Hey there, I’m in the EU, holding both a US passport and an EU passport. When I book car rentals on local (EU) websites, I’ve noticed that the prices are way cheaper and often come with full insurance coverage included. Some folks might doubt this, thinking there could be hidden fees or taxes, but trust me, I’ve got plenty of experience in this department.
Once, with Hertz, they initially said the rate wasn’t for Americans, but when I explained that I live abroad, they were cool with it. Another time, with Avis, I only had to show my foreign passport, not my foreign driver’s license. However, I’ve become a bit cautious lately because it seems like some companies are becoming stricter. For example, Hertz now explicitly states that their rates are not for US citizens or those holding US licenses.
I’m curious if anyone out there has recent experiences with this issue and can recommend a car rental provider or even a third-party booking site. I usually prefer booking directly, but I’ve heard great things about some third-party sites like Sunnycars.
I’m also considering playing it safe by booking a reservation with free or low-cost cancellation options, just in case there are any hiccups when picking up the car. Maybe I’ll even schedule the pickup for an hour later, that way I can cancel if needed before the actual pickup time. Any advice or suggestions would be awesome. Thanks in advance!
By the way, right now, I’ve got a reservation with Dollar because their booking terms don’t specifically mention restrictions on using my US license. And I also noticed that Sunny Cars has a clause allowing rentals for folks residing abroad but holding US licenses.