Originally Posted by
LondonElite
For one thing, no insurance will apply, meaning it could be a very expensive plan. Avis could find out if it has installed a tracker in its vehicle, or by questioning the GPS system. There may also be a fine. The likelihood of you being caught is low, but the consequences potentially significant.
Thanks for responding. Coming from US, it really sucks to get into this over-complicated regulatory burden that Europe is
Originally Posted by
Adam1222
Or pulled over for any reason, as you won't have any valid insurance whatsoever. (Even your credit card or personal policy won't cover you when you're using someone else's car against their explicit direction.)
Your post suggests only certain makes of cars are involved, in which case it seems like a very risky thing to do with very low upside. Note that Mercedes and BMW vehicles in German rental cars aren't necessarily luxury vehicles.
Had an S-class booked with AVIS. It's a luxury car even if it's used in taxi service somewhere. Good points otherwise - thank you
Originally Posted by
dh01
If your rental gets stolen in Italy, you then will have to buy a brand new one for Avis, no ifs and buts. The stipulation of no high end cars allowed in Italy was because of high theft rates, and the rental companies realizing people rented Mercedes and BMWs for a day, declared them stolen and the cars were sold in Eastern Europe and Russia........
This is a damn problem when there is no JUSTIFIABLE discrimination. Because some nationalities posses an ill mentality should not translate into a Dane not being able to rent a Merc in Germany and drive through Italy. I'm very familiar with eastern European mentalities, and I can very well see how they held western Europeans for idiots
Originally Posted by
LondonElite
Quite. It would be foolish and expensive to assume otherwise.
All rental agencies in Germany specify which groups of cars (for example SDMR, CWMR, IWMR etc) are permitted where, and/or which groups of countries cars are allowed or not allowed in.
What is the OP's solution? Rent from Sixt, where Italy is included in Zone 1.
Thanks! Most helpful. Indeed can rent a Merc or BMW from Sixt and take it to Italy. Thanks for the information. Will book through them
Originally Posted by
Often1
Might be the most expensive rental in OP's lifetime.
A very poor choice to make, especially if OP has any savings or other assets.
Thanks to you guys, it wont be. Though we were only going to drive through north Italy for 500km and then going into Austria, renting a Merc through Sixt, although more expensive, is prudent