Car Rental
Tips & advice for safe and pleasant rental
(What should you ask & know before renting a car abroad)
When requesting a rental car quote, it is important to know the rental car code, since even if the quote says this or that model, it is less binding, as it always says “XX car or any other similar car from the same car group.” What binds the rental company in the destination country is the car group code listed on the car reservation voucher. These are international codes and only they are binding… Car groups can be divided by vehicle size: mini, economy (usually starts with the letter E), compact, intermediate, standard, premium/luxury cars (usually starts with the letter P), 5+2 cars, “classic” 7-seat minivans, 9-seat vans, and so on. In addition, there is a division into a regular passenger compartment (the second letter is usually D) or station wagons (the second letter is usually W) as well as vehicles with a manual transmission (the third letter is M) or vehicles with an automatic transmission (the third letter is A)… Here are some examples: a manual compact family car (CDMR), an automatic compact car (CDAR), a manual compact station wagon (CWMR) or an automatic compact station wagon (CWAR) and so on for intermediate/midsize vehicles (IDMR for an intermediate manual, IDAR for an intermediate automatic, IWMR for an intermediate manual station wagon or IWAR for an intermediate automatic station wagon). As mentioned, the smallest groups are the mini groups, followed by the economy group, and it is recommended, for example, for intercity trips as a couple to choose a vehicle from the compact or economy group, if the route is not too mountainous, winding and too long or requires a powerful engine… When it comes to families or several couples or several travelers, it is important to know how many passengers there are, what is the age range of the passengers (3 adults with a medium to large body type are not the same as 3 small children, for example), children, whether car seats or boosters are needed, whether there is room for a stroller or stroller in the trunk, how much luggage there is, etc. As mentioned, each vehicle group, each specific type of vehicle has its own code, and this is what guarantees which vehicle group your rental vehicle will be from abroad.
The different rental companies often have different vehicle fleets in different countries, and in some cases the inventory and types of vehicles even vary between different rental stations in those countries. Therefore, it is always recommended to inquire in advance about the names of 2-3 vehicle models in the same relevant vehicle group, with that specific rental company and at the same location where the rental vehicle will be picked up. Note: Since the European car fleets have different models than the car fleets of the same car manufacturers in Israel and this also varies from country to country, if the matter is important to you, it is important to find out in advance… Coordinating expectations is very important and will avoid embarrassment, disappointment and misunderstandings.
It is important to make sure that the vehicle comes with air conditioning and with the number of doors you need (2, 4 or 5) and it is important to ask and verify this!
In some countries it is also recommended to find out whether the vehicle is brand new and how many years it has been on the road… This is less relevant to the US and Western Europe…
In most cases, especially on family trips or trips with several passengers in a car, the recommendation is to almost always take one car group larger than the one you have at home. Sometimes saving 200 or 300 shekels will cost you dearly during the trip… You planned a week and a half to two-week trip abroad, you spent many tens of thousands of shekels and this saving will cost you in the embarrassment of all the occupants of the car throughout the trip, in difficult efforts to cram too much equipment into too little space and in unnecessary nerves and this affects the safety and quality of the trip and the trip of course… Children in the back seat need a little “living space” from each other and it is a shame to cram them too tightly, especially if there is a car seat or booster in the same seat and don’t forget that weekly shopping in the trunk is not allowed, as is 3 large suitcases, 2 trolley suitcases and backpacks, not to mention a stroller…
Yes, it is worth being generous with yourself and your family.. For example, when 6 people are traveling together in a car, it is recommended and better to rent a car with 9 seats rather than a car with 7 seats or 5+2, even if we have such a car at home… After all, we need space for luggage And there is not much space for luggage in minivans when 6 seats are occupied. The same goes for compact vehicles for families or groups of 5 passengers, especially if a car seat or booster is needed… It is better to take a vehicle from one larger vehicle group, from the Intermediate or Mid-Size group, rather than from the smaller Compact group… Those traveling with two children, or two adult couples, are better off taking a vehicle from the Compact group rather than from the smaller Economy group, and so on.
If the trip includes crossing between countries, it is important to verify in advance whether or not the border crossing involves any local fee to the rental company, what the amount of the fee is, and most importantly, whether it is possible to cross with all types of vehicles, etc. It is important to check whether it is possible to cross with your specific type of vehicle to the countries you will visit. There are certain rental companies that do not allow crossing to certain countries in Europe in certain vehicle groups, and therefore, this should be checked. On complex trips, if a vehicle is being taken to several different countries, it is necessary to verify what is included and what is not included in the price and ensure that everything is listed.
