Europe is an exciting continent where many countries sit side by side, allowing travellers to experience diverse cultures and customs in just a few days. One of the best way to explore Europe and to get the most out of a trip is to take a road trip, taking in a number of nations in any order you choose and stopping along the way to investigate the attractions that stir your interest.

If you fancy seeing all that Europe has to offer in this way then it is likely you will be looking for a good car rental deal – so with this in mind we have put together a list of the top five car rental companies on the continent.

1 – Europcar

This company is billed as “The world’s Leisure Car Rental Company, and, as such, truly understands the needs of the holidaymaker. Their customer service skills are second to none with a number of pledges in place to make the user’s car hire experience exceptional. These include only offering cars less than six months old, providing 24 hour roadside assistance to their customers and even ensuring that staff wait at the rental desk for delayed flights when they know they have customers arriving. For bookings visit www.europcar.com.

2- Alamo

The international car rental giant had a big operation in Europe offering pick ups points in eastern, central, southern, northern and Scandinavian countries. Services include online and last minutes deals with a wide range of vehicles from compacts to 4x4s available to hire. Works with companies such as thomacook to provide holiday rental packages.

3 – Avis

A big name in the car hire industry, Avis is still one of the top providers for car hire in Europe, with pick up locations at city locations and airports across the continent. Great vehicles, well trained staff and flexible rental agreements make this a popular choice with travellers. More details can be found at www.avis.co.uk.

4 – Budget

Offering great deals on car rentals across Europe Budget is a big player in the car hire market. Aiming for economical offers to clients, the company also provides a range of extras from sat nav hire to iPod chargers and ski racks fitted to rental vehicles helping them stay ahead of the game in meeting the need of the modern driver. To find out more about Budget’s European car hire deals visit www.budget.com.

5 – Hertz

With a name that is synonymous with car hire across the world, it is no surprise that Hertz appears in the top five of car hire companies offering services for travellers in Europe. A trusted brand that offers a choice of vehicles including eco, electric and fuel efficient models or the top spec adrenaline range with its sleek and stylish Lotus Evora. Find about more about Hertz Europe car rentals at www.hertz.com.

With so many great car hire providers on offer, Europe travellers are sure to find a deal that suits their own personal style.