Author: Sergiu S., Rentio · Updated on 18 October 2026
In short: yes, you can take a car rented from Rentio abroad, but only with Rentio’s written consent and only within the European Union and the European Economic Area. For the border-crossing documents you pay a 50 € fee, and the deposit for travelling abroad is between 200 and 1,000 €. The 400 km/day limit also applies abroad.
From Satu Mare, the Hungarian border is close, and a day in Budapest, a trip to an airport in Hungary or a visit to relatives across the border are natural plans. You can do it with a rental car, as long as you know the rules in advance. Below are all of them, exactly as they appear in the Rentio Terms and Conditions.
Are you allowed to take a rental car abroad?
Yes, but rentals outside Romania’s borders require Rentio’s written consent (T&C, art. 3.13). Without this consent, do not leave the country with the car.
The easiest way is to say when you book that you want to travel abroad: where you are going, for what period and who is driving. You can do this by phone, on +40 746 678 872, or by e-mail, at rentio.office@gmail.com. That way you find out the exact deposit amount in good time and receive the documents needed for the border.
Which countries can you drive to?
Only within the European Union and the European Economic Area (T&C, art. 3.15). Hungary, for example, is in the European Union, so a trip to Budapest is within the rules, with written consent.
Be careful with neighbouring countries outside the EU and EEA. Ukraine, for example, is not part of either, so you cannot enter it with a car rented from Rentio. If your route passes through a country outside the EU/EEA, even just in transit, ask before you leave.
How much does it cost to take a rental car abroad?
On top of the rental rate you pay 50 € for the documents needed to cross borders and leave a deposit for travelling abroad, between 200 and 1,000 €. Rates include VAT.
| What you pay | Amount | Source (T&C) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee for border-crossing documents | 50 € | art. 3.13 |
| Deposit for travelling abroad | minimum 200 €, maximum 1,000 € | art. 3.14 |
| Mileage limit | 400 km/day (in Romania and abroad) | art. 3.13 |
| Kilometres over the limit | 0.20 €/km | art. 3.13 |
| Additional driver | 10 €/person | art. 2.4 |
| Romanian road vignette | included in the rate | art. 6.4 |
The Terms and Conditions also say that the deposit for travelling abroad can be reduced by paying for the SCDW+ option, which on the website is called SMART Insurance (Asigurare SMART). SMART Insurance is a daily fee that reduces the deposit to 0 €. It is not a third-party liability or comprehensive insurance policy, and certain costs remain the customer’s responsibility (see the Terms and Conditions, chapter 5). We confirm the exact amount for your trip when we give our consent.
How are kilometres calculated on a long trip?
You get 400 km included for each rental day (one day = 24 hours), whether you drive them in Romania or in another country. Each extra kilometre costs 0.20 €.
An example: you rent the car for 3 days, so you have 1,200 km included. If you have driven 1,350 km when you return it, you pay 150 extra km × 0.20 € = 30 €. If you have driven 1,100 km, you pay nothing extra.
For a tour through several countries, estimate the kilometres in advance and choose a suitable rental period. From 7 days you also get a reduced rate.
Which road charges do you pay in other countries?
The Romanian road vignette is included in the rate, but road tolls, bridge tolls, parking and fines in other countries are your responsibility (T&C, art. 3.11 and 6.4).
Specifically, the Terms and Conditions make the customer responsible for:
- road and bridge tolls, both in Romania and in other countries (except the Romanian road vignette, which is included in the rate);
- parking throughout the rental period, including parking fees at airports;
- fines for breaking traffic rules;
- fuel: the car is returned with the same level as when you picked it up.
If a fine is not paid and Rentio pays it, you are invoiced for the amount of the fine plus a 50 € administration fee for each fine. Before you leave, check the road charges in every country you pass through and pay them on time.
What happens if you leave the EU/EEA with the car?
If you leave the European Union and the European Economic Area, you breach the agreement. In the event of damage or theft, you are liable for the full value of the car (T&C, art. 3.15).
We are talking about the value of the whole car, not the deposit, so this rule is worth taking seriously. In short: only go where you have written consent and only within the EU/EEA, and if your plans change on the way, call +40 746 678 872 first (24/7 support).
Which car should you choose for a trip abroad?
When you ask for consent, say which car you want. For long trips, luggage space, the number of seats and the gearbox matter. Rates include VAT.
| Car (or similar) | 1–6 days | From 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| Opel Astra | 32 €/day | 28 €/day |
| Volvo V60 automatic | 60 €/day | 55 €/day |
| Opel Vivaro 8+1 | 95 €/day | 80 €/day |
Prices start from 28 €/day for rentals of at least 7 days. See the whole fleet on the available cars page, and for the documents you need at pickup, read what documents you need to rent a car.
See also: automatic car rental in Satu Mare, car rental Baia Mare and how much it costs to rent a car in Satu Mare.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive to Budapest in a car rented in Satu Mare?
Yes, with Rentio’s written consent. Hungary is in the EU; you pay 50 € for the border documents and leave a deposit for travelling abroad, between 200 and 1,000 €.
Does the 400 km/day limit also apply abroad?
Yes. The limit applies to kilometres driven both in Romania and abroad. Above the limit you pay 0.20 €/km.
Is the Hungarian or any other foreign vignette included?
No. Only the Romanian road vignette is included in the rate. You pay the road charges in other countries yourself.
What happens if I enter a country outside the EU/EEA?
You breach the agreement. In the event of damage or theft, you are liable for the full value of the car.
Planning a trip across the border? Call +40 746 678 872 so we can agree on the consent and the deposit, then book online. You will find more answers about the conditions on the frequently asked questions page and on the home page car rental Satu Mare.