If you pick up in one place and return in another place further away – it is important to check whether or not there is a one-way fee and if there is a local payment for one-way fees, what is the rate… Certainly if it is a pick-up in one country and a return in another. By the way, there are different rental companies with different policies for one-way return fees, so it is recommended to check and compare. Whatever is not listed on the rental voucher, you will likely have to pay it as a local payment… If the information on the booking website is not complete, do not book from it but check first! Just because the amount is not listed, does not mean that you will not receive it as a local payment at the branch, unless it is explicitly stated that there is no one-way fee. Sometimes return fees can reach hundreds of shekels, so it is important to know this in advance… On trips to countries with very large distances, such as the US, some companies price these return fees as a function of the distance in kilometers, and therefore, picking up, for example, in New York and returning it in a country hundreds of kilometers away may cost quite a bit… These are considerations that must be taken into account and, as mentioned, it is important to compare different rental companies and find where it is most profitable to take the car.
חשוב מאוד לוודא שעות פתיחה וסגירה של תחנות השכרה ובמידה וההחזרה או הלקיחה של הרכב היא מיעד עירוני, מומלץ להפגין אסרטיביות ולבקש מנציג השירות (או לחפש היטב במיקומים שונים של תחנות השכרה באתר ההזמנות) לחפש ולמצוא את הסניף הכי קרוב למלון או לדירה שלכם… מומלץ לא להסתפק באמירה כללית של: “תחנת רכבת” או “דאון-טאון”… בערים הגדולות יש לכל חברה וחברה, בעיקר לגדולות שבהן, מספר סניפים בפריסה עירונית רחבה ולכן, עדיף למצוא תחנת השכרה או סניף מקומי, קרוב ככל הניתן למקום הלינה או למקום בו נשהה או שהינו.. חבל להיסחב סתם אם יש תחנה במרחק 5 דקות הליכה או 2 דקות נסיעה בטראם… מי שלא ישאל, לא ימצא… תמיד טוב לנסות…
When flights land very late at night, very close to or after the rental stations close, it is highly recommended, if possible, to pick up the car the next morning. To find accommodation near the airport with a free shuttle and return in the morning, refreshed, alert and in the daylight hours, to pick up the car. Review and scan it and if there are any bumps or scratches, take a photo and ask to mark it on the rental form, make sure you have the emergency numbers and rescue services of the rental company, make sure everything is clear and that you know how to operate the vehicle and ask about anything that is not clear… At night, if the landing is very late and the station is just before closing or they are waiting especially for you, you will have to pay an OOH fee, that is, Out of and even that until a pre-set time, after which they will not wait for you.. The branch people and you will be tired and stressed to finish the matter and release the vehicle and close the branch… There is not always time to ask questions, review the vehicle in detail, make relevant inquiries, etc., not to mention that it is not always right and wise to get on the road in an unfamiliar country, on unfamiliar roads, in the middle of the night… I mean not for landings in the evening but for the very late hours of the night, midnight, etc…. Of course, there may be delays and delays in the takeoff and landing times of Flights and if the flight is unusually late, the branch may close because they have been waiting for you beyond the allotted time.
