Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - Which car rental agency for Germany > Czech > Poland?

We want to rent the car in Muenchen (Munich), drive through Czech (staying in Prague), and drop the car off in Krakow.

Which car rental agencies should we consider using for this one-way drop-off? My only European experiences are with Hertz in Germany and Avis in Italy.

Thanks!
Michael

I think not many companies in Europe will allow you to do something like this (OW) unless you are ready to pay hefty charges probably double the daily rate...and even then countries like Poland are not probably on the accepted list...in Germany on the other hand one way rentals between German cities are normal and SIXT will not charge you anything unless it is their premium cars.

IMHO, it all comes down who is going to pay for bringing the car back to original country and insurance coverage.

Here is from SIXT T&C:

One-Way Rentals

National

One-Way Rentals within Sixt locations in Germany are free of charge (except to/from Sylt EUR 135.-).

For motorcycles there are no oneway-rentals allowed.

International

Please contact your Sixt local rental station or our hotline +49(0)180/5 25 25 25.

Cross Border Rentals & Territorial Restrictions

Cross Border Rentals are allowed to the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Cross Border Rentals are allowed to the following countries but not with Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, Porsche and all Jeeps/Offroader:
Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.

It is also allowed to enter the last-mentioned countries with all vehicles of car groups IVML, IVMR, SVMR and FVMR (including Mercedes-Benz Vito, Mercedes-Benz Viano, Mercedes-Benz V class and Mercedes-Benz Vaneo) and vans

In case of offence against Cross Border & Territorial Restrictions all insurances lose their validity.

Are Hertz, Avis, etc. franchise-owned in each European country? If so, a French-registered car can't stay in Germany, for example, and needs to go back to the owning location. I've noticed that most rental car companies itemize a separate drop fee in Europe, which implies that perhaps the cars are indeed sent back across the border.

Has anyone who's been to a European airport lately spoken to the rental agent to inquire about this? It would certainly demystify a lot of travelers' confusion. I know in the NY area, when I was handed a key fob that said "owning city: Boston," I said, "Hmm, Boston, huh?" The guy said, "Yeah, they go all over." Because it's a corporate US fleet, they can allow for random circulation like that. By contrast, in Europe, it sounds like the German Group or whatever owns all the cars in Germany, and so one-way rentals can freely roam within the country, but must be brought back if the car is returned to another Group elsewhere. Does anybody happen to know?

I think not many companies in Europe will allow you to do something like this (OW) unless you are ready to pay hefty charges probably double the daily rate...and even then countries like Poland are not probably on the accepted list...

Thanks for the info - I checked sixt, europcar, and Hertz for the one-way dropoffs and yes, they were more expensive for 6 days than for 14 days within Germany.

My next question - if I rent in Germany, may I drive into Poland and Czech Republic?? How can I find this out on the website? And... which car rental agencies should I be considering besides Sixt, Europcar, and Hertz?

Thanks!
Michael

Are Hertz, Avis, etc. franchise-owned in each European country? If so, a French-registered car can't stay in Germany, for example, and needs to go back to the owning location. I've noticed that most rental car companies itemize a separate drop fee in Europe, which implies that perhaps the cars are indeed sent back across the border.

Has anyone who's been to a European airport lately spoken to the rental agent to inquire about this? It would certainly demystify a lot of travelers' confusion. I know in the NY area, when I was handed a key fob that said "owning city: Boston," I said, "Hmm, Boston, huh?" The guy said, "Yeah, they go all over." Because it's a corporate US fleet, they can allow for random circulation like that. By contrast, in Europe, it sounds like the German Group or whatever owns all the cars in Germany, and so one-way rentals can freely roam within the country, but must be brought back if the car is returned to another Group elsewhere. Does anybody happen to know?

Think of it as asking can I rent in NY and drive it to Cancun OW or pick it up in Boston and drop it off in Montreal, well maybe a bit exaggerating but you get my drift...cross-border..most of them are franchises!

Let me give you some samples:

If I wanted to rent from ie Avis, anything less that A4, C class (full size) I will not be even able to drop it off in another city in Germany. Wanted once A6 SW and could not drive it to another city. Sixt has the same rules for premium cars and specialty cars like bimmers 6, 7, large mercedes, SUVs etc...

If I mention on reservation that I am driving to Belgium or "Dutchland", they might give me a car with Belgian or Dutch license plates but this is more of a coincidence that they had someone drive the car over and drop it off in Germany rather than a rule. They will certailnly try to find a way to return their cars to originating countries sooner rather than later.

As for the companies, there are also Enterprise, Alamo and some smaller national companies, but with Enterprise, for example, they cover only Benelux, France, Austria and Switzerland with their insurances so I could not even drive it to Spain and come back to Germany.

As I posted earlier, Sixt or Europcar have the largest fleets in Europe so it should be the way to go. You can drive them almost everywhere, even to Poland and other Eastern countries but personally would return the car back to Germany to avoid excessive charges.

Another important thing is to get a diesel-powered car, costs - diesel fuel is 20c cheaper per liter, and possibly if you can a navigation, time, because if you are driving in some of the European big cities, you will easily get lost...depending if you take CDW or not, make sure to check what your CC will cover and in which countries. You never know.

