Renting a car abroad/Europe
 

So this seems to be a topic with so much to interpret id rather get first hand experiences over trying to decipher a rental companies website etc.

Wife and I are looking to travel between 3 and 4 months in starting in sept 2022. We are going to be trying to go to Oktoberfest 2022 and then have a wedding in Dublin in early October.

From there we will be going back south to Portugal or France and wanting to basically have the freedom of having a vehicle for extended periods of time.

For anyone with the experience is it advantageous to rent from one place, go into multiple countries, and return in a different country. Or should we be renting individual cars in each country and then gauging the cost of returning in a different city, country, or returning to the original location?

My wife recently became a Portuguese citizen and will hold an EU passport shortly however in a quick search it seems as if to own a vehicle in Portugal you need to have a fixed address etc. So that may not be feasible. Any input would be appreciated.

Consider buying a car instead, then selling it.
Was in australia for 4 months, got a 07 mazda 3 for 4k, sold it for 3k when i left
1000$ for no hassle

Ps, skip octoberfest, i keep hearing its endless lineups and crowds. Unless thats what your into, then bring popsicles to share

It seems like it’s relatively hard to purchase a card without a fixed address..at least in Portugal.

I’ve come across some recommendations of auto manufacturers such as Renault etc. Doing short term leases which may work out. Did you not need a local address to buy and insure the vehicle?

One tip I have when renting is Europe they are lot pickier with respect to rental car damage. In North America, scratches/dings/dents don't seem to matter. You drop the rental car off at the airport and the guy/gal barely gives a hoot when checking it over. Usually it's that FML attitude.

In Europe though, they look at the car very very closely and they will charge you for even the smallest thing. So make sure you have insurance to cover it. In France I accidentally curbed a rim when parking and the dude was all over it unfortunately, where as in N America I don't think they would have cared.

In australia, i gave them my airbnb address, probably changed addresses 6 times while i was down there.

Canada DL, good to go.

They didnt care, quick in and out, the same as insurance here.

I did sign up for the international drivers licence, never had to use it, until me and my brother got pulled over in thailand, he got a 50$ fine, i didnt. (scooters)
Might be worth looking into for your europe trip, i think i got it done at bcaa.

for a short trip did car hire from nice airport, went to monaco a bit, did the rest of the french riveria and dropped off at train station before Spanish border en route to barcelona, was more cost effective this way

not exactly applicable to your longer term situation, good luck