Renting a car in Europe: what to actually know before you book

Car hire is one of those bookings where the price you see and the price you pay can end up quite different, and it's usually down to a handful of things nobody explains properly upfront. Here's what actually matters, whether you're travelling as a family, a couple, or on your own.

The excess and why it matters more than the daily rate

Every rental comes with an excess, the amount you're on the hook for if the car gets damaged, even with basic insurance included. This can be anywhere from a few hundred to well over a thousand pounds. The desk staff will offer to reduce or remove it for an extra daily fee, which is where a cheap-looking booking suddenly gets expensive.

The cheaper way round this is excess insurance bought separately in advance, through a site like DiscoverCars, rather than at the counter. It covers the same thing for a fraction of the price, you just pay the excess upfront if something happens and claim it back afterwards.

What size car you actually need

• Solo or a couple: a small or economy car is almost always enough, and it's easier to park in old European town centres with narrow streets
• A couple with young kids: go up to a compact or mid-size, you'll need the boot space for a pushchair and luggage together, more than you'd think
• A family of four or more: an estate or small SUV, and check the boot volume in litres rather than trusting the category name, "family car" means different things between rental companies

Car seats, if you're travelling with young kids

You can hire a car seat from most companies, but it costs extra per day and the quality varies a lot. If you're already checking a bag, bringing your own is often cheaper over a week's rental and means you know exactly what you're getting. Airlines generally let you check a car seat for free.

Things that catch people out at the counter

• Fuel policy: full-to-full is the fairest, you get it full and return it full. Avoid anything that charges you for a full tank upfront regardless of what you actually use
• Cross-border restrictions: some rentals don't allow you to drive into certain neighbouring countries, worth checking if your trip involves crossing a border
• Additional driver fees: if more than one person will be driving, add this when booking rather than at the desk, it's usually cheaper
• Young driver surcharges: under 25s often pay extra, and it's worth knowing this before you arrive rather than being surprised

Booking ahead vs turning up

Prices for car hire climb the closer you get to your dates, and popular destinations in peak season can sell out of certain car sizes entirely. Booking a few weeks ahead with free cancellation, through a comparison site that shows several suppliers at once, tends to get the best combination of price and choice.