Planning a road trip: Best tips for renting a car and driving in Europe?

My partner and I are planning a two-week vacation across parts of France and Italy next spring, and we want to rent a car to explore smaller towns off the beaten path. Neither of us has driven in Europe before, so we are feeling a bit overwhelmed by things like manual vs. automatic transmission availability, cross-border drop-off fees, and international driving permits. What are the most important things we should know regarding insurance coverage and navigating European traffic laws to avoid unexpected costs?

First off, don't panic! Driving in France and Italy is amazing for exploring small towns, but definitely book an automatic transmission well in advance because they are much rarer and more expensive. For some great itinerary ideas, check out this guide on romantic getaways in Europe which has lovely route suggestions.

You definitely need an International Driving Permit (IDP) for Italy—rental companies might not always ask for it, but the police definitely will if you get pulled over or pass through a checkpoint.

Beware of ZTLs (Zona a Traffico Limitato) in Italian historic city centers! They are camera-enforced restricted zones, and driving into one will result in a hefty fine mailed to you months later.

When it comes to insurance, do not rely solely on your credit card coverage without reading the fine print, as many US cards exclude coverage in Italy entirely or have strict limitations.

Cross-border drop-off fees can be brutal. If you pick up the car in France and drop it off in Italy, expect a massive one-way fee. It's often cheaper to return the car to the same country or take a train across the border.

Manual cars are the default in Europe. If you can't drive stick, make sure your rental explicitly says 'automatic' and double-check it at the rental counter because mistakes happen.

If you are planning shorter stops or need ideas for other parts of your trip, take a look at these best European cities for a weekend getaway to see if you can add a scenic train ride instead of driving the whole way.

Gas (petrol) is sold by the liter and is significantly more expensive than in the US, plus toll roads (autostradas in Italy and autoroutes in France) add up quickly. Budget extra cash for tolls and fuel!

Always keep your headlights on outside of cities, and watch out for speed cameras—they are everywhere, especially the average-speed tracking systems known as 'Tutor' systems in Italy.