Taking a trip abroad can be a real pleasure that's loaded with excitement that will last a lifetime. Guided tours of foreign countries can be incredible, but sometimes you just want to drive. With this in mind, inexpensive rental car companies that handle international bookings can be lifesavers, but there are things to consider before choosing to go this route.

Renting a car abroad is a whole lot different that doing so in your country of origin. The paperwork can be staggering, for one, and then there's the whole licensing issue. Even still, however, a rental company can really make an international vacation even more special as places that are off the beaten path will suddenly become available.

To help make dollar rent auto international bookings go more smoothly, here are some tips and ideas to consider before diving in:

* Before you decide to use public transportation, guided tours or cheap auto services, check into local laws. Some international destinations will honor a driver's license from some countries, but not others. It is very smart to check this out before getting your heart set on a cheap car in an international setting. If your license doesn't transfer, check into temporary licensing options to secure an international booking.

* Insurance. Coverage on the car will be a must. While insurance generally travels with the policy owner even in a rental situation, this might not be the case in an international setting. Find out what's covered by your private insurance before you book.

* Documentation. Some companies will require more than a driver's license to allow non-citizens to rent a car. Find out if anything in particular is needed. The requests could include such things as driver's license, passport, credit car and even driving record.

Before you decide to get an auto in an international setting, consider the following things:

* If you're going to a country with a language you don't speak, will you be able to read the road signs?

* Should you be going to where you are very unfamiliar, will navigating in a foreign country put undo stress on the vacation? Is it really worth the effort?

* Prices. Is a car for international use the best and most cost-effective way to go? Sometimes passes for local mass transit can provide all the transportation necessary at a fraction of the cost.

* Driving differences. Those who travel abroad might like the idea of driving the countryside, but are you sure you can drive "on the wrong side of the road?" This is an important question to consider before getting a cheap car.

While it sounds very romantic to cruise the countryside in a foreign country, make sure you know what you're getting into before you do. Check out the possibilities for dollar rent auto international leases and weigh al the facts before you book. Sometimes is just better to rely on local transport, but some situations lend themselves to personal driving in a dollar rent auto.