual reports that the slow renewal of fleets and the rising costs of purchasing new vehicles keep prices high, even outside the peak season. Renting a car for a trip therefore requires a methodical approach, well beyond simple price comparisons.
Digital check-in and counterless rental: what is changing concretely
Picking up a rental vehicle no longer necessarily goes through a counter. Sixt, Europcar, and Getaround are gradually rolling out digital processes in major European train stations and airports: signing the contract via an app, photographic condition reports via smartphone, retrieving the key from a secure box, or Bluetooth unlocking.
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This format changes the game on two points. The first concerns the condition report: a poorly executed digital condition report makes you liable. Photograph every angle of the vehicle with a timestamp before starting, even if the app does not require it. The second concerns the deposit: in a counterless process, the bank imprint is automatically charged, often only on a credit card. A debit card may block the pickup without immediate recourse.
We recommend checking at the time of booking whether the pickup is done at an agency or via self-service. The two processes have different documentary requirements. Platforms like carfully.fr allow you to compare offers by integrating this type of criterion, which avoids unpleasant surprises at the time of pickup.
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Car rental insurance: deciphering the guarantees before signing
Insurance coverage remains the most opaque aspect of a rental contract. The displayed rate generally includes liability insurance and a CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), but with a deductible that can amount to several hundred euros.
Deductible, deductible buyback, and exclusions
The deductible buyback offered at the counter often costs more than insurance purchased before departure. The options sold by the rental company at the time of pickup display a high daily rate, sometimes exceeding the rental price itself for small vehicles.
Before booking, check three elements:
- The residual deductible after CDW: this is the maximum amount you will have to pay in case of a claim. The lower it is, the less interest there is in buying back the deductible.
- The exclusions of the base contract: tires, windshields, undercarriage, and roof are regularly excluded from the CDW. Damage in these areas remains your responsibility without additional coverage.
- The coverage of your credit card: some premium cards cover the car rental deductible, but require that the entire payment be made with the card. The reporting period is often limited to a few days.
Peer-to-peer insurance
On peer-to-peer rental platforms (like Getaround), the insurance scheme differs. The owner is covered by the platform, but the driver must check that their own liability insurance is included. The platform insurance does not always cover trips outside the rental country.
Vehicle booking: the parameters that affect the final price
Comparing daily rates is not enough. The actual price of a rental depends on parameters often relegated to the bottom of the page.
A return location different from the pickup location generates repatriation fees that can double the total cost. Rental companies apply these surcharges very variably depending on the countries and distances. On an island or in an isolated tourist area, the number of agencies being limited, returning to the same point is sometimes the only realistic option.
Mileage is another lever. A limited mileage package may seem cheaper at booking, but each additional kilometer is charged at a discouraging rate. For a road trip or an itinerant journey, unlimited mileage remains the only viable option.
We also observe that additional driver fees and “young driver” surcharges (usually applied under 25 years old) significantly increase the bill. These fees are rarely negotiable, but some rental companies include them in their premium packages.
Driver’s license and local regulations: operational pitfalls
The French license is sufficient within the European Union and in many countries that have ratified the Vienna Convention. However, some destinations require an international driving permit (IDP), issued free of charge by the prefecture but with a processing time of several weeks.
- In Japan, the standard IDP is not recognized: a specific sworn translation obtained from the Japan Automobile Federation is required.
- In the United States, the IDP is not legally mandatory, but some rental companies request it. Having it simplifies exchanges in case of a roadside check.
- In several Latin American and Southeast Asian countries, the validity of the IDP is conditioned on the simultaneous presentation of the original national license.
Check the requirements of the destination country and the specific rental company before finalizing the booking. Local driving rules (traffic direction, speed limits, alcohol tolerance) vary significantly, and offenses committed with a rental vehicle are systematically charged back to the renter, plus administrative fees.
The choice between manual and automatic transmission also deserves attention. In some countries (Iceland, the United States, Emirates), almost the entire fleet is automatic. In Southern Europe, manuals remain the majority and cheaper. Booking an automatic late in an area with a limited fleet exposes you to a surcharge or complete unavailability.
Car rental while traveling relies on technical decisions that go beyond simple price comparisons. Mastering insurance mechanisms, anticipating license constraints, and understanding additional fees transforms a risky booking into a controlled budget.