You're not the only one who wants to rent a car during the vacation. Most of us find it liberating to have a set of wheels at our disposal because it gives us the freedom of deciding the what and when. You want to be able to check into your hotel one minute, and the next to drop the luggage at the door and drive towards a tiny coastal village everyone speaks about to have lunch.
Rental cars bring a touch of magic to a holiday because you can easily turn the vacation into a collection of spontaneous trips, chase sunsets and stop at a roadside market because you find the little trinkets sold by the locals charming.
But there is a side of the freedom the car brings that you should also consider: every one of those stops needs somewhere to leave the car. The hotel, the village and the old town all have their own parking rules, prices and hours. Here are the questions to answer before you book, starting with the one most people forget.
Key Takeaways
- Plan parking before you book the car and the hotel. A central hotel does not mean free or convenient parking in front of it.
- Historic centres often have camera-enforced limited-traffic zones. The fine reaches the rental company, then you.
- A bigger car carries more luggage but is harder to park in old streets and height-limited car parks.
- Add parking to the real cost: overnight bays, day-trip car parks and admin fees on tickets.
Where on Earth are you going to park it?
So many people face this issue after renting the car. And most of them end up paying for parking more than for renting the car because they don't plan accordingly. You probably know your itinerary, or most part of it, so planning for parking should be easy. Your hotel might advertise itself as being central, but that doesn't mean you'll find free or convenient parking space in front of it. Before renting the car and booking accommodation, check a website like Parksy to identify parking solutions nearby. Also, make sure you check the local driving restrictions because some historic cities could have pedestrian areas where you're not allowed to enter via car, or limited-traffic areas.
Ask the hotel before you pay: is there parking on site, is a space guaranteed, and what does it cost per night? City-centre hotels often charge for parking separately, and travellers regularly say hotel parking fees were the surprise on the final bill. If the answer is "nearby public car park", check its hours and whether you can leave the car overnight.
Here's something worth keeping in mind: never underestimate the value of parking close to your hotel when you have several suitcases and are tired from the flight. A cheaper car park fifteen minutes' walk away stops being cheap at 11pm in the rain.
Old towns, limited-traffic zones and the fine that arrives months later
Many European historic centres run limited-traffic zones, such as Italy's ZTL, where only permit holders, residents and some registered hotel guests may enter at set hours. Cameras at each entry point enforce them, so you can drive through without noticing and learn about it months later when the rental company charges your card.
That charge usually has two parts: the fine, and an administration fee from the rental company for naming you as the driver. Pass two cameras and you may pay twice. If your hotel sits inside a zone, ask whether it registers guests' number plates, or park outside the zone and walk in. See our guide to reading parking signs overseas in a rental car.
The coastal village everyone talks about rarely has a car park to match. Work out where the car goes before you drive in. Photo: Pexels / Erik McleanDoes all your luggage fit in the car, and does the car fit the car park?
Cars always tend to look bigger in pictures than in reality. Also, some boots will look bigger when empty, but then you try to fit your four suitcases, and panic hits because there's no way they can all fit there. Before choosing the rental car model, think beyond the number of seats you need, and be realistic about the luggage. Don't limit to only the luggage you bring from home because holidays have a surprising way of sneaking new items into the suitcase. We left our last vacation with 5 bottles of wine from a vineyard we didn't even plan to visit.
Then check the other side of the trade-off. A large SUV that swallows the suitcases is hard work in narrow streets and tight bays, and multi-storey height barriers will not clear roof boxes or taller vans. Compare the car's height with the limit at your hotel's car park. The smallest car that genuinely fits your luggage is usually the easiest one to park all week.
Can you fit in the dog, picnic, and everything else?
Pet parent, we hear you; you want to make sure your furry child will travel comfortably during the holiday. But before renting the car, make sure you check the rental company's policy to figure out if they permit pets in the car. Rules vary from one provider to another, with special requirements around carriers, cleaning, and potential charges. We would even advise emailing the rental company a photo of your pet so they can offer a clear answer.
Parking matters here too. A parked car heats up quickly in holiday sunshine, so plan stops where the dog can come with you or where there is shade, and read our guide to keeping a pet safe in a parked car on holiday before you go.
The same thinking applies to everything else you plan to transport. You're a fishing enthusiast and want to transport the catch with the rental car; make sure the salmon is allowed. Golf clubs, bikes or surfboards: plan the car rental around the holiday you're actually taking.
How much will you really spend on a rental car?
So many rental companies, and all of them have rather persuasive daily rates. And then comes the catch: several other costs introduce themselves, and you are left with no money for that romantic dinner. Research how much fuel the model you're renting uses and estimate the cost from your itinerary. Then check for toll roads, additional driver fees, insurance-related costs, and other extra charges the rental agreement includes.
Parking is usually the biggest cost left off that list. Add the hotel's nightly charge, a car park at each day trip, and the airport car park if you collect the car there. Parking apps want the number plate exactly as it appears, so photograph it when you collect the keys; a typo is an easy way to get a ticket you already paid for.
And if a ticket does arrive, it goes to the rental company first. In England and Wales, for example, Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 lets a hire company hand a private parking operator a copy of the hire agreement, after which the operator can pursue the hirer directly. Many agreements add an admin fee for doing that.
Ask the rental company to send you the agreement policy in advance so you can read it at home and figure out if it's advantageous for you, including what it says about parking and traffic fines.
The view is the reason you hired the car. Photo: UnsplashA five-minute parking check before you collect the keys
- Overnight: where the car sleeps, the price, and whether a space is guaranteed.
- Zones: any pedestrian area or limited-traffic zone around the hotel, and where to park outside it.
- Size: the car's height and length against the car parks you plan to use.
- Day trips: a car park for each village and beach on the itinerary.
- Payment: the number plate saved and the local parking app downloaded.
A rental car should make your holiday feel relaxing
We would ask one final question: will the rental car make your holiday better or ruin it? You want to pay for a service that makes everything better, and much of that comes down to where the car sits when you are not driving it. Before you book, search for private driveways, garages and secure spaces near your hotel, the beach or the old town, so the parking is settled before you land.
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