The statement “Our prices include insurance” is essentially a promise of the obvious, since every rental company vehicle that hits the road already includes third-party liability insurance, comprehensive insurance, and insurance against theft and accidents. Therefore, if a dealer or any website, in Israel or abroad, including the company websites themselves, promises you this, it is better to ask them whether they have a deductible or advance deductible cancellation program and with whom this is actually done – is it the rental company’s program or an external insurance company’s? In the event that I crashed the vehicle in the parking lot and no other vehicle was involved, is an accident report from the police still needed or is my statement sufficient? What should I do in the event of an accident, God forbid, and who should I contact, what documents will be required of me, etc. What is the deductible reimbursement rate, what is covered by the deductible reimbursement, and in the event of a refund and not an advance cancellation (Zero Excess) – how long will it take for the money to be refunded to my credit card account? By the way, there are two types of deductible reimbursement programs: Refund and Zero Excess, but more than once, even in companies that publicly and emphatically advertise that they offer customers deductible reimbursement, when you look at the fine print or question the service representatives, you suddenly discover that on a principle level this is true, but specifically in the desired destination it is a retroactive refund of the deductible and not a pre-emptive cancellation of the participation. Therefore, it is important to ask and verify and know in advance and not be satisfied with the “headlines” level…
It is very important to verify what is included and what is not included in the rental voucher. What is considered a local fee and how much we will have to pay for that local fee (whether it is a one-way return fee, additional driver, winter equipment, car seat, GPS, etc.). It is always recommended to make sure that the price on your rental voucher includes unlimited kilometers, all insurance (third-party insurance, comprehensive insurance, accident insurance), all taxes (including local taxes, port taxes if any, road tax, premium tax, etc.), license and vehicle fees (there are countries where this is a separate payment) and of course, refund or cancellation of deductibles… Don’t be shy about asking if there are local payments and what they are. It is always nice to get an additional driver for free, but not always free is really free but is pre-weighted in the price and therefore, if it is not necessary, then it is not necessary… Regarding diesel, some companies charge a “diesel surcharge” to guarantee the customer a vehicle with a diesel engine and some companies add it as a request based on available diesel vehicles… If the diesel surcharge is too high, it may be worth taking the risk and settling for a diesel vehicle. Usually, if the company has more than enough diesel vehicles in the same category you reserved and on the same dates at the same branch, you will likely be given a vehicle with a diesel engine. It is important to make sure that this is listed on the voucher. This is a request and a risk-benefit trade-off, so it is worth seeing how much the additional payment for “guaranteed diesel” costs and whether it is worthwhile…
When we arrive at the car rental counters, representatives and service representatives try to offer us all kinds of insurance and coverage, and the question we need to ask ourselves is, do we need it? Why pay twice for a deductible refund, for example, or for a deductible cancellation? Today, more and more companies are already offering within their insurance policies the option of receiving a deductible refund also for underbody, windshields, mirrors, tires, and even towing, and there is no need to pay twice, and it will also not allow you double coverage. Therefore, it is worth checking… On the other hand, if your car rental includes a full refund/cancellation plan for accident and damage only (SCDW), then there is no need to do this again, but if, for example, you are offered only a full refund/cancellation of the theft deductible (STP) and the payment is symbolic and not high, then it is worth considering it positively… There are companies that offer only SCDW and there are companies that offer a combination of SCDW – Super Collision Damage Waiver and STP – Super Theft Protection. It is important to know in advance what your rental includes and prepare accordingly, so as not to spend unnecessary money. Usually, when talking about full cancellation of the deductible (Zero Excess), it refers to both accident and damage and theft, but it is important to ask and know.
It is important to remember that ultimately, just because you have a refund or cancellation of the deductible for an accident, damage, or theft does not mean that if something unusual happened to the rental car, then it is automatically included in your coverage. Therefore, it is always recommended to keep the vehicle clean and intact and to park in safe and clean places, etc. Did you get into a mud puddle or drive in a very muddy and dirty area? Did the vehicle get dirty with lime stains because you parked near a construction site? It is better to clean the vehicle before returning it, including the interior of course… It is important to ask and know what is not included in the refund or cancellation of the deductible coverage.
It is always a good idea to return the vehicle with a full tank of gas, when it comes to a vehicle that arrived with a full tank and is supposed to be returned with a full tank. It is highly recommended to perform the last refueling, as close as possible to the place where the vehicle was returned and pay with a credit card and keep the last fueling receipt or invoice before returning, especially if you return the vehicle late at night and leave the key in the return box and not with a service representative since the branch is closed. And the Mehadrin can even take a photo of the fuel gauge when it is full along with the date and time.
When traveling with babies and needing a baby car seat, it is recommended that you take your baby’s car seat from the car at home, if possible. Not only will it save you money, but your car seat will usually be safer, cleaner, and more suitable, since you adjusted it before you purchased it, while the rental company’s seats are not always in the condition you expect. Except for perhaps the “headache” at the airports, until the seats are delivered or received, there are usually only advantages to this. By the way, if it is a more complex trip (for example, a trip consisting of two parts, the first part with a car and then, the second part without a car, etc., or several hops and flights between destinations), or if you only need a booster seat for young children, then it is a different story and other considerations and parameters enter into the decision-making process.
It is very important to verify who you are taking the car from and not be tempted by just the cheap price. It is important to beware of cheap and phony websites that have nothing behind them and that there is no one to talk to, but only a virtual chat and the like… There are quite a few websites in Israel and abroad that are built on one or another car search engine and are nothing more than a generic search engine “in disguise”, where in the best case there will be someone who will answer the phone but they will not really know what to say and what to do and in the worst case there will be no one to talk to after the booking has been made… When during the enquiry process you receive partial or unclear or indecisive answers, when they ask you to book first and only then will they tell you who the rental company is, when they cannot tell you for sure whether or not there are refund fees and/or border crossings and/or additional drivers and the like – this should set off red flags for you!!
