Car purchase instead of rental

In general, buying a car in Europe, as a visitor (and getting it registered/licensed/insured) usually involves a lot more significant complications than a visitor wants (or can accomplish).

Leasing a car comes with a much lower set of requirements...but if you are just looking for a cheap way to get around, leasing may not be an option. Perhaps worth a look, though.

Disclaimer: I've never done this myself. But there is a steady stream of brand-new forum members who post similar questions to yours, thinking that they may have discovered "one crazy trick" to drive around Europe on the cheap. The conversations pretty much always go the same way: once you look into all the requirements, it quickly becomes evident that the plan is just not realistic for most people. I'm not saying you couldn't do it, but nobody ever seems to come back and give a report about how great their plan worked out. There must be a reason for that.

Check out Renault Euro-Drive..........https://www.renault-eurodrive.com/en/the-eurodrive-formula

Long story short; you purchase the vehicle from Renault via a signed contract. In the same transaction is a signed agreement for them to buy back the vehicle at the end of the term. Minimum period is 21 days.

We have done this on numerous trips to Europe. Advantages; 1) usually less than renting, 2) fully insured, & 3) it's a brand new vehicle. Other car manufactures have similar programs.

I imagine that insuring it might be a challenge. You’re still liable if you damage someone else’s property or injure someone.

You might consider a short term lease. It includes insurance. It’s a brand new car, so you hopefully don’t have to deal with any mechanical break downs.

Further to my Renault Euro Drive post above........

When you take delivery the vehicle is registered in your name. It's not a lease, rather an outright purchase.

Gentlemen
Many thanks for your replies. Lease does seem the best way to go. Only one downside, for an older
driver, is the need to learn another “language” in the tech of modern vehicles. I have an ‘05 Mazda
and ‘17 Jeep, both relatively tech-less, oh well.