Renting a car is similar to renting one in North America, however do not underestimate the traffic and parking issues you will face. Our recommendation is to only consider renting a car if you are traveling outside of the urban areas. Public transit is easy to use and readily available. 

If you decide to rent a car make sure you get one with an automatic transmission if you are unable to drive a car with a clutch. Manual shift rentals are common in Europe. Also, it is common for European rental cars to not have a spare tire or jack. Some cars will have a tire repair kit consisting of puncture sealant and a device to inflate the tire. Make sure you have the phone number and the ability to call for roadside assistance if you need it. 

Do not underestimate the weather.  Depending on where you are and the time of the year, heavy rain or snow is common. Sudden changes may catch you offguard.

f renting a car be sure to obtain additional insurance as your North American insurance most likely does not cover you including any insurance normally provided by your credit card. You will need an international driving permit.  Also, carry your passport for identification. Alert the rental car company for each country you expect to drive the car (note there probably is a fee for crossing each country border). Expect a high drop-off fee if you plan on a one-way rental. 

Do not underestimate the risks involved in driving in an unfamiliar country with signs in a language other than english as well as country specific symbols used to warn of approaching dangers. For a sampling of the complexity see the links below.  Keep in mind that you will encounter these signs while traveling at speed and need to be able to react to them correctly and timely for your safety and the safety of others. 

Traffic circles, sometimes referred to as round-abouts, are common in Europe. Make sure you are able to navigate them successfully. 

Many traffic signs rely on the color red indicating a specific action vs. black. If you have red/green blindness this may be an issue.

Do we need to mention that the UK drives on the opposite side of the road?

LINKS:

https://medium.com/@ronradu/the-maddening-vagueness-of-european-road-signs-70bc8b3197e1

https://adventureswithsarah.net/driving-in-europe-signs-symbols-and-parking/

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-in-europe/guide-to-french-road-signs-useful-phrases-for-your-road-trip/