When you don’t have the option to cancel your reservation and get your money back, this is also problematic… When you go to international booking sites or various airline sites and they direct you to external “partner” sites or external search engines, as part of their attempts to create additional profit centers without providing direct and genuine service in this area (since they don’t really have customer service in the car rental sector, but rather work with an external partner, one way or another) – it’s better to give up and contact the rental companies, car rental dealers or car rental dealer sites directly, because if the price is exactly the same (and it is the same) and there is no added value from them, it’s better to contact them directly…
It is important to remember that during the rental period of the car, when we are with the rented car and have any technical or operational problem, the direct party that is supposed to help us is the local rental company! Therefore, it is important to take all the contact details when picking up the car and write them down and ask explicitly who to call in the event of, God forbid, an accident, technical malfunction, flat tire, etc. In other words, if I got stuck on the motorway in Germany and the engine “went”, there is no point in calling the car rental website from which I ordered the car or the Israeli franchisee of the rental company abroad, etc., but rather call the emergency number of the local rental company, because only they will come to help and rescue and only they are authorized to tell us what to do in the given situation!
If there is a problem with the service after the rental period or if you have received an incorrect charge from the rental company, etc., then it is highly recommended that you contact the car rental website from which you picked up the vehicle or contact the Israeli franchisee of the rental company or the local dealer and ask for their assistance and handling of the matter.
By the way, if you arrived at the rental station on the date of pick-up and received a vehicle in a lower vehicle group than what was written on your voucher and you were unable to convince them of the mistake, it is highly recommended to call the customer service of the Israeli website or franchisee and request their immediate involvement. Likewise, if your flight was postponed to another date, it is very important to inform the party from whom you picked up the vehicle so that that party can inform the relevant branch of the rental company abroad. However, if it concerns technical matters during the trip, they will be less useful to you.
Note: If this is a fundamental problem that greatly affects the nature of the trip and causes unnecessary delays and hassle for the customer, it is advisable to involve the party from whom you rented the vehicle in real time, share and ask for their assistance with the rental company. In addition, if any unusual problems arise during the rental period, after your return to Israel, it is recommended to write an email and update the customer service of the entity through which you rented the vehicle and ask for their assistance.
Eventually, the vast majority of car rentals go off without any problems and to the complete satisfaction of the customers, but to that end and to prevent unnecessary heartache, disappointment, misunderstandings and anger, it is better to come prepared! Ask all the questions beforehand and be equipped with all the information in advance and most importantly, rent a car from a reliable and reputable company, with good customer service before and after the rental (always check recommendations online, if you are unfamiliar and unsure), which also offers a good price and convenient cancellation options for us, as customers.
Search for best rental deals
- Search best rental deals from Booking.com Car Rentals, click here
- Search best rental deals from Economybookings.com, click here
- Search best rental deals from EconomyCarRentals, click here
- Search best rental deals from Auto Europe, click here
- Search best rental deals from Sixt.com, click here
- Purchase Rentalcover Full Protection from Rentalcover.com, click here
Winter is coming...
The difference between winter tires & snow chains, the relevance to safety & insurance issues (where & when winter tires are cumpulsory)
It is crucial to distinguish between winter tires & snow chains, since these are 2 different objects with different use and purpose:
Snow chains are iron chains that are manually mounted and locked on 2 or 4 wheels to prevent slipping and improve road grip when the road is covered with a heavy layer of snow or when heavy snow is falling. Driving with snow chains is slow and cumbersome and is more of a temporary measure that allows the vehicle to continue driving on a road covered with a lot of snow or ice than a permanent winter solution. Snow chains should not be used on a road that is not covered in snow. In addition, you should not drive fast with the snow chains installed on the wheels, since in both cases, they will be destroyed and fall apart, which of course could also damage the vehicle itself. In other words, snow chains can only be mounted on the wheels when there is a serious layer of snow on the road and driving with them is slow and cumbersome, and therefore, snow chains are not needed at all times and in all places.
