It is sometimes necessary to travel by road to reach your destination; at other times, the road itself serves as your destination. It is your privilege to enjoy scenery that would vanish if you flew over it or blur if you were riding on a train at your own pace. When traveling through Europe by car, you'll want to take it slow and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

Having a car allows you to stop wherever and whenever you want, allowing you to discover those hidden gems that make a trip particularly memorable. My personal favorite way to do a road trip is to spend some time at a destination before adding a day or two of driving to the itinerary. Perhaps you'd prefer to spend the entirety of your vacation on the road, stopping for a night or two in each location before continuing on to the next one.

It is important to be aware of a few practical considerations before embarking on a European road trip. Airports, train stations, and some city locations dordle are where the major car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, and Budget) typically have pick-up locations. You can also seek assistance from Auto Europe when selecting a rental company. Make a reservation for the car well in advance.

The majority of European automobiles are equipped with manual transmissions, but automatic transmissions are available at a higher cost that is probably justified. Except if you're extremely comfortable with shifting, you don't need another thing to think about while navigating unfamiliar territory. This is especially true in the United Kingdom, where cars are driven on the right-hand side of the road and you ride on the opposite side. Adding a manual shift to the mix is too much for the majority of our brains to handle at the same time.

Before you leave, make sure you know if you'll need an International Drivers Permit (IDP) or not. Of course, you'll need your state-issued driver's license and passport, but many countries also require the International Driving Permit (IDP). If you submit your application by mail, it will take a few weeks to process, so plan to have enough time before your trip to complete the paperwork. Aside from that, it's a good idea to double-check the coverage of your rental car with your insurance company and credit card company, and to consider purchasing additional insurance from the rental company.