alamo cross border charges
Feb 26, 2020, 11:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 13
alamo cross border charges
hi - I'm landing at MUC in Aug for a 5 day road trip including Austria, Liechtenstein and possibly crossing the border to Switzerland. I have a car reserved with Alamo, was comfortable with the rate of less than $200US including the premium airport fee. I do know that I'll also need a vignette for Austria. Now I'm reading the rental policy and notice this blurb:Cross Border Policy
Vehicles can be driven in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Northern Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain... Additional charges will apply for all cross border travels. In all cases, customers must inform the rental branch of their intention to leave the country with the vehicle and require authorization.
Does anyone have experience with this? I tried searching the Alamo website and can't find how much the fee is but when googling it, I see some companies charge per border that is crossed. Worried about how much this is going to add to my rental charge.
Thanks in advance!
Vehicles can be driven in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Northern Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain... Additional charges will apply for all cross border travels. In all cases, customers must inform the rental branch of their intention to leave the country with the vehicle and require authorization.
Does anyone have experience with this? I tried searching the Alamo website and can't find how much the fee is but when googling it, I see some companies charge per border that is crossed. Worried about how much this is going to add to my rental charge.
Thanks in advance!
Feb 27, 2020, 2:23 am
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
This is a relatively new thing, rental companies in Germany have started charging a one time fee to allow you to take the car outside of Germany. The fee ranges from 20 to 40€.
Feb 27, 2020, 3:12 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,997
If you drive into CH, you will also need a vignette, sold only in the 1-yr validity for 40 CHF. You could get lucky and some prior renter bought/attached it already but don't count on it.
I wouldn't say the car hire companies charge 'per crossing' necessarily, but a one-time cross border fee. Then again, Alamo might be different.
I wouldn't say the car hire companies charge 'per crossing' necessarily, but a one-time cross border fee. Then again, Alamo might be different.
Feb 27, 2020, 4:17 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
If you drive into CH, you will also need a vignette, sold only in the 1-yr validity for 40 CHF. You could get lucky and some prior renter bought/attached it already but don't count on it.
I wouldn't say the car hire companies charge 'per crossing' necessarily, but a one-time cross border fee. Then again, Alamo might be different.
I wouldn't say the car hire companies charge 'per crossing' necessarily, but a one-time cross border fee. Then again, Alamo might be different.
Feb 27, 2020, 8:37 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 13
mlin32 - I'm not planning to visit CH but it looks like the best way to go from Vaduz, where we are visiting friends, up to Neuschwanstein Castle, will take us across the border into CH for a bit. I guess I still need to purchase the additional vignette? I could possibly take back roads up to E60 and stay in LI.
Thanks again!
Feb 27, 2020, 10:20 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,521
Feb 27, 2020, 10:37 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,997
Either pay up for the vignette suisse (assuming you take the principal autoroutes/roads) or risk a 200 CHF fine, plus the purchase of the vignette.
Qu’est-ce que vous risquez en l’absence de vignette sur votre véhicule?
Recensée comme une infraction, l’absence de vignette vous exposera à une amende de 200 francs suisses. La présence ou l’absence de vignette est constatée par les services douaniers à la frontière et par la police, dans le pays.
Feb 27, 2020, 12:02 pm
#9
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
You can get to vaduz on roads that don't require the swiss vignette, just stay on the Austrian side and take the B190.
Feb 27, 2020, 3:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 186
It must be a very new thing. I had a Alamo rental from MUC around Christmas that we drove in Austria without a cross-border charge.
When we picked up the car, the rep asked if we were driving outside of Germany and just kind of shrugged when we said we might cross into Austria.
I don't see any cross border charge on the receipt.
When we picked up the car, the rep asked if we were driving outside of Germany and just kind of shrugged when we said we might cross into Austria.
I don't see any cross border charge on the receipt.
Feb 27, 2020, 3:47 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,642
hi - I'm landing at MUC in Aug for a 5 day road trip including Austria, Liechtenstein and possibly crossing the border to Switzerland. I have a car reserved with Alamo, was comfortable with the rate of less than $200US including the premium airport fee. I do know that I'll also need a vignette for Austria. Now I'm reading the rental policy and notice this blurb:Cross Border Policy
Vehicles can be driven in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Northern Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain... Additional charges will apply for all cross border travels. In all cases, customers must inform the rental branch of their intention to leave the country with the vehicle and require authorization.
Does anyone have experience with this? I tried searching the Alamo website and can't find how much the fee is but when googling it, I see some companies charge per border that is crossed. Worried about how much this is going to add to my rental charge.
Thanks in advance!
Vehicles can be driven in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Northern Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain... Additional charges will apply for all cross border travels. In all cases, customers must inform the rental branch of their intention to leave the country with the vehicle and require authorization.
Does anyone have experience with this? I tried searching the Alamo website and can't find how much the fee is but when googling it, I see some companies charge per border that is crossed. Worried about how much this is going to add to my rental charge.
Thanks in advance!