'Keep it simple' is good advice in many of life's endeavors, including renting a car in Europe. Avoiding frills and extras will avoid un-needed costs and headaches.

The best and most straightforward European rental car deal I know right now is in Germany. For $221, including the 19% value added tax, you can get a compact car, VW Golf or similar with air-conditioning and four doors, for a full week. Book through the Gemütlichkeit Travel Department (800- 521-6722, or you can get an email quote). That $221 price, however, can quickly escalate when you start adding such elements as extra drivers, automatic transmission, picking up the car in one country and dropping it in another, and so on. Such embellishments can also add a variety of complications.

Recently, a good customer wanted to rent a car in Dublin then drop it in London. Yes, that's possible, we told her - provided you're willing to spend several thousand dollars. But, since Avis, Hertz, National, Europcar, et al, simply won't allow it, we would have to use a supplier that specializes in exotic rentals.

While that's a rather extreme example, we hear every day from folks who, with a just a small adjustment, could save hundreds of dollars. The idea of picking up a car in Salzburg and dropping it somewhere in Germany is a case in point. Why not instead take a 10-minute train ride to Freilassing in Germany and begin your rental there? You'll get the car at Germany rates which are much lower than Austria's, avoid the $75-to-$300 international drop charge, and you won't have to have the international driver's license which is required to rent a car in Austria. Needless to say, this is a solution that's worked for several customers.

Here are a dozen suggestions every would-be Europe car rental customer should consider when the making car rental decisions.

Avoid Automatic Transmission

A compact car with automatic transmission at most airports in Germany is $364 for one week. With standard transmission the same car is $263. Cars with automatic transmission command a higher price in all European countries.

Avoid Airport Pickups

Commence your rental at a European airport and you're likely to pay a tax of 14% to 19%. Notable exceptions are France, Spain, Ireland, the U.K. and Holland where the airport charges are $30 to $40. In Germany, on the other hand, the midsize VW Passat you can get at an off-airport location for $262 costs $312 at an airport or rail station, thanks to a 19% tax. This so-called "premium station" fee also often applies to rail stations. It's worth noting there is no extra charge for dropping off a car at a "premium station."

Avoid Sunday Rentals

The vast majority of off-airport rental car locations in Europe are closed on Sundays, making it likely you have to pay an expensive airport pickup charge if you plan to start a rental on that day.

Avoid Small Towns

Fewer cars to choose from and less savvy agents make renting a car in a small town a bit more adventurous than in Europe's major cities. For example, the small-town rental agent is less likely to be familiar with your Auto Europe voucher and, as a result, you may find charges on your credit car bill you didn't plan on (nothing, however, that can't easily be resolved back in the U.S.). A bigger problem is the skimpy selection of cars. You may have a confirmed reservation for a car with automatic transmission but some smaller stations don't have in them in their fleets; they are brought in on as-needed basis. Occasionally the system breaks down and when the renter arrives there simply is no automatic available. When that happens, the customer is left with what's on hand and if there's no automatic.....

Avoid Small Companies

Most of the rental cars in Europe belong to the "big" 3: Europcar, Avis, and Hertz. Sixt is big in Germany and growing rapidly elsewhere. National is mostly limited to major towns and airports. We recommend sticking with these five. If your car breaks down, you want to be as close to help - and a replacement car - as possible. Avis, for example, has more than 350 locations in Germany alone. Thrifty, on the other hand, has offices that the company says "serve airports in Munich, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt" and "20 other suburban locations." Suppose you're somewhere up around the Baltic and the transmission in your Opel starts making noises like a wounded cat; would you rather it be an Avis or a Thrifty rental car?

Avoid Full-Size and Larger Cars

If it's a really nice car you want, then go for it, spend the money. But if its space you're after, think twice before renting a full-size, luxury and premium category car. The price increase from midsize to full size is substantial. In Germany, the base price for a midsize station wagon is $219 without tax and $477 for a full size wagon. And, though most rental companies slot the BMW 320 wagon into the "full size" category, it has slightly less luggage space than the midsize Opel Vectra wagon.

Stick With One Driver

Most, but not all, rental companies charge a fairly substantial fee if you want to list more than one driver on the rental contract. My foregoing "best deal" price of $228 is not so good if there will be more than one driver. Avis, a company that offers also deal, also charges $20 a day to a max of $140 for additional drivers. In such a case we would switch the customer to Sixt, whose one-week rental price is $267 but does not charge for extra drivers.

Think Twice About International One-Way Rentals

Two problems with a one-way rental between countries: it can be expensive and sometimes is simply not possible. The one-way charge is always in addition to other rental charges and can range from around $70 to $4,000. At the lower end of the scale are one-ways between such cities as Munich and Zürich, Paris and Frankfurt. Figure anything involving Italy, former eastern- bloc countries, and Scandinavian countries will be expensive. If you decide to do an international one-way, stick to major cities. One-ways involving small cities are frequently not possible or much more expensive. Recently a customer slated to drop a Frankfurt car in Paris decided to instead leave it in Tours. The one-way fee went from $125 to $350. One-way rentals within the same country, however, are almost always free.

Request a Diesel

Diesel engines are no longer noisy, smelly and underpowered and they get great mileage. The fuel is cheaper than gas in Europe and available at every service station. For the most part, you can't guarantee a diesel but you lose nothing by asking and, depending on the country and vehicle, you have about a 50-50 chance of getting one. Important Tip: Be sure to fill up with fuel just before turning in the car. Rental companies in Europe are currently charging up to $15 per gallon if they have to refuel returned vehicles.

Forget Having the Rental Car Delivered to Your Hotel

Yes, in past years this was a nice convenience that some rental companies offered as a free service. Now, however, you'll pay at least $35 and what if the delivered car isn't what you want? If you go yourself to the rental car station you'll likely have a choice of cars.

Remember, Germany Has the Best Rental Car Deals

Though your itinerary may limit your choice, it's still useful to know which countries have the best rental car rates. Generally speaking, Italy has the highest prices and Germany the lowest. Recently we had a customer who was flying to Florence via Munich. The car he wanted in Italy was going to cost him $525 for one week. The same car in Germany was just over $700 - but for three weeks. The customer decided to ditch his Munich-Florence flights and drive to Italy from Munich.

Rely on a Credit Card for Collision & Theft Insurance

This is old advice we've been handing out ever since credit card companies started insuring car renters who use their cards to pay for rental cars. The car rental company covers third-party liability and fire, but the renter is responsible for the car itself. You can purchase insurance offered by the rental company, but it's expensive and has a high deductible, typically in the $750 to $2000 range. Your credit card is free and there is no deductible, you are simply reimbursed for any damage or loss - but be sure to check that your card offers CDW and theft coverage and that you decline the rental company's offer of insurance. There is no choice, however, in Italy and Ireland, you must purchase the insurance.

Bob Bestor, publisher of Gemütlichkeit, The Travel Newsletter for Germany, Austria & Switzerland, knows the ins and outs, the dos and don'ts of European car rental. Over the past 15 years, his company's travel department has booked thousands of cars for his newsletter's readers. In addition, Mr. Bestor has driven Europe's backroads and Autobahns for several weeks each year since 1979.