Car Hire Abroad?

[JonathanRyan]

I find Here Maps more reliable in foreign parts. Just as free and feature packed as Google but works also offline - great for those lovely drives through woods and preserving battery life.

 

[snerkler]

I meant at home before you leave.

This one does not accept credit cards

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/TOTALERG/@45.634431,8.7093194,12z/data=!4m15!1m9!2m8!1spetrol+station!3m6!1spetrol+station!2sMalpensa+Airport,+21010+Ferno+VA,+Italy!3s0x478661757c84a7b7:0xa3f10a57a0c77efe!4m2!1d8.7255307!2d45.6300625!3m4!1s0x0:0x1a444ddaae8bdfc8!8m2!3d45.6459833!4d8.7039399

This one does accroding to reviews

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...a13ea26478e9ddaa!8m2!3d45.5862782!4d8.7282515

I wish I had know this before going to Milan airport

I was replying to someone else I've already looked at petrol stations near Catania Airport, there's one pretty much on site (yellow arrow) that's open 24 hours/day 7 days/week according to google. Not sure if they accept credit cards, but I can check when I arrive If not the Eni (red arrow) is also open 24hours/day 7 days/week

 

[snerkler]

I find Here Maps more reliable in foreign parts. Just as free and feature packed as Google but works also offline - great for those lovely drives through woods and preserving battery life.

I have that one, but I'm not keen on the interface. I have downloaded the Sicily maps just incase I can't get a signal though

 

[wyx087]

Excuse me, hope you don't mind me piggy back off this thread with a related question.


Currently, I'm planning a trip with my in-laws in Switzerland - France and Italy, in that order. I've just discovered there's a EU regulation that prohibits EU residents from driving Swiss-plate cars into EU. This new regulation began May 2016.

Anyone have experienced this while driving a rented car from Switzerland to neighbouring countries?

I'm planning to phone Avis (cheapest for this one-way trip) and ask about this later. Can they guarantee a EU-plate vehicle for my trip? Is it okay if, during the boarder crossing, a non-EU resident is driving the car?

 

[f1charlie]

According to https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/may/28/eu-citizens-car-hire-switzerland it looks like you should be able to get an EU registered car or get an in-law as named driver and get them to drive over the border.
Obviously best to get it confirmed with the car-hire company.

 

[wyx087]

Yeah, I've seen that article. Seems like safest way is for my in-law (non-EU resident) to be the main driver and drive the car across the boarder. This way, paper work (main driver is non-EU) works in my favour.

Does rental company absolutely require to use the main driver's credit card? My father-in-law doesn't have a credit card.......


Ideally Avis will provide a EU-registered car so there's no such hassle.

 

[Jim_Tod]

I take an annual policy for car hire excess insurance covering mrs T and myself

Ive also in the last couple of years organised a taxi to/ from airport and hired car in resort. I've found that lowers my stress levels at the beginning and end of hols and if i do without car for a couplenof days it usually pays most of the taxi transfer and i can hire a smaller car as i dont have to get 4 of us plus luggage in the hire car- 8 seater merc people carrier dows the heavy lifting. Depends how long you're away for if this will stack up