I always rent a car here, shouldn't I just do the same in Europe?

Kent, wouldn't the circumstances dictate the need for a car in Europe where the transit system is so much better? The trains and buses are great and the distances are not as great so I can certainly see attraction of using trains and buses instead of having exclusive use of a rental vehicle.

Your question assumes the conditions are the same in Europe as for the trips you have taken. Leaving Europe out of the equation, if your trip were to fly to NYC and visit Manhattan for the week; renting a car may not be the best option, certainly not the cheapest or easiest. My strategy in Europe is look at Public transport first, since there are so many options available. Then given the costs (Rental, Parking, Fuel, Insurance) and the risks (accident, tickets-especially ZTLs in Italy) a car is the better option, I go that route. Rarely do I rent a car for the entire trip, usually picking 1-4 day periods where I need one out of a longer trip.

It depends on what you're up to. Public transportation works best if you're just going mainly from major city to major city (as most first-timers seem to do), Additionally, a car is worthless within the cities. What you need to balance is the inordinate daily cost of short-term car rentals; I've seen some folks making plans that wind up costing eighty bucks a day for four days........I'm the reverse, I always have a car, but I go for at least a month at a whack, so my daily cost (not including gas and tolls) is always less than thirty bucks. Also, in that month, it would be odd if I spent four days in a big city, so I can absorb the idle cost as well as the garage fees and come out ahead...... The other thing is that I can stay outside of a medium-sized town in a cheaper hotel, get up and leave for a place like Cordoba, see it, and be in another cheaper place to spend the night...... Also, I have odd tastes in standing stones, ruins, and such, if I had to use a bus, I might see only one or two spots in a day, with a car I can easily hit six or more in that same day......Make your decision on what you plan to see.

Thank you to Ed, Paul, and Rudy for the clear and helpful guidance they've given on this question. So far there's a consensus that I should not just automatically rent a car in Europe, just because that's what I do in North America.

Kent, We live in the west of the NA continent and distances can be vast between towns, highways are straight and uncrowded - yes even Seattle, by comparison to Europe. Europe is more dense and roads are narrower, twisting and generally slower. You have no doubt heard of the no-speed-limit Autobahns in Germany, but that is not really the norm, and even they have multi-hour traffic jams from time to time. Your first visit to Europe will make you appreciate a whole new way of life that does not involve the automoblie. People will be aghast at the thought of taking a car to the corner store, the way we take for granted. You will find you will walk more, realize public transport is a joy to use and not an inconvenience to be tolerated. Parking in much of Europe, particularly towns, and not necessarily large ones, can be both a nightmare and expensive. Unless you are going to some remoter areas like Tuscany, not only is a car unnecessary, but can be a liability. If you do go to such a place, rent it for that area, not your whole trip.

If I could pay US$2.60/gallon in France or Italy, then maybe i consider the choice. But recall that you'll be paying three or four times as much for gasoline.

Okay, if it wasn't obvious, the Original Post was set up to try to do a little more to get the attention of first-timers to Europe (I've been to Europe a few times). The answers were just what I was hoping for and brought out a point that may be useful to first-timers: that just because you always rent a car here, doesn't mean that's the best choice in Europe. Yep, it's different over there. Thank you, again, to each of you who responded with such good and clear advice.

Kent, given your subsequent posts, I assume your trip to Italy and France is "hypothetical"? My answer to your original question (based on my own travel methods) would be, "it depends". ¶ If one is just going to be visiting major cities that are well served by public transportation, then a rental car is a bit of a nuisance and NOT a good idea. Travelling by train is usually faster, more efficient and less of a hassle, and doesn't have the problems of high fuel costs, CDW costs, tolls, or ZTL zones. NO CAR can travel as fast as the TGV (at least not legally) so if one wants to maximize touring time, train is a better method. ¶ The number of people travelling is also one factor to consider. As I usually travel solo, renting a car is not usually the most cost effective method, and after a day's driving I'm often too tired to do any touring when I arrive in a new city. ¶ However, there are some occasions when I feel renting a car is a good idea. If I want to visit a location (historic site or city) that's not well served by public transport, or the timing of the local transport doesn't fit my schedule well then car rental is a logical choice. I'll rent for a short period of time (one day or perhaps even a week) to get to the places I want to see. ¶ I've found that in most cases with careful planning, I can get to most locations by public transport. Another benefit I've found when travelling by train, is that I've met some "interesting" people and had some memorable travel experiences. Cheers!

