Car Hire in Romania – An Eastern European Gem.

You must be at least 21 years and have a valid driving licence for at least a year in order to rent a car in Romania. This is normally supplier policy and for the most part you can rent a car being 20 years old. Drivers under 18 are not allowed to rent a car. You can rent a car if you're between the ages of 21 and 26, but there might be a young driver fee. Please see our age requirements section for more information. This is a particularly useful section if it’s your first time renting a car. Make sure to enter your age when making an online reservation so that only rental options that are eligible are shown with any applicable fees or conditions. Click the "i" icon or go over the terms and conditions on your rental voucher for more details.

In Romania, renting a car one-way is permitted but it usually comes with extra costs. When you select a one-way rental during your search, rental companies display their costs as well as the terms and conditions of the rental. Depending on the vehicle type, rental duration and pick-up and drop-off locations, any applicable fees will be calculated. The rental supplier must give their prior approval before you can travel outside of Romania. When making a booking, you must include a list of all the places you plan to visit.

If accepted, there will be a daily cross-border fee that needs to be paid to the supplier directly. Your insurance will not be valid if you don't notify Auto Europe or the supplier of your intention to travel outside of Romania. In these situations, the driver bears full responsibility for any harm done to the car. Keep in mind that it is an offence to drive without insurance. Click the info ('i') icon when making your booking to view specific charges and conditions or consult your car rental voucher for complete details.

Yes, in order to pick-up your car a valid credit card is needed. Depending on the kind of car, some rental companies might need more than one credit card. The primary driver's name must appear on the credit card, and there must be enough funds to cover the deposit. Visa and Mastercard are among the major credit cards that we accept. Please click the info "i" icon or consult the terms and conditions on your car rental voucher for a complete list of accepted payment methods.

The deposit will only be reimbursed if the car is returned in the same condition. For deposits, only physical credit cards are accepted. Digital credit cards, prepaid cards, cash, and debit cards are not accepted. Debit cards may be accepted by certain suppliers but doing so usually requires paying a hefty premium for extra insurance. The rental company may refuse to release the car if you don't have a valid credit card with enough money on it. Your reservation and payment will be cancelled in these circumstances.

Whilst driving in Romania it is important to remember to stay on the right side of the road, other that that, most road rules and regulations are similar to those of other European countries. It is illegal to use a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle unless you are using a hands-free device. Even during the day, low-beam headlights must always be on. Drive carefully because road conditions in rural and urban areas can differ greatly. Children under 12 are not permitted to sit in the front seat, and all passengers are required to wear seatbelts. Children younger than 3 years old must be buckled up in a suitable child car seat. The following speed limits are strictly enforced: 31 mph in cities, 55 mph on rural roads, 62 mph on national and European roads, and 80 mph on motorways. Most petrol stations in cities and along motorways operate 24/7, but those on secondary roads may close at night. It's advisable to refuel while in a city to avoid running out of fuel in remote areas. Although credit cards are widely accepted, carrying some cash is recommended to avoid potential issues. If you have an accident or breakdown do not panic and call for assistance and inform both the rental supplier and Auto Europe.

The old system of paying for tolls in cash at motorway booths has been replaced with that of vignettes like in some of the other countries from the region such as Slovenia, Hungary or Austria. A vignette is mandatory not only on motorways but throughout the whole network of national roads. Vignette validity varies from daily ones to those valid for a year. Buy a vignette at petrol stations, border crossings or other labelled shops.

All basic rental rates include the minimum car hire insurance coverage required by law. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Theft Protection (TP) and Limited Liability insurance (with or without excess) make up this coverage. Please be aware that not all circumstances or types of vehicle damage may be covered by this basic insurance. We recommend adding our Full Protection Cover policy at the time of booking for increased protection. More extensive coverage for vehicle damage is provided with this option. The type of vehicle and the length of the rental determine how much Full Protection Cover costs. You can find more details by clicking the ‘i’ info icon during your booking or by reviewing the terms and conditions on your rental voucher.

When you pick-up your car local providers might offer additional insurance. These extra policies are typically not needed if you have already acquired our Full Protection Cover. Examples of insurance offered locally include: Roadside Assistance, Personal Effects Insurance (PEI), Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Travel Insurance, Breakdown Cover and more. These add-ons are entirely optional. Auto Europe neither endorses nor benefits financially from them. Please note that we cannot refund any insurance purchased locally, even if it is later considered unnecessary. For more details, please refer to our Vehicle Hire Coverage section.

Yes, if you have a valid photocard driving licence you can drive in Romania. Paper licences are not accepted. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required by Romanian authorities, however, some car rental companies may have their own policies, so it's best to check with your chosen supplier in advance. When hiring a vehicle, you'll need to provide a valid DVLA check code or a printed certificate showing any endorsements. These must be printed and submitted at least 21 days before your rental begins. Please see the DVLA changes section for more information.

Yes, it is possible to add an additional driver to your car hire in Romania. In some places, we frequently run promotions that include a Free Additional Driver. Each additional driver you add to your reservation will incur an additional fee if there isn't a promotion available. Valid identification and a driving licence is required for all additional drivers, just like for the primary driver. All additional drivers must be listed at the time of pick-up in order to guarantee complete insurance coverage. Please be aware that the primary renter will be liable for all associated expenses if an unlisted driver causes any damage.