Winter tires, in contrast, are special tires with a different composition and structure of the rubber, a different tire groove shape, etc., compared to regular tires. Winter tires have better adaptability and grip to winter and wet road conditions and, in particular, are able to operate at extremely low temperatures (below 7 degrees Celsius), even in which the tires maintain their flexibility compared to regular summer tires that tend to harden at extremely low temperatures, which impairs their road grip and their greater braking distance in water, cold or snow conditions. Winter tires (also called snow tires) are designed for vehicles in areas with severe winters, where it is extremely cold and roads may be covered with a layer of ice and snow, causing a risk of slipping. Unlike snow chains, which are actually an external device that can be mounted and removed, winter tires are actually a “given condition” from the perspective of the rental driver: either the rental vehicle comes with winter tires or it doesn’t. It’s not something you can change, replace, or remove. Additionally, while the use of winter tires is very common during the winter season in cold and snowy areas, the use of snow chains is less common except in mountainous and/or particularly snowy places. Incidentally, some countries allow the use of all-season tires instead of winter tires, provided they are marked with the M+S (mud and snow) symbol. In those countries, drivers are required to use winter tires or M&S (Mud & Snow) tires when driving in snow and winter, but naturally, this is more relevant to residents there and less so to tourists renting cars.
Snow tires are actually another, more developed type of winter tire. Snow tires are actually improved and more advanced winter tires, both in terms of the different rubber compounds and compounds and in terms of the shape of the grooves in the rubber, with better road grip in the snow. In addition, there are also studded winter tires whose rubber has metal studs embedded in it that provide road grip and better adaptation to snow and ice conditions on the road, but the bottom line, for car renters on a trip abroad, these are nuances, variations on the types of winter tires (winter tires, snow tires, M&S tires, rubber studded snow tires, etc.), because in the end, we don’t have much room to choose since this is the policy of the various rental companies and customers receive the rented vehicle with the four winter tires already installed on it.
In other words, tourists visiting cold and rainy countries during their winter period and the roads may be wet, slippery and muddy as a result of rain and other precipitation, it is advisable for them to have winter tires in their vehicles due to safety aspects. Of course, if the trip is, for example, in late autumn and early winter or not in places that are too high or snowy and there is no snow yet, certainly not heavy snow, then there is no need to rent snow chains. If, on the other hand, it is a trip in the height of winter and during the ski season (from December to the end of March in a rough generalization), in very cold winter weather, in cold and snowy areas or in mountainous areas and high and snowy ski areas, with narrow and problematic roads in terms of accessibility and congestion, it is worth considering renting snow chains, just to be on the safe side, so that they are in the trunk of the vehicle in any case, even if you do not need to use them in the end.
For this purpose, we will take several European countries in the winter (Car rental in European winter) as an example to illustrate the points, but if the trip is to North America, for example, then the policy in the US and Canada should be examined. In general, all of the above and all of the following are explanations and are not a substitute for a comprehensive examination and an official answer from the various rental companies. Laws change from time to time between countries, and so do various driving regulations, therefore, do not rely solely on the information here, but rather obtain the most qualified and updated answer from the representative offices and service representatives at the various rental companies!
- In Austria, there is a blanket obligation to use winter tires between November 1 and April 15. In Austria, all-season tires can also be used instead of winter tires, provided that they are marked with the M+S (mud and snow) symbol, however, as mentioned, this is more relevant to residents there and less so to tourists renting cars. In contrast, snow chains are only allowed on roads in Austria if the road is completely covered with a heavy layer of snow or ice or if there are special signs on certain roads in certain areas.
- In Switzerland, there is also a reference to the matter from the beginning of November until April 15, but the definitions in the regulations, at the cantonal and federal levels, are not clear and do not speak in the terminology of “winter tires” but rather about equipment and tires “suitable” for the weather and road conditions. In other words, the use may not be defined as a mandatory obligation by law, but de facto, it is strongly recommended not to drive around in the cold without winter tires in Switzerland in the winter, not to mention the roads and signs and messages to drivers that state: winterreifen obligatorisch, winter tires mandatory!! There is a reason why rental companies there replace the set of tires on their vehicles in the winter, from November to the end of April. The use of terminology may be vague, but the intention is clear, certainly for the police and insurance companies in the event of a problem, malfunction or accident (a police officer may fine and remove a vehicle without winter tires from the road and in the event of a problem, the insurance company may turn its back on the customer but not return their money to them…). In Switzerland, snow chains are also permitted to be used only if the road is completely covered with a heavy layer of snow or ice, or if there are special signs to that effect on certain roads in several areas (schneeketten obligatorisch – the use of snow chains is required), otherwise their use is prohibited.