"So far there's a consensus that I should not just automatically rent a car in Europe, just because that's what I do in North America." Yes, as is the case with many other things you should/shouldn't do in Europe :)

Never been to France, but I've visited Italy and I would recommend using the transit systems there and for that matter anywhere in Europe...and not just to save money. I would only use a car if I had no other way to get someplace either out of the way or at an odd time. Let the Europeans do the driving while you take in the scenery

I drive a minimum of 100 miles each day, and that is just to get to and from work. There is no other option for me, or my wife for that matter because we work in the same place. However, when I leave home, I examine all modes of transport in order to determine the most appropriate and cost efficient for my travels. At times this means renting a car, but more often than not, it means examining the total cost of transportation coupled with accomodations and then weighing the value of time and schedule against these costs. A couple of years ago we used transit in London, Train to Scotland, rental car in Scotland (picked up when after we did Edinburgh), fly to Holland and then used transit, night train to Munich, car in Bavaria (yes, Lee we could have trained it, but in two days and nights we did Dachau, Linderhof, backroad to Reutte, Neuschwanstein, Aplinestrasse, Zepplin Museum, turned in the car and ferried to Switzerland.), and then Swiss Passes in Switzerland. This was the best mix for 4 people traveling together in terms of time and money. I make extensive use of Excel Spreadsheets to analyze and track cost both prior to and during our trips, it keeps us on budget and able to afford the next trip sooner. By the way, I would ask this question in reverse: If you can use public transit in Europe, why can't you here in the U.S.? My employer is always laughing when I take a city bus from the airport to a hotel, but I can't justify a $30 shuttle or cab, when I can get there is 20 minutes on the bus for $2.

I can't speak about cars in other countries because I've only used trains, but I feel that renting a car in the UK is the best way to see a lot of the quiant, beautiful villages that can not get to by public transportation, to mention on area would be the Cotswolds.

James.....I, for one, certainly do. It's public transit for me, because the slight time disadvantage is more than made up for in terms of cost and frustration. I also take the train when going to Montreal or Toronto, because it's certain more convenient. But if I want to go camping in northern Ontario, I take the car, since that's the only feasible alternative offered. Europe's transportation network is far denser and more comprehensive than North America's, which makes it a far better alternative than here.

As much as I love every single trip to Europe, there is one thing I do not want to ever ever ever do in Europe and that is to drive. I get an anxiety attack just being a pedestrian in a busy intersection watching the traffic. There is not one place that I have been where I wished I had a car. And I live in Tampa Bay and drive thru it, known for its traffic. I have driven thru Atlanta at 5pm, which is known for its traffic. I have driven on LA's main hwy (forgot which one) during rush hour, which is known for its traffic. And still, you would have to pay me a lot of money to drive in a European city. But I know I will one day have to do it, which scares me. I want to do English, Scottish, Irish countryside one day, which is more convenient via car. But I know it will not be like driving thru Paris or Rome. But I am still scared.

To answer your hypothetical question, I would say don't, unless you are willing to put up with certain unpleasant factors, such as paying tolls in France, which is not the case in Germany, paying for gas by the liter, being charged extra if you want an automatic. Of course, having access to a car is more convenient and increases your traveling flexibility. As concluded before, it also depends on the individual country's public transportation network by train and bus, where I find Germany is better served that France in getting out to remote, out-of-the way sites. It would have been exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, had I not been driven out to see the Chateau La Roche Guyon, the town of Peronne, the outskirts of Montmirail, Boulogne, Vercours, Compiegne, Vaux le Vicomte, Waterloo,(especially), etc. I prefer taking and relying on trains/bus in Europe where public transportation is an institution...that's the difference plain and simple. But I won't turn down being driven to a site connected with military history, such as the Somme area, or Gravelotte outside of Metz.

I wouldn't recommend renting a car. But a Hummer, that might be the ticket...