Car rental advice: Booking vs AutoEurope vs Budget (Germany/France trip)

One overlooked advantage to renting with Autoeurope is their help with the language barrier. If you have a problem with a rental and don't speak the local language, you can call Autoeurope for help. They will help you resolve the issue by connecting you with an agent who is a fluent speaker of both English and the local language.

If renting via a 3rd party vendor such as, Booking, if there’s an issue with the reservation you’ll probably need to go through Booking to get it resolved.

If you’re comfortable with your credit card coverage, that’s fine. Ensure you understand what’s covered and what isn’t. With many rental companies tire and windshield protection are optional coverages as is personal injury protection.

If using your CSP for the basic CDW, know that with some companies unless you get the basic CDW through it, you won’t be able to get zero deductible if you’re even interested in it.

If using the CSP coverage find out what, if anything, you’ll need to show at the counter as proof of coverage.

As with so many things, it comes down to personal preference and what you’re comfortable with.

I don’t know about the affordability of a Zero $ deductible would be but it’s an option to avoid delays if you have an accident or otherwise damage the vehicle. I have had the occasion to use Zero deductible and credit card coverage. The benefit of most Zero deductible is that you leave the car and you’re done. If you depend on a card, your card is charged with the repair cost and you then have to file a claim for reimbursement. That’s where some horror stories begin. You must submit an original repair bill which is usually in the language of the rental origination. You might have to wait for translations and/or additional information. The frustration is that you would be dealing with an office in a foreign country not here in the US. One good thing about AutoEurope is that they are located in Maine and can help to save possible problems.

I've rented in Europe several times and always pay for zero cover. It's provides peace of mind. It is expensive but given that I don't always speak the language and have not always had the smoothest experiences at rental desks (although I've had some great ones too) I have determined for me, I'll pay for the protection. In November 2025 I rented a car in Puglia (Bari airport) it was europcar through Autoeurope. Driving was mostly fine but several parking lots and garages had steep driveways and the ford escort wagon had low clearance. I know it scraped a few times. When I dropped off the car, as soon as the person checking me in saw I had zero cover he said "you're all set". But while I was waiting for him, he was inspecting another car very closely and questioned several small marks (I don't know what the outcome was). My credit cards all come with car rental insurance coverage but the thought of the hassle of making a claim to get reimbursed from a third party insurer after paying upfront for any issue makes me too anxious.

You can get scammed even with zero coverage. Several years ago we rented directly with Hertz (Dublin one way to Shannon) and when we returned the car we were dumb enough to reveal we had to hurry to catch our plane. Slick agent then decided that he would charge us 200 euros for "scratches inside the wheel wells." We had little choice - pay up or miss our plane. No receipt for the 200 euros, of course. Moral: NEVER let on that you are in a hurry to catch your plane.

Are you a Costco member? I just ran a quick search there for a week in mid-June FRA-FRA, and I got a price well under $300, with no fees for crossing the border, 2nd driver included. I did so because I thought your numbers were high.

Thank you all the suggestions and I agree, I would need peace of mind even though I will be very careful during vacationi.

@G3rryCee , I have Costco membership and I checked there but I need Automatic and they have only in Premium SUV, which is EUR 489 = $562 (and then I would buy insurance too)

Is relying on Chase Sapphire Preferred (declining CDW) generally smooth in Europe?

I didn't have any problem the one time I used it in 2024. I was in England and rented a car from Arnold Clark, and it got a ding in it. When I returned it, I had to pay £1,000 for the deductible. Once I got home, I contacted Chase, sent them all the documents from the rental agency and had a complete refund in about six weeks.

Since that one went so smoothly, I've used my Chase Sapphire Preferred card ever since when renting cars and even when booking hotels and anything that is covered under their travel insurance.

Costco has several options with automatic transmission well under $300. Maybe there's something about your specific dates that is causing you to get such a high quote? I was searching for a random week in mid-June, which you indicated in another post was your travel time frame. I think you're over paying by a LOT.

I am checking from 17th June to 23rd June. Are you able to see anything for FRA airport, on Costco rental ?

Costco had an automatic, standard car, for €261.73 for the dates you listed through Alamo. You are correct that Costco doesn’t always have automatics.