- In Germany, drivers are required to use winter tires or M&S (Mud & Snow) tires in their vehicles when driving in snow and, if necessary, also snow chains. Drivers who are caught driving on a road covered in snow or ice with regular tires in their vehicle will be fined. In Germany, too, the road traffic regulations do not mention “winter tires,” but rather that drivers must adapt and adapt the equipment and wheels in their vehicle or motorcycle to the weather conditions. Therefore, the reference is to the requirement for winter tires according to the actual situation (snow, ice on the road, hail, frost, freezing temperatures, etc.) and this obligation also applies to vehicles and motorcycles registered outside of Germany but traveling on German roads. There is no specific reference to an official winter period, from a certain month to another, but rather to driving on the road in winter conditions. As mentioned, it is mandatory to use winter tires or all-season tires (All Seasons Tires) provided that they are adapted for use in winter conditions and are marked accordingly, such as M&S tires or tires marked with snowflakes, etc. Therefore, de facto, the situation in Germany should be considered as a “must” to have winter tires, both from the insurance and police point of view, so the treatment is the same.
It is important to note that quite a few international and local rental companies are already “pulling” the winter tire section in Austria, Switzerland and Germany until the end of April. This is probably logical and necessary because the weather does not guarantee that spring will begin in those countries on April 15th and there will be no more rain and wet or muddy roads…
- In France, as of today, there is no obligation to use winter tires in terms of the law. Therefore, tourists who wish to rent a car, for example, on the French side of Geneva Cointrin International Airport or on the French side of Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg International Euro Airport, should take into account that the deal will not include winter tires, and then they may find themselves in a serious problem when traveling in Switzerland or Germany, not to mention the safety issue. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase winter tires, even at an additional cost. Incidentally, in certain areas of France, such as mountainous and high areas, snowy ski resort areas, etc., there may be a local requirement to use winter tires and sometimes even snow chains, depending on the circumstances. Ultimately, the issue of car rental costs is indeed important, but the safety element is much more important and it is important to remember that this is a vehicle in which couples or family members are traveling, and if winter travel takes place in rainy and/or high and/or snowy areas and on slippery, mountainous roads, Narrow and the like, then everyone should ask themselves whether, in order to save an average of 40 to 80 euros for renting winter tires, is it “worth” us to skid with the car? To roll over? To crash? To get stuck? God forbid to get injured? In the end, we must put proportions into perspective, and more than once, in all discussions dealing with the issue of renting a car in the winter and comparing costs and the like, we can no longer see the forest for the trees and tires, and the forest is our life! Therefore, it is possible to save money on the issue of a manual transmission versus an automatic transmission, etc., but when it comes to winter tires, it is recommended not to skimp or underestimate them… Therefore, even if there is no mandatory and legal obligation, it is important to be smart, exercise judgment and responsibility, and examine where we intend to travel and whether it is worth it to equip ourselves with winter tires, even if there is no obligation to do so and even if this involves additional costs. After all, even if we are not traveling from France to Switzerland or Germany but rather remain within the borders of France, there are still areas such as the French Alps and other mountainous and high-altitude regions and lands where it is highly advisable to have winter tires. As mentioned, beyond safety issues, there are also financial and insurance reasons: Failure to use winter tires when driving on a snowy road during the specified period in Switzerland, Austria, or Germany may lead to a high fine and even the vehicle being impounded. In addition, if your vehicle was involved in an accident during that period and does not have winter tires, the insurance is canceled and the policy loses its validity and will not cover you for the accident.
- In Italy, there is no blanket obligation to use winter tires, and the use of snow chains is also based on actual need, that is, according to road conditions or if there are local signs on the subject, mainly in mountainous and particularly high areas. Therefore, most car rental companies in Italy do not equip vehicles with winter tires, although it is certainly possible to rent snow chains from them, usually for an additional fee, but there are problems with crossing in winter to countries such as Austria, Germany or Switzerland. To the best of our knowledge, in the Aosta Valley (Val d’Aosta, Valle d’Aosta) there is a different local provision regarding the mandatory provision of snow chains or winter tires during the winter period, and it is recommended to check with the local rental company in Italy or the local tourist offices for updates on the procedures. Those traveling in Northern Italy from the beginning of November to mid-April, for example, and intend to visit the Ticino region in southern Switzerland and other regions in Switzerland, or intend to continue from the Dolomites north to Austria and even reach Germany, are advised to request a vehicle with winter tires, even for an additional fee, because otherwise they may be exposed to problems during their travels in the rental car in Switzerland, Austria and/or Germany. This is because, as mentioned, both in Switzerland and Austria there is a requirement to use winter tires between November 1 and April 15, as is the case in Germany. Therefore, anyone renting a car in Italy during the winter months and planning to visit the countries mentioned above with the rental car would do well to check with the rental companies in advance and make sure to get a rental car with rain tires, even if this involves an additional fee.
