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Do you need a special foreign license to drive in Germany?

How old do you need to be to drive a rental car in Europe?

  • I'm probably going to Europe this summer with my mom so I'm trying to figure this out. I've heard so many different answers that I'm not totally sure. I'm 21 and have had a license since I was 16. Mom is (obviously) over 25 (which I've heard is the age required for renting?) and has had her license since she was a teen. Countries I've been looking at driving through are Hungary, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Amsterdam, Belgium, Switzerland and France. I know we can rent the car because mom is well over whatever age you need to be, but my question is can I drive it? I'm hoping that since I'm over 21, though I couldn't rent, I can still be a driver. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

  • Answer:

    The big problem is the insurance costs. Sadly people under 25 are statistically more likely to have an accident so insurance companies hike the premiums up. Hire firms usually have a block policy with an insurance company and it is them who dictate the over 25 years of age for the driver. Some companies may be able to arrange insurance at 21 to drive but it will cost you a lot extra, even as the additional driver. You pay the money, you take the choice. There is no point in arguing, the additional cost (because the insurer does not want to cover you) can be prohibitive. Most companies you can arrange a hire car in advance, before leaving home. If you do this then any problems you have are subject to the law of your country, not that of the country you hire in. So if you are misinformed or worse, you could be better off having booked in advance. Using a credit card affords you additional protection. Why not contact some international car hire companies? http://www.europcar.com/EBE/module/booking/FirstStep.do

jddlm at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Well, for a start, irrespective of age, you may find it difficult to drive round Europe with the same hire car. If you hired a car in Spain you may be able to drive into Portugal, but not the other neighbour France. Here in Spain the company that my relatives use, the minimum age is 23 years. The hire companies have had that limit set by the insurance companies. We may live in the EU but hiring a car has insurance limitations. It is so easy to find out. Phone any hire car company and ask them. Most hire car companies have partners throughout the whole world.

Roc

It's different in every country, but lets have a look: Europcar.com: Hungary: When renting a vehicle, a driver qualified as a "young driver" (from 21 to 24 years old) pays a specific charge (from HUF800 per day - with a maximum of HUF8000 per rental) (the "Young Driver Surcharge"). Switzerland: 20 or 25 years, according to the car group. When renting a vehicle, a driver qualified as a "young driver" (drivers under 25 years old) pays a specific charge (from 18.12 CHF per day - with a maximum of 181.23 CHF per rental) (the "Young Driver Surcharge"). Czech: 21 or 25 years, according to the car group.With the consent of the renter, the vehicle may be driven by other persons. etc etc etc...source: http://www.europcar.com/EBE/module/render/Specific-Terms-per-country But, in every european country you can drive a vehicle from 18 years. So if your mom will sign agreement and after that you'll be driving, I think, it's ok..no big deal..

Aima Moel

Although your mother will be renting the car(s) the minimum age requirements apply to whoever is driving the car. There could be quite serious consequences if you drive without notifying the company or paying the extra costs and then get involved in a traffic accident. Apart from the age requirements, you will be driving through eight different countries, which means eight different hire cars. It would be much easier, and probably cheaper too, to travel from country to country by train. You certainly would not want to drive a car in a European city, and most cities have pretty good public transport systems anyway.

zafir

In France you have to be 25 to rent a car and to have a driving licence more than 3 years old. That's when the insurances drop their special premiums for new drivers. As the companies register the name of the driver they will see your age.

Cabal

sure you can. You must be over 18 i live in the czech republic and its allowed to drive when you turn 18

Dirty ~Markéta~ ♡

Well, here in Cyprus, you have to be 25 or over to rent a car, but, as long as you have held your license for three years or more, you can go on the rental argeement as a named driver......I would think that it should be pretty much the same everywhere. My daughter-in-law works for National car rental.

murphywingedspur

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