Europe car hire.

[Chinnacarey]

I'm looking at renting a car for 4 adults in Europe (we are from Australia) - 2 of us have international licences.
We will be flying into Munich airport on 26/4/2025 and returning the car in Trieste Italy on 1/5/2025.
I think we will need a large SUV as we will have 4 suitcases.
Should I book through a site like Kayak or direct with the rental car company? We have not rented a car in Europe so unsure where to start. We are aware there is a hefty fee to drop off in a different country but doesnt seem a way to avoid that.
Any recommendations, or companies to avoid?

 

[SYD]

You could probably save yourself a shed load by taking trains some of the way and only getting cars when you need them. They’re a PITA when you’re in cities. Silly to pay daily rental plus car park fees!

 

[kookaburra75]

Another vote for the train option. You're going to be travelling through the Alps, and there are many very scenic trains you can take. The Man in Seat 61 website is a good place to look for options. As you only have five days to make the trip, why not do it in style and take it easy. A lot safer too as you don't have to factor in getting over jet lag.

If you are going to drive, depending on where you are going, driving something like an Opel Grandland is a pain. As you can pick up and drop off at the airports in Munich and Trieste that takes out some of the worry. Don't pick a company where you have to find some out of the way location, driving on the wrong side of the road, with three passengers probably offering less than helpful suggestions.

I've rented through Sixt ((NRMA discount), Avis and Hertz over the years without any issues. Again, check where the pick up and drop off points are. Also check out the reviews for those particular locations, as they are franchises and the level of service can vary a lot.

 

[Scarlett]

If it were me:

- where am I spending the most time? Just get a hire car for that place. Or if evenly shared time, maybe get two cars separately and choose a different means to get between the two ‘hubs’, such as a train. I’ve hired a car for a single day when convenient.
- am I going places outside urban areas where I need a hire car? Trains, buses and the like are very useful in most of Europe.
- if I really need a hire car I’ll check a couple of consolidators as I find them to always be cheaper than hiring direct from the major brands.
Auto Europe
Rentalcars
Holiday Autos
Drive Away

I also used these two last Xmas/NY, but not in Europe:
Qeeq
Car Flexi