If one reads the fine print about crossing borders, there can be an additional charge, although I’ve never been charged one. I rent through Costco whenever I visit a country it serves.

Under geographic restrictions it say, “… airport rail locations 6.24€ per rental day. All others locations 5.00€ per day. Maximum charge is 10 days. Prices include taxes and fees.”

Whoever you reserve through, periodically check back to see if prices decrease. If they do, re reserve, then cancel the original reservation. Rental car prices, like airline prices are continually changing.

Correct, I missed it. Thanks for finding this, I will check this.

We are finishing up a 2M stay in Finisterre. We rented a small car from Super U (the supermarket). It was pretty reasonable.

I found that French drivers are very careful in the rural areas. We encountered exactly 1 risky crazy driver, and I would see that many in the first 5 min in VA or SD. We had no close calls, not even 1. But there are several things I observed:

1) The "rond-point" or "roundabout" is very very common. Get used to the "dance". You wait for an opening. You go for it. Some roundabouts are very high-traffic and you need to be decisive.

2) The French national sport is tailgating. Following distances are very close.

3) Google maps is essential

4) Parking in the bigger cities can be very very difficult. Small towns are not a problem.

We are finishing up a 2M stay in Finisterre. We rented a small car from Super U (the supermarket). It was pretty reasonable.

I found that French drivers are very careful in the rural areas. We encountered exactly 1 risky crazy driver, and I would see that many in the first 5 min in VA or SD. We had no close calls, not even 1. But there are several things I observed:

I was thinking to get Full Size Wagon from Alamo and We will visit Colmar, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Black Forest and possibly Rotherburg too. Can it be tight to manage as per your experience?

"full-size wagon" - how many in your party? If 2, you want a small car. Europe roads are tight. Towns are tight. Small is good.

I see you are 3. How old is #3? If a teen, fitting into that back seat might be difficult. If <10, get the small car.

As to those locations, Strasburg might be a challenge, as it is a larger city. Cities that are small are usually pretty OK - we visited 20-30 small towns in our time, and had trouble only in Carcasonne and Angers. In many small towns, parking was free.

I think you are the third person, or maybe the fourth, in the last few days intending to drive to Strasbourg with a car rented in Germany.

I am tired - not your fault, my fault because I am so busy with things not travel related - of repeating myself so if you want to look back a day or three you will find my comments.

The short version - Germany and France have different environmental driving laws. So do many other European countries.

In Germany you need an Umweltplakette (environmental sticker) to drive into many cities or regions. German rental cars will have that, cars from other countries won't.

In France you need a Crit'Air environmental sticker to drive in a dozen or more cities and regions in France. The restricted region around Strasbourg is vast. French rentals will have that, cars from other countries won't have it.

It is a pain to drive into (and expensive when you are caught) the Strasbourg area without a Crit'Air sticker.

The sticker is related to the registration of the car - you can't just pick one up at the border.

For inquiring minds, I drive in the whole area several times a year in my own UK car and I have both the green German and yellow French stickers on my windscreen because I jumped through the hoops, and I'm registered in Belgian cities too. And I keep up with the Dutch and British regulations which vary from time to time.

We are three in party, including our 10 years old. As our daily driving distances are more than average, so thought of getting more comfortable car, but not big. I agree many places have tight spaces.

We will not go inside Strasbourg or Rotherburg in car. Plan is to leave the car outside city and use tram to commute in Strasbourg.

You can drive to Khel and take a tram into france that is about a 15 min ride and avoid paying a cross border fee if you just wanna go to Strasbourg.

I had a station wagon in Germany. Some places are tight to park while others are not. Outdoor lots are easier. But many hotels are underground. If you get stuck ask for help. I had to have a bellhop man park my car once.

But that was once in a 15 day trip.

I had a station wagon in Germany. Some places are tight to park while others are not. Outdoor lots are easier. But many hotels are underground. If you get stuck ask for help. I had to have a bellhop man park my car once.

Did you visit this part of country too (Heidelberg, Colmar, Strasbourg, Rothenburg) ?

We rented at FRA on our 2023 trip and to avoid the environmental sticker issue Nigel described, we stayed in Colmar and took the train to Strasbourg.

Our hotel in Colmar, Colmar Hotel, was a block from the train station and had free parking.