If you need a car for at least three weeks while traveling in Italy or other parts of Europe, the lease buyback program is a great alternative to car rentals.
Buy-back lease cars are available through Auto Europe’s Peugeot Open Europe (which also has regular rental cars) and Renault Eurodrive, as well as several other France-based companies.
What you get
With a buyback car lease, you get a brand new car, the exact model you choose (even with an automatic transmission if you want) with excellent insurance and no additional costs, except for the pickup / drop-off charge for Italy (which you can avoid by picking up in France). This is what some choose to do, picking up in Nice, which is a short drive from the Italian border near Ventimiglia, San Remo, and the Italian Riviera.
Tip: Diesel fuel is less expensive than gasoline and diesel cars tend to get better mileage, so I always choose a diesel car. Buyback lease cars generally get excellent mileage, not always the case with a rental car.
When you book, you will see the full price, including any extras you want to add (such as car seats or ski racks). There will be no additional charge when you pick up or drop off the car. You don’t have to worry about insurance coverage, it’s all included with no deductible or processing fee (rental cars generally charge a processing fee for any damage, even if it’s fully covered by insurance). Your family members can drive the car at no additional charge, you will have access to 24-hour assistance in English, and you will not have to return the car with a full tank of gas.
Buy-back lease cars are available to non-European Union citizens traveling to Europe through a unique French program. Because new cars have high taxes, tourists can take advantage of the lease and drive a new car. When the car is returned to the business, it can be sold, usually to a car rental company, as a used car at a lower rate because the new owner does not have to pay the new car tax.
What to know about driving in Italy and Europe
Although it will probably not be necessary when you pick up your car (either a buy-back or rental lease), you must have an International Driving Permit. If you are stopped at some routine traffic checkpoint, stopped for any reason, or are involved in an accident, you will probably be asked to show it. You can be fined for not having it.
Before you collect your car, be sure to read our tips for driving in Italy and if you are picking it up in France, check out these tips for driving in France.
