Vacation in Croatia, shopping in Vienna, or a business trip to Prague — one of the most common questions we hear at the rental office is: "Can I travel abroad with the car?" Short answer: in most cases, yes, but it's always worth arranging it in advance.
Each rental company has its own rules for traveling outside Slovakia. Usually, a distinction is made between EU countries, where traveling is normally permitted, and countries outside the EU, where it may be restricted or subject to approval. It is crucial to report the destination country before the trip — for the validity of the insurance.
Traveling abroad is not a problem — the problem is leaving unannounced. If the rental company knows where you are traveling, you can be sure that the insurance is valid across borders.
Before you travel, check what exactly your car insurance covers abroad and what the deductible is in the event of an insured event outside Slovakia. Your vehicle should not be missing a green card — an international insurance document that you will receive along with the vehicle documents when traveling abroad.
What to think about before traveling abroad
In addition to the rental company's approval and insurance, think about practical things: highway vignettes (in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia you can buy them electronically in advance), mandatory equipment according to the country, and fuel — in some countries it is significantly more expensive, so it is worth filling up before the border. For longer trips, also check whether you have a sufficient mileage limit.
- Report your destination country to the rental company before booking — this will avoid misunderstandings.
- Check the validity of your insurance abroad and keep a green card in your vehicle.
- Buy highway vignettes electronically in advance — you'll save time and fines at the border.
- Check the mandatory equipment of the destination country (reflective vests, first aid kit, winter tires in season).
- Save the phone number of the rental company and assistance service — if you have a problem abroad, call them first.
At TopCar Slovakia, trips to EU countries with our vehicles are common practice — just tell us where you are going when booking, and we will prepare all the necessary documents for you, including a green card. If you are planning a trip outside the EU, please contact us and we will agree on the conditions individually.
