subject: Renters, Beware In Other Nations [print this page] Never assume that renting a vehicle internationally is the same as renting one in the United States. Every nation has its own set of laws and will vary widely across the world for any international traveler and you should know the laws before you ever reach your destination and decide to rent a vehicle.
Travel to an international destination means looking up the laws for each particular region of the world. Once you determine what is required for the destination you are traveling to you can get the ball rolling on getting your IDP and insurance information together. Of course, even once you accomplish this, there are still other things that you should consider.
As unusual as this might seem to an American traveling abroad and wishing to rent a vehicle, age restriction might be a biggie if you haven't done your homework before you arrive. In many countries around the word, travelers under the age of 25 are not permitted to rent a vehicle and are generally surprised when you do get this news.
Travelers, especially older senior citizens that want to rent a vehicle once they arrive at their destinations, should be very familiar to the laws of the country, because many countries have older age limits on rentals. These are national laws and not necessarily the guidelines and restrictions of any vehicle rental agencies. Any senior traveler will want to know about this law before they ever arrive on these shores so there will not be any disappointments.
Other issues that international travelers might have trouble with is payment issues. Every traveler should know what additional charges to expect by the rental agency and your bank where the payment will be originating from. International transactions are usually charged a fee and if you know ahead of time you won't get any surprises or you can choose another way to pay. Know beforehand what all is involved if you decide to use a debit card for payment. This is just smart banking and keeping an eye on your money.
It is wise to be a smart traveler, no matter where your travels might take you. You can easily avoid any pitfalls if you know what to expect after you arrive and all the vehicle rental issues that must be addressed before you leave your home country. A successful memorable vacation just requires any one to be a well informed traveler.
