A Scottish Road Trip: Why Renting a Car Abroad is Worth It!

Hey there, wayfarers!


This post started as an excuse to show off some of my favorite photos of the Scottish Highlands. I like things to be useful as well as beautiful, however, so I figured this was a fantastic opportunity to share my experience with renting a car in Scotland.

Let me tell you, I am so glad that I went through the trouble to do that. Renting a car can present some unique difficulties, but in the case of last summer's Europe trip, it revolutionized our week in Scotland!

[If you are only here for the photographs, I have no ill feelings if you skip the article and just scroll through for what you came for. I hope you enjoy them!]


However, if you are searching the internet for enlightenment on the subject of foreign car rental procedures, let me tell you:

GETTING A RENTAL CAR WHEN YOU ARE UNDER 25 (or even under 23) YEARS OF AGE IS HARD.

OH MY GOODNESS.

I'm not sure how many hours I spent scouring the web for reviews, insurance laws, and suggestions from other travelers to help me make the best possible choice. I don't think I want to tally them up, really. It felt like a quest for the Loch Ness Monster: something you yearn to find, but get easily discouraged about because of all the internet nay-sayers.

However, in many cases, renting a car is utterly worth the time and effort (and yes, even the frustration) it takes to make it happen. Because when you have your own transportation, you have the freedom to pursue views like this:

Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

But why is it so difficult to rent a car as a young person?

Many companies have policies against renting out cars to people who are under 25 years old. It has to do with insurance costs and the strange idea that all young people are irresponsible, terrible drivers. To be charitable, I'm sure there is probably another factor in there somewhere, and perhaps a reason for the proliferation of this idea among so many car rental companies. However, I know there are plenty of people over the age of 25 who are terrible drivers. I see them on the road every day.

Some companies will condescend to rent out a car to you, but will tack on some pretty high fees and extra restrictions to make up for it. And judging from online reviews from disgruntled customers, it's not uncommon for them to accept the car back (with or without inspecting it first), then keep the deposit or even charge the renter more money for "damages" they claim a week or more after the car has been returned. But it sounds like this happens to lots of people, not just younger drivers.

So, what's a poor, "underage" would-be car renter to do?


#1. Decide if you really need to rent a car.

Consider why you want to rent a vehicle: is there reliable/regular public transportation that you can take to your destinations instead? Is there a day-tour that goes there? Sometimes, those can get you the experience you crave without the hassle. There are plenty of day-trips out of Edinburgh, for example, complete with fun tour guides. I haven't taken one, myself, but I plan to next time I'm there. I hear that the guides can be very entertaining.

More lovely Fairy Pools, this time from a creative angle and different lighting!

Getting a rental car was a desperate wish for me when my friends and I were planning a trip to Scotland. I wanted a specific experience-- a highland road trip-- and I wanted the four of us to have complete control of it. We were going to go where we wanted to go, when we wanted to go there.
Buses and trains are great, but you can't tell them to stop when you see a view or a café that you need to stop at... nor can you leave your backpacks in them while you hike and explore castles at your leisure.

Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe

Also, the idea of driving through the lush, misty highlands, blasting moody Celtic music and bagpipes while Emily navigated and Jane and Karisa passed us chips from the back of the car just sounded like an ideal girl's weekend. Like I said: I had a very specific vision.

What I mean to say is, if the destination of your dreams is only accessible by private vehicle, then you should move ahead with your plans once you consider the next item:


#2. Are you at peace with driving on strange roads in (potentially) strange ways? 

Glencoe, Scotland

Depending on your destination, it's likely that you'll encounter some things that are different from your typical driving experience in your home country. The possibilities are endless. Consider what you are comfortable with: will you need to drive on the "wrong" side of the road? Will you be dealing with single-lane roads? How comfortable are you with the "driving culture" of the country you're visiting?

I suggest doing some research: see what other people have to say about how the natives drive in the place you are visiting. Use Google Earth's Street View to check out the roads you would be taking to see what traffic looks like.

If you decide you are ready to take on the challenge, it's time to start the research:

• keep it legal by reading up on the driving laws
• familiarize yourself with the street markings and signage so you know how to read them
• start looking for a company who will rent to you!

At this point, I'd like to give a little shoutout to the folks at Gogeta Car Rental, at the Eastern BMW in Newbridge. This car dealership is easy to get to by bus from Edinburgh City Center, and I highly recommend it. (And no, I'm not being paid to say that.)

After looking into at least 7 companies-- reading insanely fine print and customer reviews, and being disappointed every time-- these folks really came through. My worst fear was that I'd request an automatic transmission only to be given a manual once we got to Edinburgh... which terrified me, because although my mother's lovely friend tried to give me some lessons, I couldn't get the hang of it. My dream-trip would be crushed upon arrival.

However: Graeme and Stephen exchanged a plethora of emails with me, answering all my questions and putting me at ease. I was actually a little scam-wary at first, because the prices seemed too good to be true compared to what I'd been looking at!

For just under 19£ per day, plus a Young Driver fee of 33£ and VAT of 20%, we got a great deal: for five days rental of an Aygo automatic, it cost us 130£. (Which was great: we were splitting the cost four ways!) When we returned, they returned my deposit promptly, and were very friendly and professional throughout. It all went very smoothly, and I ended up loving that tiny car-- there was just enough room for the four of us and our big backpacks!

Jane affectionately named it "The Postage Stamp."

I loved this thing and the freedom it gave us!

Was it scary driving on the left side of the road? Yes, a bit. But I got the hang of it very quickly. I think it helped that I visualized myself driving on the left side of the road every time we rode a bus once we got to the UK. I mentally prepared for the experience, and it worked well!

I think I only bumped the curb two times, total, (girls, correct me if I'm wrong!) during the whole 5-day trip-- and those are some narrow roads!

Accomplishing this road trip was definitely a confidence-booster, let me tell you... not to mention that it was absolutely gorgeous and relaxing. It was just what we needed after a whirlwind through Oslo, Paris, Berlin and the Black Forest, London, and Edinburgh.

Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

Goodness, writing this has gotten me into the mood for another one!


Bonus Car-Rental Pro-Tips:

• When you go to the car with the agent, inspect it in their presence. Ask about any scratches or dents so they know they were there to start with. If you are with friends, so much the better: you have additional witnesses. ;) It won't hurt to take photos of the car before you drive away, either. 
• Make sure you know whether you are supposed to bring the car back with a tank full of gas or not, so you don't get stuck paying any extra fees.
• When returning the vehicle, inspect it before taking the keys back. If you do happen to notice any dings or scratches that weren't there before, take a picture with a coin for scale and then be sure to tell them about it-- show them, and take care of any additional fees/penalties right away so you don't get any surprises. (At the very least, it's always easier to argue in person than a week later after you've left the country.)

Whether you decide to road-trip it through your next destination or not, I wish you all the best! May you never need the travel insurance you purchased. ;)

Have you rented a car abroad? Do you have an experience to share, or advice and pro-tips for others? If so, please leave it in the comments! :)