Car Hire in Romania
Car hire, insurance and useful tips on renting a car in Romania
Driving Licences
UK photocard driving licences should be accepted. It is recommended that you either update old style driving licences without a photo or take an international driving permit with you.
Daytime Lights
Drivers should use dipped headlights outside built up areas during the daytime.
Drink Driving
Romania has a zero limit for alcohol in the blood.
Keep your car clean!
It's against the law to drive a dirty car in Romania.
Winter Fees and Snow Tyres
Snow tyres are compulsory between 1st November and the 31st March, though some hire companies have extended the dates. Rather than including snow tyres in the quoted rate, many car hire companies make a mandatory local charge. This can be anywhere from €2.50 to €7.00 per day so soon adds up. Check the terms of your rental carefully so, if there is this extra charge at the desk, it doesn't come as as surprise.
Snow chains can usually be rented for an additional fee and may be required in snowy conditions particularly on mountainous roads.
Additional drivers
Many car hire companies will include the first additional driver free of charge in Romania.
Fuel policies
Mostly run on the fair fuel principle -The customer is supplied with a full tank and should return it in the same condition, or pay for the fuel used and a refuelling charge.
Car Hire Insurance
Cars will normally be provided with full collision damage and theft waivers with excesses for a compact car typically in the region of €500-€1500. Protect yourself from this and damage to windscreens, tyres and underbody not covered by the CDW with a car hire excess insurance policy.
The amount of third party insurance provided varies considerably by supplier. Even the larger more well-known brands can vary in the cover they provide. When you hire your car, check the rental conditions carefully to find out if it has a level of third party that you are satisfied with.
If you feel uncomfortable with the level of third party protection supplied, consider a car hire insurance policy with Supplementary Liability Insurance (SLI). These will top up any locally provided insurance to US $1m (about €750k) and may be able to fill in gaps in cover. Note that many insurers SLI policies are only active in the Americas and Canada so select one with worldwide cover.