Rental costs
What does renting a car in Europe really cost?
The daily rate is only the start. Deposits, excess cover, young driver and one-way fees, and fuel at over €2 a litre decide what you actually pay.
The short version
Bring a credit card in the main driver's name; many desks will not take a debit card for the deposit. Expect a young driver surcharge under 25 or 26. Basic rentals include third-party liability and damage cover with a large excess; the desk will offer to remove the excess, usually at several times the price of standalone cover. Fuel is expensive: in the week of 5 October 2026, Euro 95 petrol averaged €2.006 a litre in the EU and diesel €2.149. Return the car full, and pay one-way fees only if the route really needs them.
Who can rent, and what do I need at the desk?
Each company sets its rules country by country, so read the terms for your pick-up location. As of October 2026:
- Age. The minimum is between 18 and 21 depending on the country and company, usually with at least one year of licence held. Sixt France rents from 18 and charges drivers under 25 a young driver fee of €40 a day, capped at €400. Europcar charges under-26s in France and sets the age in most countries at 21. Bigger or faster cars often need an older driver.
- Payment card. The deposit card must be in the driver's name. Europcar asks for a credit card. Sixt France accepts credit or debit cards and Apple Pay, but Sixt Croatia refuses debit and prepaid cards. Cash is not accepted for the deposit.
- Deposit. Sixt France blocks the rental amount plus €300 for most car groups and plus €500 for higher groups. Expect much more if you decline the company's own excess cover.
- Licence. Carry your full licence, and an International Driving Permit where the country requires one. Our guide to driving rules and road signs covers which countries ask for it.
- Gearbox. Manual cars are the norm in Europe and cost less. If you can only drive an automatic, book one specifically and early.
What insurance is included, and what is the excess?
The rental price includes third-party liability, for damage to other people and their property, and normally a collision damage waiver with an excess: the amount you pay if the car is damaged, often thousands of euros. Small claims add up: a broker quoted by Which? puts a puncture at up to €300 and a windscreen at around €750.
You can remove or cover the excess three ways. The desk's own super cover is the simplest and the most expensive. A Which? study of a one-week rental in Malaga in July, priced in May 2024, found desk waivers averaged £177, broker-sold excess reimbursement cover £38, and cover bought direct from an insurer £23. The catch with standalone cover: you pay the excess first and claim it back, and the desk blocks the full excess on your card, which Which? warns can exceed €2,000 with some low-cost companies.
Which extra fees should I check before booking?
- One-way and cross-border drop-off. Brokers report international one-way fees anywhere from €10 to €1,000. Dropping in another country almost always costs more than a domestic one-way.
- Cross-border permission. Tell the company every country you plan to enter. Some cars may not leave the country, and some countries are excluded or cost extra insurance.
- Extra drivers, child seats, satnav. Usually charged per day; compare the total, not the base rate.
- Fines. Speeding, low-emission zone and Italian ZTL fines reach the company first, which passes them on with an admin fee.
What fuel goes in, and what does it cost?
Match the label inside the fuel flap to the pump. Since 2018, EU pumps and new cars share labels: a circle for petrol (E5 or E10), a square for diesel (B7 or B10), a diamond for gas fuels such as LPG. Diesel is gazole in France, gasolio in Italy and gasóleo in Spain and Portugal; petrol is essence or sans plomb, benzina, or gasolina. Misfuelling is treated as your mistake, and the repair is usually charged to you.
One old assumption no longer holds: diesel is now dearer than petrol in most of Europe.
For electric rentals, Ionity, a large fast-charging network, charges up to €0.76 per kWh ad hoc in Germany after a rise on 1 July 2026; subscriptions start at €0.41 plus a monthly fee. Prices vary by network and time of day.
Over 1,000 km in Germany, assuming 6 litres per 100 km for a petrol compact, 5 litres for a diesel and 17 kWh for an electric car (our assumptions, not test figures):
- Petrol: 60 litres at €2.196, about €132.
- Diesel: 50 litres at €2.254, about €113.
