If you thought gas was high here, just wait until you get to France

By SUSAN REIGLER

The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal

ALASTAIR MILLER / BLOOMBERG NEWS, 2005

A Smart Car tools past the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

With a trip to the gas pump costing close to $3 per gallon, many American drivers' wallets are thinning.

But to put things in perspective, there are millions of car owners in other countries who would be thrilled to pay $3 per gallon.

And American travelers planning on renting cars in Europe need to be prepared for gas prices that are roughly twice what they are here, mostly because of higher taxes which fund public transportation infrastructure and road maintenance.

Renting, driving in Europe

Get a special permit.

AAA usually recommends getting an international driving permit, even if the countries you're visiting don't require it; the permit can reduce hassles when picking up your rental car or if you are stopped for driving infractions. If you have a valid American driver's license, you can get the permit from the automobile association for $10. You'll also need two passport-sized photos. The permit is valid in more than 150 countries. Information: 800-562-2582 or www.aaawa.com Plan ahead. Check out the Web site of the automobile association of the country you will be visiting. There's often route-planning information, as well as rules of the road and other useful material. A Google search can turn up the right address. For example, Australia's auto club is also known as AAA, but its Web address is www.aaa.asn.au Watch for "hidden" charges. The Auto Europe rental agency, www.autoeurope.com, has details on some extra charges. In France, for example, you must be 21 to rent a car and many rental agencies have a surcharge for drivers under 25. Also, many of France's major national highways charge tolls.

According to Great Britain's Automobile Association (www.theaa.com) which issues monthly gas-price reports, the average price in May was about 97 pence per liter of unleaded gas, approximately $6.55 per gallon. And that was only the sixth-highest price for gasoline in Europe, according to the British organization. (Belgium and the Netherlands usually rank as most expensive.)

In other words, if you happen to be renting a car in Europe this year, you might find yourself daydreaming about current American gas prices.

Bob Spiegelhalter, a retired music teacher, and his wife from Kentucky, will be driving during their vacation in France this summer. He's prepared for the sticker shock.

"I knew that gas prices would be double," says Spiegelhalter, who drove in England and Ireland during his last trip abroad.

He drives a Toyota Prius here but says he doesn't think his travel budget will be too strained by not having a hybrid vehicle in France.

"I am sure that I'll be complaining (about the prices). However ... since we are only driving around the Provence region of France, I am thinking I won't be putting tons of miles on the car."

He also says "hidden" costs in car rentals can be more draining on your travel budget than gas prices. Be sure to check out the rental agency's fine print on insurance and surcharges.

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