1. Pick up an International Drivers License. Check to see whether the countries you are planning to drive your cheap car rental through require an international drivers license, or IDL. Italy, Russia, Austria and the Czech Republic are among those that do. Even when they aren't required, IDL's are good insurance against bureaucratic confusion in countries where the authorities speak little or no English. You can get one through CAA for a small fee, and the requirements are simple: You must be over 18, have a valid driver's license and produce two passport-sized photos. The International Licence is valid for 1 year.
2. Find out what the extra costs will be. Many countries include a limited insurance policy with the cost of the car rental; you may want to add a CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) for a few extra dollars a day and for huge peace of mind. Gas in Europe is more expensive than in North America, too, usually costing around $2.10 a liter.
3. Make sure the size of your cheap car rental will be sufficient. European cars are smaller than their North American counterparts, something to think about if you'll be taking a long road trip or will be carrying lots of luggage. It also helps if you're comfortable driving a stick shift -- which is far more common in Europe -- since automatic-transmission rental cars there tend to be rare and more expensive.
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