I wouldn't wait to the pickup date to get this in writing, although my experience is with Hertz: it needs to be handled and confirmed in writing when you reserve the car. IME renting an automatic in France normally comes with the condition that the car not be taken out of the country. You can easily get a waiver added into the rental contract for no additional cost to drive into Belgium, for example, but Hertz is adamant that you cannot take their cars to Italy. If you rent in Italy, again IME you can drive to France, etc. (generally "Western Europe") but mot most countries of "Eastern Europe" (which might generally still have different insurance standards and legal systems).