- Electric on Ionity ad hoc: 170 kWh at €0.76, about €129; on a subscription at €0.41, about €70 plus the fee.
Fuel policy. Choose full-to-full: collect it full, return it full. Otherwise the company refuels at above pump prices and may add a service charge. Keep the receipt from a station near the drop-off; Europcar Belgium accepts one as proof on rentals under 100 km. Prepaid fuel only pays off if you return the tank nearly empty.
Where should I book: direct, a broker, or not at all?
| Option | Price | Coverage | Cancellation | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct with a rental company (Sixt, Europcar, Hertz) | Base rate, plus desk extras | Own branches only | Depends on rate; prepaid rates are often non-refundable | One contract; complaints go to one company; loyalty schemes | Desk excess cover is expensive; you compare one brand at a time |
| Comparison broker (Discover Cars, Rentalcars.com) | Rates from many suppliers side by side | Many local and international suppliers | Discover Cars: full refund up to 48 hours before pick-up | Easy price comparison; cheaper excess reimbursement cover | The desk does not recognise the broker's cover, so it blocks the full excess; two companies to deal with if something goes wrong |
| All-inclusive broker (Sunny Cars) | Higher headline price | Local partner companies | Free up to 1 hour before rental start | Excess, glass, tyres and roof covered; unlimited mileage; full-to-full fuel | At some locations you still pay the excess at pick-up and are reimbursed later |
| Train for the long legs, car for day trips | Fare plus a short local rental | Fast trains between cities | Depends on ticket type | No city parking or tolls; no one-way fee | Less freedom in the countryside; luggage on and off trains |
Who should pick what: for a round trip from one airport, a comparison broker shows the most prices at once; add standalone excess cover and check your card limit can take the deposit. To avoid deposit arguments, pay more for an all-inclusive broker or the desk's cover. Between big cities, the train is often cheaper once fuel, tolls and parking are counted: see whether a rail pass beats single tickets and when train tickets go on sale.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car in Europe with a debit card?
Sometimes, but do not count on it. Europcar asks for a credit card for the deposit, and Sixt in Croatia does not accept debit or prepaid cards. Where debit cards are accepted, some companies require you to buy their full insurance. The card must be in the main driver's name.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Europe?
It varies between 18 and 21 depending on the country and company, usually with at least one year of licence held. Drivers under 25 or 26 pay a young driver surcharge; Sixt France lists €40 a day, capped at €400.
Should I buy the excess waiver at the rental desk?
It is the most convenient option and the most expensive. A 2024 Which? study found desk waivers averaged £177 for a week in Malaga, against £23 to £38 for standalone excess reimbursement cover. With standalone cover you pay the excess first and claim it back, and the desk blocks a larger deposit on your card.
Is diesel cheaper than petrol in Europe?
Not in October 2026. In the EU Weekly Oil Bulletin for 5 October 2026, diesel averaged €2.149 a litre and Euro 95 petrol €2.006. Diesel cars use less fuel, so a diesel rental can still cost less to run on a long trip.
Can I drive a rental car into another country?
Usually yes within the EU, but you must tell the company and check which countries are allowed, as some cars cannot leave the country or cannot enter certain countries. Dropping the car in another country costs a one-way fee that brokers report ranges from €10 to €1,000.
Where the figures come from
Checked on 13 October 2026. Official and company sources first; secondary sources are labelled.
- Sixt France: rental information (age, young driver fee, deposits)
- Sixt Croatia: rental information (accepted cards)
- Europcar Ireland: general rental terms (credit card requirement)
- Which?: car hire excess waivers compared, June 2024
- Discover Cars: what third-party liability covers
- Discover Cars: cancellation policy
- Sunny Cars: what the all-inclusive rate covers
- Auto Europe: extras and one-way fees (broker, secondary)
- fuel-prices.eu: EU Weekly Oil Bulletin prices for 5 October 2026 (secondary)
- Belgian Federal Public Service Economy: harmonised fuel labels
- electrive: Ionity raises charging prices from 1 July 2026 (secondary)