Roadtrips are great. The freedom and mobility are worth it if you read the rules and act on them.

Each new booking adds a new experience for us in dealing with rental companies and local routines. We’ve gathered everything we’ve learned from countries and continents.

Do I even need to book a car?

Let’s imagine that you are in Paris. Is it necessary to book a car in Paris? Let’s assume that your area of interest in Paris is limited to the center with narrow streets and jammed parking lots. You can avoid wasting time on traffic jams, paying and finding parking and get around relatively quickly and cheaply by public transport.

Now let’s imagine that you go from Paris to Bordeaux, from there to Le Havre, and then back to Paris. Should you book a car now? You have to think about it. What would be best in terms of money: rentals, trains, or buses? How many of you? And if with children? Are you going to stop at abbeys on the way and take pictures in the fields? Trains are likely to be more expensive than renting a car if, for example, there are three of you. The issue of parking is not going anywhere, but you can safely explore the country without being tied to a schedule.

And one more warm-up for the head: let’s imagine that the Vandruks have taken you to Iceland. Public transportation – no. Cabs, no. You either have to go with the tour as a tourist, or take a car.

Afterwards: with a car, the driver has to be teetotal, regardless of his desire. But you can stop at any interesting point, change plans and see more authentic things. Sounds like the main goal of a roadtrip.

Calculate in advance the length of your roadtrips. Don’t kill yourself and sink many hours in a row: let it be no more than 4 hours in one move, or better yet less. We’re here to rest, after all.

If you have weighed everything up and realized that the car is needed, then continue.

What kind of car do I need?

We are guided by the number of travelers, the amount of travelers’ luggage, the operating conditions and the price of the car.

If you’re up to four people and not much stuff, then almost any car will do. If five – you need a car with a wide rear. Internet great: there you can find out by reviews, which car is comfortable in the back of three people, and which is not. If there are seven of you – you can get in both the cruiser and the minivan. Cruiser is more passable, but the minivan can hold more things. If there are two brave travelers, and there is no risk to get burnt, it is possible to rent a convertible, the main thing is not to go broke and to save things.

About the convenience of management can not worry – most likely, for the first 50 miles you’ll get used to any car, even the right-hand drive.

Insurance

Full insurance offered by renters, usually unprofitable, costs about the same as renting a car. We do not use it on our trips, we take out international deductible insurance. Excess is the maximum amount the company may charge you for damage or theft. Usually it is equal to the deposit.

How do I get my car?

When you pick up your car, the staff will give you a diagram of the car with the damage noted on it. Chips, dents, scratches, everything should be there. It is the tenant’s sacred duty to make sure all scratches are marked on the diagram. It’s nighttime – turn on a flashlight and check it out. It’s winter, and the car is snowed in – you can ask to shake off the snow. Pay attention to the interior: no pizza stains on the seat, scratches from claws on the dashboard, everything is ok with mats, is there a spare tire, jack, etc. Tedious work, but necessary. It takes about five minutes.

Car rentals treat this adequately: either they obediently draw the marks on the scheme, or can entrust the one who needs it most of all, that is you. Take a picture or video of any damage if you can’t see it in the photo.

A couple of times we found so many unmarked scratches that the initially clean scheme was mottled with dots.

And in Iceland was funny: when we took the car, the car rental guy said to look at the car, to check that everything was okay – we habitually turned on flashlights and went to explore the windows, doors, thresholds and the rest. The manager chuckled and said: “We don’t mind and won’t charge you if there’s a new scratch or dent on the car. But if it doesn’t have a door, that’s a bust. This is Iceland – scratches can happen on every corner.