Why Rick Steves Recommends Leasing A Car In Europe To Save Money

In an effort to help visitors of Europe have a great, and affordable, time abroad, Rick Steves has made it his mission to pass on his wisdom and advice to fellow travelers. Steves is always on the lookout for ways to save you money, from ensuring you avoid certain ATMs to giving a heads up about hotel scams, Steves ultimately wants visitors to be safe and save money along the way. Leasing a car can be one of the ways to do just that, since Steves notes on his blog, Rick Steves' Europe, that lease prices include all taxes, so you know what you are paying when you sign your agreement.

Steves' advice to travelers seeking to get around Europe via car is that they should plan to lease a car for at least three weeks. Or, for longer stays, Steves notes that leasing periods can go up to five and a half months, with easy access in places like France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, and Italy, though some of these countries charge an added fee, so make sure to read the fine print. While there are some types of travel insurance that Steve warns are a waste of money, leasing a car can bypass numerous car insurance expenses — with many leases containing collision and zero-theft deductible insurance that is accepted in places all over Europe. With that said, companies like Auto Europe and Renault Eurodrive offer 3 week rentals to the tune of about $1,000, with prices dropping the longer you lease the car.

Since you do not have to worry about taxes or insurance on your European rental car, you can begin planning for the actual costs to drive around the continent. One Reddit user posted that they leased a car in Europe for 174 days, at $30 a day, which included 100% zero deductible complete insurance coverage, plus a 4% discount for being a loyal and returning customer. 

Per Mappr, the average gasoline price in the European Union, as of mid-July 2025, was €1.63 per liter — the equivalent of $7.22 per gallon — with price generally cheaper in Eastern European countries. Depending on where you are going and how long you are traveling for, leasing a car can offer financial savings when compared to taking ride-share services like Uber or Lyft, or even local taxi cabs. Plus, it can help you avoid the stress of worrying about making a mistake when tipping your European cabbie at the end of the ride.