11 Car-Rental Tips for Indians: Easy Driving Across Europe

6. Plan for tolls, vignettes, and fuel systems

Tolls and vignette systems can be confusing because they differ country by country. Some nations use pay-at-booth systems while others rely on electronic tags that the rental company can provide for a daily fee. In places with vignette stickers, you must buy a vignette for highways before using them, and fines for missing vignettes can be steep. Fuel payment systems vary: some pumps accept card payments at the pump, while others require prepayment inside. If you rent a car on a full-to-full policy, return it with a full tank to avoid extra charges; prepaid fuel options are often expensive and less flexible. Track likely toll costs for your planned route using route calculators and apps—this helps you budget and decide whether to take scenic, toll-free routes instead. When you pick up the car, ask the agent how tolls are billed and whether there’s a convenience fee for toll collection through the rental company. Small planning here saves both rupees and roadside surprises later.