- In Czech Republic, it is mandatory to use winter tires between November 1 and March 31 (this is the official period, but it can also be extended into April depending on the actual weather), when winter tires or tires with the M&S marking can be used as mentioned above. Winter tires are mandatory during this period between the beginning of November and the end of March in several situations: in areas and roads where clear signs of a vehicle and snowflakes appear, symbolizing an area or road that requires winter tires even if there is no snow or ice or when temperatures are below zero and there is a risk of ice or snow accumulating on the road. In other words, in the Czech Republic, it is also highly recommended to equip a rental car with winter tires in advance, as required by law, if your visit to the Czech Republic is between November and the end of March. Incidentally, here too, there are rental companies that “extend” the obligation to use winter tires until mid-April and not just until the end of April, for the same reasons mentioned in connection with Austria and Switzerland.
Winter gear - Included or Excluded?
Some rental companies, especially in countries where there is no blanket obligation to use winter tires on vehicles during the winter months (such as France or Italy), charge an additional fee and separately for using a vehicle with winter tires and/or for ordering snow chains. That is, when making a reservation in countries such as France or Italy, you must explicitly request a vehicle with winter tires and even with snow chains if you wish, and this involves an additional fee for the winter tires and/or snow chains and also depends on the availability of that winter equipment for the vehicle at that location and at that time of your rental. They may be able to provide you with a vehicle with winter tires and also provide snow chains, they may be able to provide a vehicle only with winter tires but without snow chains, and they may not have vehicles with winter wheels and snow chains in their rental fleet for your specific locations and dates. Therefore, as mentioned above, if you intend to travel to countries such as Switzerland, Germany or Austria and your landing is at an airport shared by several countries, such as Basel or Geneva, it is recommended that you rent a vehicle on the Swiss side of the airport during the winter months, rather than the French side, to be absolutely sure that you will receive a vehicle with winter tires and snow chains if you wish to equip yourself with snow chains, of course while comparing prices between the French and Swiss sides, taking into account the additional cost of winter equipment.
On the other hand, there are rental companies in countries where it is mandatory to install winter tires during the winter months (such as Austria, Germany or Switzerland) that do not ostensibly charge a separate additional fee for winter tires and snow chains (“winter equipment”), but in reality the additional fee for winter tires and snow chains is already included in their rental price or appears as a “winter surcharge” or “winterization fee”. There are also other rental companies in those countries that do not charge a separate fee for winter tires installed in the rental vehicle as part of the “winter equipment”, but they will ask for an additional local fee for supplying snow chains to the rental vehicle. Incidentally, there are rental companies that offer both winter tires and snow chains in the rental price, but the snow chains must be ordered separately from them, even though they are included in the price (to ensure availability upon arrival), and therefore, it is always recommended to ask and emphasize this when making the reservation.
To summarize the financial issue of “winter equipment”, it can be seen how there are no rules and how much comparisons are needed all the time, since there are rental companies (this varies from company to company and country to country) where the price of renting a car in winter already includes payment for winter tires and/or snow chains, and on the other hand, there are rental companies that provide snow chains (Snow chains in rented cars) and winter tires for an additional fee on a daily basis or per order. There are countries where rental companies are required by law, during the “official” winter months, to provide a rental car with winter tires, but this does not mean that they will not charge you for them, and therefore, it is very important to verify this in advance when making the reservation. In any case, while some companies explicitly state the separate cost of winter tires or call it a “winter payment,” other companies simply “embody” the matter in the total price, so that even if someone thinks they are not paying for winter tires, they have no way of knowing for sure, because even if they try to compare rental prices in February, for example, compared to prices in May or June, for example, at the same rental company and in the same location, they are comparing winter price lists against spring price lists, and so on… The bottom line is that it is unnecessary to deal with this because, as a given, in those countries the rental company will offer us the vehicle with winter tires anyway (for their maintenance reasons regarding the quality and preservation of summer and winter tires and for safety reasons and insurance issues) and in those areas where it is not mandatory, it is better for us to have a vehicle with winter tires anyway. Therefore, it is recommended to simply compare prices between the different rental companies for the same type of vehicle group and ask them for the price of the vehicle that already includes the cost. Winter tires and so it is easier to compare. Incidentally, it is also not possible to refer to the name of one company or another in a targeted manner, since this varies from country to country and often even varies within rental stations in different areas of the same country, depending on the pick-up and return locations. It is very important to read in the “small print” what is also included in the same “winter payment” or “winter equipment”, whether only winter tires or also snow chains and sometimes even a small ice scraper for the car. Incidentally, for those traveling to ski resorts, it is also worth checking whether it is possible to get ski racks for ski equipment and find out whether the ski rack is included in the price of the vehicle or whether an additional payment is required.