Happy renting!

Think of it as asking can I rent in NY and drive it to Cancun OW or pick it up in Boston and drop it off in Montreal, well maybe a bit exaggerating but you get my drift...cross-border..most of them are franchises!

Interesting point. One-way rentals between the US and Mexico are expressly prohibited. These are apparently completely separate fleets with no mixing allowed. One-way rentals between locations in Mexico are allowed, with a steep drop fee that is separately itemized and the same in both directions, implying the car is returned to sender.

One-way rentals within Canada follow the US model of higher daily rates with no separate drop charge, so the car probably is kept where it is. But, the interesting thing is that, in some cases, one-way rentals are allowed between the US and Canada. In fact, at hpn a few years ago, I saw a Buick Lacross with Ontario plates parked off to the side. I wasn't sure if they were going to keep it or send it back, judging by how it was parked.

Interesting point. One-way rentals between the US and Mexico are expressly prohibited. These are apparently completely separate fleets with no mixing allowed. One-way rentals between locations in Mexico are allowed, with a steep drop fee that is separately itemized and the same in both directions, implying the car is returned to sender.

One-way rentals within Canada follow the US model of higher daily rates with no separate drop charge, so the car probably is kept where it is. But, the interesting thing is that, in some cases, one-way rentals are allowed between the US and Canada. In fact, at hpn a few years ago, I saw a Buick Lacross with Ontario plates parked off to the side. I wasn't sure if they were going to keep it or send it back, judging by how it was parked.

Here is the deal on one way rentals between Canada and the US. Yes, they are allowed between certain cities. Canadian import laws however prohibit a Cdn citizen from bringing over a US plated vehicle into Canada (even a rental). For example lets say you are a Canadian citizen and you have arranged a one way rental from Seattle to Vancouver. You need to make sure you get a Canadian plated car (which between Seattle and Vancouver is common) to get across the border. If you take a US car, you will be turned away at the border (although Customs agents have let this slide on occassion with rentals) When a US car drops in a Canadian city, it cannot be rented locally. It either needs to be picked up by an employee or rented back one way across the border back into the US. When a Canadian car drops in the US, same holds true. It can either be rented back across the border into Canada (Canadian or US citizen or any other for that matter can rent it), however it cannot be rented locally. In otherwords if you saw a Canadian car sitting in Boston, it would be given to a one way rental customer back across the border, or it would be parked until a rep from the Canadian owned city gets it. Further to that, not all Canadian cars in the US or US cars in Canada got there due to a one way rental. On occassion cars do break down in various regions.


Hope that clears up some questions (or maybe it just adds more to the confusion :)

Yes, thanks, that was very informative. The only other time I had seen cars parked to the side like that was when the neighborhood agent said, "Sorry, I can't honor the free upgrade coupon. The Ford Fusion is not for rent. I had planned on giving it to you, but the lady smoked in it. She said she wouldn't. It smells like an ashtray in there. In the morning it needs to go back to the airport for service. You can bet I'm charging her for that!" That's why I wasn't sure if the parking location meant the Buick was not for rent because it was from Canada.

But why can't a Canadian-plated car be rented out locally in the US and vice versa? Is it because Canada uses the metric system?

Thanks guys!

So it seems more logical (now) that we'll rent in Germany in Munich, drive to Prague and Krakow, and then return it at Frankfurt Airport.

Is it possible to rent online and mention that we'll be driving in Eastern Europe? Is it possible to phone Sixt or Europcar within the US to reserve? What's the best method? Or do I just mention it when we are in town to pick up the car?

Silly question... but I'll need to rent an automatic (my wife doesn't drive manual whereas I normally rented/drove a manual when I travelled in Germany during my single days). Is it possible to rent such an automatic and drive it within Eastern Europe or do the German car rental agencies not allow it?

Thanks
Michael

They may not allow it, or restrict the vehicle chosen to smaller and cheaper categories. You really should call ahead of time to avoid surprises. If there is a restriction, it is likely due to the same reason US rental cars are specifically not allowed into Mexico- theft.

FYI, when I drove my Boston-originated car from NY to Philadelphia, all the panhandlers kept swarming around my obviously brand new, swank ride, compared to the fender-buckled rusty heaps waiting at the light ahead. So in all fairness, it's not just a problem in South America and Eastern Europe.

I have rented from Hertz in Paris and dropped the car off at Zurich Airport. No dropoff fee. Just the rate was a little higher than if I dropped it back in Paris.

I am also interested in renting in MUC and probably returning there or FRA or TXL but will want to drive into Poland and Austria. Does anyone have any experience doing that (with the OK of the rental company)?

I have rented from Hertz in Paris and dropped the car off at Zurich Airport. No dropoff fee. Just the rate was a little higher than if I dropped it back in Paris.

I am also interested in renting in MUC and probably returning there or FRA or TXL but will want to drive into Poland and Austria. Does anyone have any experience doing that (with the OK of the rental company)?

I'm planning on doing this next month, will probably rent through Sixt. As far
as I can see there should be no problems - can let you know of any if your trip will
be after ours.