Renting a car abroad for the first time

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 6 min read

If you've never hired a car outside your home country, the process has a few extra steps compared with a domestic rental, and a couple of them catch first-timers out badly enough to be worth knowing in advance — the credit card deposit hold especially. None of it is difficult once you've done it once; this walks through the whole process in order, from what to check before you book to what to do the moment you're handed the keys.

Before you book: licence and IDP

Check whether your driving licence is valid to drive in your destination country, and whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it. As a rough guide, licences from the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and most English-speaking or Roman-alphabet countries are usually accepted without an IDP within Europe, though individual rental companies can be stricter than the legal minimum. Outside Europe, requirements vary far more — Japan, for instance, requires a specific IDP category most UK licence holders don't automatically hold. If your licence isn't in the Roman alphabet, or you're at all unsure, get an IDP before you travel; it's inexpensive and avoids a refusal at the desk. Full detail is in our International Driving Permit guide.

Booking: what to check before you commit

• Transmission — confirm automatic vs manual explicitly if it matters to you; see our guide to automatic vs manual hire cars abroad if you need an automatic in a market where manuals are the default.
• The excess figure, not just the headline price — a cheap rate with a very high excess can be a worse deal than a pricier one with a low excess. See our guide to car hire insurance for how to compare this properly.
• Fuel policy — full-to-full (collect full, return full) is almost always the best value; avoid prepaid fuel options unless you're certain you'll use a full tank.
• Pick-up and drop-off location and time — airport desks typically carry a concession fee baked into the price; a city-centre branch can be cheaper if it's convenient to reach.
• Minimum age and young-driver surcharges — drivers under 25 (and sometimes under 21) often face a daily surcharge; some companies won't rent to drivers under 21 at all.

The credit card deposit: the part that surprises people

At pick-up, almost every rental company places a hold on a credit card — not a debit card, in most cases — for a significant sum, often the vehicle's full value or close to it. This is a hold, not a charge: the money isn't taken, but it's blocked against your available credit limit for the duration of the rental and sometimes for a period afterwards while the company confirms the car was returned undamaged. For a mid-size car this might be €1,000–€2,000; for anything larger or more premium, considerably more.

Some companies accept debit cards, usually at a higher deposit or with extra conditions (a credit check, a restriction to smaller car categories); prepaid travel cards are commonly refused outright. Confirm your specific company's policy before you arrive, not after you've flown in with only a debit card.

At the desk: the walk-through

Bring your licence, IDP if needed, the credit card the booking was made with (or that you intend to use for the deposit), your passport, and the booking confirmation, printed or on your phone. You'll be asked whether you want any of the desk add-ons — excess reduction, additional driver, prepaid fuel, a satnav or child seat — and this is the moment to have already decided which of these you actually want, since a busy desk with a queue behind you is not the moment to weigh up an unfamiliar insurance product for the first time. See our guide to car hire insurance explained if you haven't already decided on excess cover before you arrive.

Checking the car before you drive off

This is the step first-timers skip most often, and the one that causes the most disputes later. Before driving away:

1. Walk around the car slowly, ideally with the rental agent present, noting every existing mark — scratches, dents, chips, scuffed alloys — on the inspection form, even ones that look too minor to bother with.
2. Take dated, timestamped photos or a video of all four sides, the roof, and the interior, including the upholstery.
3. Photograph the fuel gauge and the odometer reading at collection.
4. Check the spare wheel or repair kit is present, and locate the car's documents (usually in the glovebox) before you leave the car park.

Repeat the same process at return — photos, fuel gauge, timestamp — and try to return the car during staffed hours rather than to an unattended night-drop box, so any dispute about existing damage can be resolved on the spot rather than after you've already left the country.

Extras: what's usually worth it and what isn't

• Satnav: usually skippable if you have a phone with offline maps downloaded — the desk daily rate for a satnav often adds up to more than a phone mount bought once and reused.
• Child seats: often worth pre-booking rather than skipping, since availability at the desk isn't guaranteed and safety standards for a rental seat vary; check the company's specific seat type meets your destination's legal requirements.
• Additional driver: add anyone who might actually drive at the time of booking — an unlisted driver having an accident may not be covered at all, which is a far bigger risk than the modest daily fee.
• Prepaid fuel: almost never worth it unless you are certain to arrive back with a genuinely empty tank; full-to-full is cheaper for nearly everyone.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car abroad?

It depends on your licence and destination. Many English-speaking and EU licences are accepted without one across much of Europe, but requirements vary widely outside Europe and by individual rental company. Check both the legal requirement and the specific rental company's policy before you travel.

Why does the rental company put such a large hold on my credit card?

It's a deposit against potential damage or theft, released after the car is returned undamaged — not a charge. The amount reflects the vehicle's value and can be significant for larger or premium cars, so check your available credit limit can absorb it before you travel.

What's the best fuel policy to choose?

Full-to-full — collecting and returning the car with a full tank — is almost always the best value, since you only pay pump prices for what you actually use. Prepaid fuel policies are rarely worth it unless you're certain to return the car nearly empty.

What should I do if I notice damage after I've already driven away?

Contact the rental company immediately and ask them to note it on file, ideally with photos and a timestamp sent by email so there's a record. Waiting until return to raise damage you noticed earlier makes it much harder to prove it wasn't caused by you.