Increase your road-ready confidence and avoid massive fees with these universal tips.

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ong-held European tourist stereotypes have travelers who want to hit the continent’s roads worrying about manual gear shifting, tiny cars, and on which side of the road to drive. Yet, the days of paying hundreds of extra dollars for a rare automatic rental car are mostly behind us. Americans are embracing smaller vehicles abroad: Who wants to drive even a sedan on narrow, twisting village roads built before cars? And, across the European countries, we only drive on the left side on the islands of Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta.

The actual European rental road trip mistakes get less attention than the stereotypes. The continent does have road rules similarities, particularly across the European Union, but each country–and rental agency–has its own regulations, fees, and fines. Missing a few of these is going to seriously cost you.

One solution is to hop aboard the train system, far superior to any in North America. However, as popular destinations drown in over-tourism, other regions best reached by road are clambering for visitors. Grab some wheels. Fodor’s has you covered with these road trip tips.

Double Check Your Car Rental

As I watched a man argue for 30 minutes with a representative at a slammed Sixt rental car counter in Munich, I realized that only some people understand what they get when they rent. He chose the red car online, so why was the car he was getting blue? In one of the more unusual moves I’ve seen, he refused the rental and walked away from the staggering line.

While the color, make, and model are variable, the category essentials are not. Make sure you get that automatic if you’re not stick-shift savvy. Consider the size: You want to go as small as you reasonably can in almost all cases. Remember, most drives across Europe are shorter than the American hauls. You won’t miss that extra interior space for a few hours when you don’t have to worry about the side of your oversized car scraping off on the side of a building.

Luggage is tricky as many European models don’t have ample trunk space. The easiest solution is to pack as light as possible or favor smaller, soft pieces of luggage that can stack better. Your rental category should estimate how many bags you can fit.

Before you head out, double-check everything. Kaitlyn Rosati, founder of the travel blog No Man Nomad, drove for two hours in Italy with a constant beeping that even a gas station attendant could not identify. The culprit: the emergency brake was on.

“This might sound painfully obvious, but there are a lot of nerves that come with renting and driving a car abroad. So, you might overlook what would normally be the first thing to come to mind,” says Rosati.

Returning Your Rental in Another Country Will Cost You

It’s an eye-opening experience to punch in an itinerary where you pick up a car in Munich, Germany, return it in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and then watch the estimate triple. The sticker shock is staggering for those used to paying a slight fee to drop off a rental in another city in the States.

Elizabeth Palumbi, a travel content creator, recommends researching rental companies’ policies and rates. She found large ranges of repositioning fees between agencies, with some even waiving specific cross-border fees.

“I recommend booking with a reputable international rental company that specializes in cross-border rentals, such as Hertz, Avis, Sixt, or Europcar.” Palumbi also advises checking all fees before booking: many charge an additional cross-border fee if applicable, even if you return the car to the same location.

If possible, loop back to where you started for big savings. Even if you don’t make it back to the same city, bring the car back to a different city in your originating country for a less painful relocation fee.

Do You Need an International Driver’s Permit?

The International Driver’s Permit (IDP) is a bit of an enigma. This official booklet certifies your country’s driver’s license in a plethora of languages and is a universally accepted permit.  Most rental drivers won’t be asked for it upon pick-up, although those renting in countries like Austria, Italy, and Spain are more likely to be asked. Some countries require an IDP, so make sure to verify if your travel plans call for one. Regardless, for many travelers, it’s about peace of mind. If you have any encounters with law enforcement for road violations, the IDP cuts through additional hassles.

“While I haven’t been asked to show an International Driving Permit in Europe, I always carry one as a precautionary measure,” says Palumbi. “It’s a relatively easy and inexpensive process to obtain at your local AAA.”

Understanding the Schengen Zone

The Schengen area refers to a group of European countries that allow free driving without border checks. At this writing, all countries that are a part of the European Union are also within the Schengen area except for the islands of Ireland and Cyprus as well as Bulgaria and Romania. The latter two still have border checks for land crossings. Anyone driving to those countries or outside the European Union may encounter lengthy stops for passport controls.

Some nations, like Croatia, are newer Schengen members, and you may encounter recently abandoned control buildings along the border. While the remnants can be unnerving for the unfamiliar, these changes across the continent symbolize increasing unity.

Does the Country Require a Driving Pass?

While most European countries share open borders, several require national driving passes or “vignettes.” Popular destinations that mandate these include Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. Typically, we bought these in gas stations around borders, and the common wisdom was to get one right before entering. Many unaware drivers were stopped upon entering the country and hit with a fee.

Now, you can buy these online right before entering the country. Don’t try to dodge this pass, typically around $20, for more than a week of travel. You’ll enter your rental car’s license plate into the system (there is no need to print a sticker for the windshield). Automated checks along roads scan plates. If yours isn’t in the system, your rental car company will get a fee, and they will pass that–and a processing fee–along to you. Grab good wi-fi on your day of travel and enter your details–it’s an easy step that saves you expensive headaches.

Check the Local Road Etiquette

Stopped on an Austrian highway for road construction, a sign indicated everyone should pull to the side of their shoulderless lanes, leaving the middle open for any emergency vehicles. The scene was a marvel of respect, efficiency, and authority. Not a single driver broke protocol. In contrast, I’ve seen Colorado’s gridlocked I-70 descend into Mad Max within five minutes.

Most road signs are intuitive, but local customs like these add directives that aren’t familiar. Quickly check road signs before you drive in a new country. Know whether you can turn right on red or park in a specific zone. When in doubt, take your cues from other drivers and follow the herd.

How to Fill Up With Petrol

It’s time to fill the tank, and you’re trying to run conversions to euros and liters when you realize there is no place to pay. Pre-pay inside? Just start filling up? If you also throw in a language barrier, it can bring up just enough anxiety to throw you back to your early days of driving.

The answer is that most of Europe operates like the U.S. did until the 21st century: fill your tank up and then go inside and pay. If you do try to pre-pay–”I’ll take 20 on pump 4″–you’re almost certainly going to get a bewildered response. Whatever American lawlessness forced the pre-pay in the U.S. hasn’t seemed to hit Europe yet, and it feels just a little naughty.

Before you get too excited, remember the price you’re seeing is for a liter of gasoline (or petrol), and you’ll need almost four of them to hit the familiar gallon.

Don’t Take Parking for Granted

Driving in city centers can be challenging because most of Europe is designed for foot traffic. Travelers used to designated hotel parking and valets in North America may be surprised in Europe, especially if they’re staying in pedestrian-only city zones and boutique hotels. Narrow streets, one-ways, and unrelenting traffic add to the stress. As Palumbi shares, it’s best to park your car and then walk or use public transportation the rest of the time in an urban center. Plug a parking garage near your accommodations into a GPS, ditch the wheels, and avoid all the stress.

Ultimately, driving in Europe can provide the flexibility for the spontaneous experiences that bewitch travelers. When Rosati went on her trip to her ancestor’s town to secure certificates for citizenship, she contemplated just hiring a driver for a few hours. “I’m glad I trusted my gut to spend actual time there, as it became one of the most meaningful trips of my life, which would have never happened had I not had the courage to drive,” she reflects.

“As cliche as it sounds, driving myself there helped me realize I am capable of much more than I think I am. I was sad to give the car back!”