Travelling to Eastern Europe with your car hire

Even though many prefer to head to southern Europe for beautiful beaches and plenty of sunshine, Eastern Europe shouldn’t be overlooked as a great holiday destination. Traditionally, the UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and many other tourist destinations within Western Europe have drawn many of the world’s tourists. Eastern Europe is increasingly rising in popularity. From Poland to Croatia, the mix of cultures, cuisines, architectures and customs is amazing.

Consider a car hire from Auto Europe and head to Prague, with its historic capital of Bohemia. Visit the Lost Souls Alley in Krakow or the Ljubljana Old Town. Budapest in Hungary is another magical place to uncover and enjoy. Travelling in Eastern Europe with a hire car from us is by far a great option. It will provide a level of flexibility that is seldom matched when using the local public transport. With more than 65 years of car hire industry experience, we have partnered with many car hire suppliers to provide you with exceptional rates and choice. Contact our reservation agents today to find out more or book.

Which countries form part of Eastern Europe?

Generally, Eastern European countries are those who used to belong to the former Eastern Bloc, including Turkey. Although these countries form part of the same region, in terms of car rental conditions, restrictions and policies may vary between countries. In terms of car hire, countries such as Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary are not considered Eastern European countries – however if driving there from a Western European country, you may have to pass through countries that are considered Eastern European by the car rental suppliers, and restrictions may therefore apply.

Before you travel to Eastern Europe with your car rental, case should be taking to make sure you are allowed to do so with your car hire supplier. You must inform Auto Europe and the supplier of your intention to do so during your booking. Failure to do so, may make you accountable should anything happen. Confirm with the supplier if the countries you are travelling to do not have any restrictions. Often the restrictions also apply to the type of car you hired. Some car categories are not allowed to cross-borders – namely, luxury car brands. Some countries have a higher risk of theft, and as such restrictions will apply. An alternative would be to hire that actual vehicle actually within the Eastern European country you are visiting.

What to do when travelling to Eastern Europe with a car hire?

Inform in advance – If you plan to visit an Eastern European country from a Western European country, then you must inform Auto Europe and the supplier during your booking. You will then receive confirmation if it’s authorised, details of any restrictions and conditions. Authorisation depends on the country of origin, destination, car category, supplier and duration. Overall, it is important to notify us of your trip within at least 10 days from commencement of rental. This will allow the supplier to obtain all the necessary documents and insurances for your drive.

Extra Insurance for Eastern Europe – Some car rental suppliers will require you to purchase additional insurance if driving to an Eastern European country. This is because they deem the journey to be of a higher risk to their vehicle. These extra insurances are purchased locally, and Auto Europe does not profit or deal with their transaction. The amount is set by the supplier and is determined by the car category, the locations and the duration of the rental. Individual suppliers have their own conditions, restrictions and insurances.

Cross-border Surcharge – When driving to another country from the original pick-up location, some suppliers may charge you a cross-border surcharge. Individual supplier set these rates, so it pays to look around and compare. The fee amount is charged daily and paid directly to the supplier at the time of pick-up. Auto Europe does not handle this transaction or profit from it. We provide the fee for informational purposes only, that of which can be viewed during your booking by clicking the info button or referring to your car hire voucher’s terms and conditions. You must inform us and the supplier of your desire to cross the border with your car rental. This is required so that insurances and authorisations can be obtained.

Driving into Eastern Europe from Western Europe with your car hire.

Even though it is possible to hire a car in Western Europe and drive into Eastern Europe, it is not well viewed upon by many car hire suppliers. In many cases the added paperwork, documentation and added conditions make the process costly and bureaucratically slow. Cross-border fees, extra insurance requirements and restrictions on car categories can quickly add up and become very stressful. However, if you really dream of conducting such a journey, then our reservation agents will be able to help. It is important to inform us early on as planning such a trip may take some time.

Conditions and restrictions are varied and set by individual suppliers. For example, in Germany you will not find a rental car supplier willing to allow you to drive into Romania. Different restrictions can apply between countries, and even cities within the same county. It is also important to consider that driving from Western Europe to your Eastern Europe destination may force you to cross many other Eastern European countries – this must be taken into consideration when planning, and all relevant insurances and documentations obtained. A good example is Croatia, where if you wish to drive to Dubrovnik from the northern half of Croatia, you will have to pass through Bosnia – which is not always allowed.

How to book a car hire in Eastern Europe?

If you truly wish to travel to Eastern Europe, your best bet is to hire a car actually in Eastern Europe. Many of Western European car hire suppliers also have a presence in Eastern European countries. They’ll not only provide great vehicles, but also a good customer service. The rental rate may also be cheaper, and you will save on cross-border fees, etc. Overall, there is little reason to hire a car in Western Europe just to drive into Eastern Europe.

Utilise our online booking engine to conduct a search for the best car hire rate in any Eastern European country. The process is the same as when booking in a Western European country. After entering your destination and dates, simple view all available offers. Click on the info button to obtain more information and then if happy, proceed with the reservation. Make sure you list all the countries you wish to drive to during your booking.

Once received, Auto Europe will confirm the booking with you and obtain permissions from your chosen supplier regarding the individual countries you want to drive to. We will inform you if any requirements, conditions or cross-border fees apply. Information of which will be contained in your car hire voucher’s terms and conditions. You may also receive further contact from us regarding additional required insurances and outlining any restrictions.

If you have any questions or would like to place a reservation, either use our secure online booking engine or give one of our trained reservation agents a call. We have experienced staff who have travelled in Eastern Europe who will be more than willing to help with advice and tips. Likewise, they will also be able to quickly filter through the car hire suppliers, informing you of any possible additional fees, requirements and documentations.