Renting a car in a foreign country involves more moving parts than a domestic rental — licensing rules, insurance coverage, border crossings, and fee structures all vary widely by country. Use this checklist to avoid surprises at the counter and after you return the car.

28 items · 11 essential reviewed 16 Jul 2026 10 sources .md .json

Before You Book

Check the destination country's driving requirementsSome countries don't recognize a foreign license at all and require an International Driving Permit (IDP), while others accept a license but rental firms still ask for one.
Confirm minimum driving age and any young/senior-driver surchargesMany countries set the rental age well above the driving age and add daily fees for drivers under 25 or over 70-75.
Verify your credit card's rental coverage before relying on itRead the benefits guide, since coverage varies by card and country, and some cards exclude certain countries or vehicle types entirely.
Decide on collision/theft coverage strategyA standard CDW usually still leaves an "excess" (deductible) you're liable for unless you buy a zero-excess add-on or rely on a credit card benefit; know the number before you arrive.
Notify the rental company in advance and get written permission for an international border crossing if crossing international borderCross-border travel often requires notifying the rental company several days before pickup so they can prepare the necessary documents, and there's usually a fee involved.
Confirm the one-way fee upfront if one way tripThis can be very large or the route may be disallowed altogether.
Book the vehicle class and transmission you actually wantManual transmission is the default in most of the world outside North America, and automatics can sell out or cost significantly more.
Match the name on the rental to the name on the credit card that will secure the depositMost agencies require the renter's name to match the card exactly.

Before You Fly

Apply for the IDP in your home country if requiredYou must get an IDP before your trip since the country you're visiting does not issue IDPs to foreign visitors.
Print or save your rental confirmation, license, IDP, and passport copiesSome counters, especially outside major hubs, do not have reliable internet or accept only paper documents.
Check that your regular auto insurance or the credit card benefit does NOT cover the destinationWhen renting in the US, personal car insurance typically carries over to the rental, but the situation is different when driving abroad.
Notify your bank of international travel datesA large security-deposit hold can otherwise trigger a fraud freeze on the card at the counter.
Confirm the fuel policy in advance (full-to-full vs. full-to-empty)Returning with the wrong fuel level or wrong fuel type triggers steep penalty charges.
Check whether an environmental sticker/vignette is required and how to obtain it before travel if driving in low emission zoneApplies to low-emission or congestion zones, e.g., much of Western Europe.

At the Rental Counter

Decline add-ons you've already covered elsewhereBut only after confirming your alternative coverage is valid in that specific country and for that vehicle class.
Inspect the car and photograph every side, the roof, wheels, and interior before driving offThis is your only evidence against a false damage claim on return.
Confirm what currency and amount the security deposit hold will beMany international car rental companies put a big damage deposit on your credit card as a hold against damages, and it can tie up a large chunk of available credit for the trip.
Ask for a physical copy or photo of the signed rental agreement and any cross-border permission letterWhen crossing hard borders with security gates and passport control, you may be asked for your rental documents including the permission letter granting approval to cross.
Verify included mileage/kilometer allowance and per-km overage rateUnlimited mileage is not universal outside North America.
Check for required in-car items mandated by local law (e.g., warning triangle, high-vis vest, spare bulbs)Driving without them can mean an on-the-spot fine in several countries.

During the Rental

Learn local road rules and signage before drivingRight-of-way, roundabout direction, and speed-limit units (km/h vs mph) differ from home and errors carry fines or safety risk.
Keep toll and low-emission-zone charges in mind while drivingMany countries bill tolls electronically to the rental company, which then adds an admin fee to your card weeks later.
Retain every receipt for fuel, tolls, and parkingNeeded to dispute any post-return charge and for expense/insurance claims.
Contact the rental company's emergency line and file a police report before leaving the scene if collision or breakdown occursMany insurance and CDW claims are void without a police report, even for minor damage.

Returning the Car

Return the tank at the agreed fuel level and refill at a nearby station, not the airport pumpAirport-adjacent fuel is typically priced at a steep markup.
Photograph the car again at drop-off, including odometer and fuel gaugeYour proof against charges added after you've left.
Get a signed/stamped return receipt or emailed confirmation before leaving the lotProtects against later disputed damage or fee claims.
Check your card statement over the following weeks for the deposit release and any late-arriving toll or fine chargesDispute promptly if the hold isn't released or a charge looks wrong.

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Sources & upkeep

aaa.com
- AAA IDP International Driving Permit
usa.gov
- Driving in the U.S. if you are not a citizen (USAGov)
progressive.com
- How To Rent a Car Internationally (Progressive)
ricksteves.com
- Car-Rental Insurance and the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) (Rick Steves)
nerdwallet.com
- Declining Rental Car Insurance Abroad? Know the Risks (NerdWallet)
autoeurope.com
- What is CDW Insurance in Rental Car Contracts? (Auto Europe)
wayrent.com
- Cross-border car rentals in Europe: rules, fees, and how to do it right (Wayrent)
booking.com
- Can I Drive My Rental Car in Another Country? (Booking.com)
easycar.com
- The ultimate guide to car hire and border crossings (easyCar)
perceptivetravel.com
- International Car Rental Quirks and Differences (Perceptive Travel)

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