Rent me!

In such cases, you really don’t know the precise cost until your card is charged in euros at the time of rental and converted to dollars at the prevailing exchange rate. (Of course, if you pay with most major credit cards, you can add 3 percent to the total because it’s an overseas transaction — and beware of the rental company in Europe that offers to charge you in U.S. dollars; that will add another 3 to 5 percent to the total bill. See our story on Dynamic Currency Conversion.)

Our advice, therefore, is to immediately book a car guaranteed in U.S. dollars as soon as possible. If your plans or rates change, you can adjust accordingly at no cost. The only downside of this strategy is that you must pay in advance, but with Gemut.com it’s 100 percent refundable, and you can cancel at anytime for any reason.

Why the big guys are better

Steer clear of companies such as Payless, Thrifty, and Budget. They have only a handful of rental outlets, almost entirely at major airports. If you’re deep in the countryside and have a breakdown, there is no easy way to swap cars. Better to stick with our major suppliers such as Avis and Europcar, companies with a vast network of rental stations and a larger selections of vehicles.

Historically, the best car rental deals are offered between January 1 and March 31.

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