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When our Alfa Romeo sedan scraped against a medieval wall in Montepulciano , my heart sank. Then I remembered that I had added collision insurance to our Italian car rental -- and relaxed as we navigated the narrow Tuscan streets.

Renting vehicles overseas has a few more pitfalls for Americans than picking up a car in the U.S. Besides insurance coverage, you'll contend with higher fuel costs, language barriers, and different driving habits. Ever watched the traffic circle around the Champs-Élysées in Paris? (yeah, it scared me, too).

In addition, many regions have such extensive train and bus networks that having your own car is an unnecessary expense. In Europe or Asia, you can even find airfare that's cheaper than a car rental, particularly if you're heading between major cities.

But sometimes you'll want to explore quaint and historic areas that are inaccessible by public transportation. Renting a car in Europe, Mexico, or elsewhere can be done without incident, as long as you protect yourself. Here are a few things to consider:

Local or global?

Your first decision can be the toughest. You can find better deals from local rental car providers, especially if you need a car for an extended period of time. A local agency can also help you with itinerary planning and other tips. On the downside, you may face inconvenient hours, varying customer service standards, and employees who might not speak English.

Get it in English.

Consider hiring a driver if the roads are too hazardous.

That's what my sister and I did on Italy's Amalfi Coast one year, after realizing that neither of us had the nerve to navigate the area's steep cliffs. The euros we spent on the car service were a bargain, considering the peace of mind we enjoyed -- while avoiding the stressful speed demons around us.

VOA Standard English - Americans Try Renting Their Car to Strangers

Americans love their cars. There are more cars, per capita, in the United States than in any other country - more than eight cars for every 10 Americans, according to recent government figures.

But most of the time, those vehicles sit idle, parked in a driveway or on the street. Now, several startup companies on the U.S. West Coast are helping people rent their personal car to someone else when they don't need it.

Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing

Eric Loebel is one of those people. For a small price, he wants to let his Oregon neighbors "borrow" his car. It's a dark blue, model year 2000 Volvo sedan.

The sales and marketing consultant says he doesn't use it much.

"My wife and I are huge bike commuters and almost don't need a car, but haven't quite been able to eliminate that element," he says. "So we have a car that basically sits in front of the house maybe 85 to 90 percent of the time."

Loebel is one of the first car owners in Portland to list his wheels for rent through a so-called "peer-to-peer car sharing" service called Getaround.com .

"Cars are so expensive to own," he says. "This can definitely offset some of the cost."

The website lets car owners decide for themselves how much to charge borrowers to rent by the hour, day or week.

Collision protection

Loebel is charging $9 per hour or $199 per week. So is he worried someone will wreck his car?

"Ummm... no. My relationship to my car is one of non-attachment."

And besides, he says the car sharing marketplace automatically includes liability and collision insurance that is separate from his own. That's an important feature. Most U.S. insurance companies hold the owner of a vehicle responsible for accidents, no matter who is driving, and can raise the insurance premium.

So the Oregon Legislature is considering new regulations to smooth the road for person-to-person car rentals, following an example set by the California legislature last year.

"Commercial uses of vehicles are prohibited under typical insurance policies," says State Rep. Ben Cannon , a Democrat from Portland. "So we needed to create new law to provide for the possibility that someone could put their car into a car sharing program without violating their motor vehicle insurance policy."

Cannon's legislative fix encountered no organized opposition on its way to passage. He enthusiastically endorses personal car sharing as a free market solution to help neighborhoods make do with fewer cars.

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