If you’re thinking of renting a car for a vacation in Europe, getting a short-term lease instead of a rental may actually be cheaper.

If you’re renting for more than two weeks, consider a company that offers rentals that are actually short-term leases.

Europe by Car and Drivetravel offer this type of service that can undercut many longer-term rental rates, thanks to their lower tax rates.

For Europe by Car, a 30-day plan starts around $1000. But that includes 24-hour English-speaking roadside assistance, guaranteed new car, unlimited mileage, some insurance, and no additional charges or taxes.

You’ll get similar services with Drivetravel, but not from many regular rental companies.

As always, be careful about the fine print — probably thanks to the terms of their Peugeot deal, Drivetravel requires that you visit France to qualify for their short-term leases.

Want to rent a green car? See Hybrid Rentals.