Hire car and border crossings: what to check before you travel

If you are travelling in a hire car, the border brings one extra step that owners of their own car never have to think about — permission to take the vehicle out of the country.

Check the contract, do not assume

Many hire companies charge a supplement for crossing a border, require the route to be declared in advance, or ban travel to certain countries outright. This varies from company to company and from vehicle to vehicle — ask specifically about the countries you plan to drive through, not just in general "can I take it across the border".

The documents you need at the border

• The rental agreement — the original or a clear copy, with your name on it as an authorised driver.

• Border crossing permission — if the company issues it as a separate document, always bring it, not just "just in case".

• Green Card or the vehicle insurance policy — check with the hire company whether it also covers countries outside the basic contract.

Returning the vehicle in another country

If you plan to pick the vehicle up in one country and return it in another (a one-way rental), that is usually not the same thing as an ordinary border crossing where you come back in the same vehicle. This kind of arrangement often carries a separate, considerably higher fee, and some companies allow it only for certain pairs of countries or only if it is announced in advance. If you are planning it, ask specifically about the one-way option when you book, not at the counter — the price and the availability can be a surprise if they only turn up at the end.

If you break down or have an accident in another country

Car hire companies as a rule have a roadside assistance number that works whichever of the covered countries you are in — save that number before you set off, not when you need it. After an accident abroad you usually also need a report from the local police, even for minor damage, because without it the insurer can later refuse to cover the repair. That is one more good reason to check before you travel whether the vehicle insurance is valid at all outside the country where you picked the car up — do not assume it is automatic.

A practical tip

Check everything when you pick the vehicle up, not at the border — by then it is too late for any change, and there is a queue waiting behind you.

If the main route is busy, have a look at our rundown of alternative border crossings — it is useful whether the car is hired or your own.