It is important to distinguish between snow chains and winter tires and to check where and when their use is mandatory, but as can be understood from the lines so far, in the winter months from November to mid-April you will anyway rent a vehicle with winter tires in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and this is important first and foremost for safety reasons, of course, but also for insurance and legal reasons. In addition, as already mentioned above, it is mandatory to address the safety aspect of things and equip yourself with winter tires even if the vehicle is rented in France or Italy and you intend to travel in high or mountainous or particularly rainy areas such as the French Alps or the Dolomites, etc., or if you intend to cross the border into countries such as Austria, Switzerland or Germany, since beyond the issues of driving safety, there is also a legal and insurance element in the case of a cross-country trip: Failure to use winter tires when driving on a snowy road during the “official” winter period in Switzerland, Austria or Germany may lead to a high fine and even the vehicle being impounded. In addition, if your vehicle is, God forbid, involved in an accident during that period and it is not equipped with winter tires, the insurance is canceled and the policy loses its validity and will not cover you for the accident. Therefore, if you rent a car in France or Italy and cross the border into Switzerland, Germany, or Austria during the official winter months in those countries, you must have a vehicle with winter tires.
Of course, discretion is required, and someone who rents a car to travel in southern Italy is in a different situation than someone who plans to travel in the Dolomites in northern Italy, just as someone who travels in the Provence region and the Côte d’Azur in southern France is in a different situation than someone who plans to travel in the French Alps, for example…
And another little tip for preventing freezing…
If you are traveling in particularly cold and high places, such as ski resorts or snowy areas, or in freezing weather conditions, it is highly recommended to use Coolant & Anti-Freeze Liquid so that the water does not freeze in the radiator and cooling system of the vehicle. Antifreeze can be purchased at any gas station, but it is recommended to inquire when actually picking up the vehicle at the rental branch abroad which coolant and antifreeze should be purchased and whether they have any recommendations regarding preventing water from freezing in the vehicle’s cooling systems. This part is our responsibility as those who drive the vehicle and it is better to avoid engine problems or the inability to start the vehicle in the morning due to water freezing in the vehicle’s radiator. In a similar context, it is highly recommended to inquire with them about fuel additives to prevent freezing of pipes and the fuel tank and whether there is any need on our part to take any action or whether we can simply refuel at local gas stations with a specific type of fuel that includes a fuel additive that prevents freezing. It is important to take this note into account, but in the appropriate and correct proportion, since it depends of course on where and when you are traveling and what the expected temperatures are in the area of the trip. In any case, it is important to consult with the people at the local rental branch where you will pick up the vehicle from. Their professional recommendation regarding antifreeze fluid for the vehicle’s cooling system. Note for general education: Regular gasoline freezes at temperatures much lower than the freezing point/pour point of diesel fuel for transportation, and therefore, in this regard, if your trip will take place in areas and months that are unusually cold, it is more advisable to request a vehicle with a regular gasoline engine rather than a vehicle with a diesel engine. Again, it depends on where and when you will be traveling and what the temperature is usually in that area and at that time. In most cases, the issue of adding antifreeze fluid to the cooling system and water in the radiator is the more relevant and important in this context. By the way, it goes without saying that it is strictly forbidden to add antifreeze fluid to the fuel tank!!!
Again, to avoid any doubt: All of the above is written as a service to the site’s users and is in the form of advice and explanations, but they do not constitute a substitute for a comprehensive inspection and an official response from the various rental companies. Laws change from time to time between countries, and so do different driving regulations, so do not rely solely on the information here, but rather obtain the most qualified and updated answer from the representatives and service representatives at the various rental companies!
To search and compare cheap rental car worldwide, click here
Have a safe and enjoyable trip!
