You must be at least 18 to rent a car in the Netherlands, but most companies request a minimum age of 21 with two years of driving experience. For some cars, the minimum age can increase to 25, with three years of driving experience. Most car rental companies will also charge an extra fee on top of the normal price if you are under the age of 25. Rules vary between car suppliers, so always check with individual companies to find out about their policies.
Required documents
You should contact the company in question to make sure they accept non-Dutch driving licences and identification. While some companies accept foreign driver’s licences, others require a Dutch driver’s licence, credit card and passport/identification. Licences printed in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic etc) must be complemented by an International driving licence. Some companies may require an international driver’s licence as well, so make sure to know the requirements before renting a car. You can get an international drivers licence at the ANWB store located on the Stationsstraat in Maastricht for a fee. Always remember to bring a valid ID card or passport at time of pick up.
Where to rent
There are a number of different suppliers in Maastricht where you can get a rental car. Make sure to do a Google search for in Dutch for local prices and companies. Type in ‘Autoverhuur Maastricht’. There are several international branches but also some local branches such as Adrem Autoverhuur Limburg and Autohopper. Again, make sure you always call and check with the rental company to make sure that they will accept non-Dutch driving licences and passports.
Most companies have a good selection of cars from which you can choose from. Some even rent vans for when you need to move or transport a lot of stuff at once. If you are travelling across the border to another country, make sure that the rental company allows you to do so or you may risk a heavy fine.
Car sharing
Car sharing can be a cheap and easy way of travelling to different cities. If you need, or want to offer a carpool ride to a specific location then check out Facebook pages for this purpose. In addition to unofficial Facebook and WhatsApp groups, BlaBla Car offers carpooling. This is a site that allows people to enter their journeys and offer rides for a small price. Just enter your start and end location and you can find the rides between these locations. It is advised to check the carpool a couple of days before your departure date.
