If you are only going to be traveling in Europe for a few months, it may be a better idea for you to get a short term car lease in Europe than to rent a car for the time that you are there. Car leasing is similar to renting in that you pay a fixed rate for the amount of time that you are allowed to use a car that you don't own. It is generally a more long term agreement, because leases are usually paid on a monthly basis, while renting is often paid for by the day.
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When a dealership leases you a car, it has to "assign" the lease to a financial institution. The financial institution pays the dealer for the whole lease at once, and then works out the payment details with you. The process of assigning the lease can go two different ways. One is for you to allow the dealership to find a source for the lease, and the other is for you to pay an independent lease company to assign the lease. It is usually better to hire an independent lease company; dealers usually pick a source that offers the best deal to them, which is not always the best deal for the lessee.
It is a good idea to get a lease for your stay in Europe, because rental companies often don't let you bring their rentals across international borders. With a lease, you're allowed to go anywhere with the car as long as you pay for the time that the dealership doesn't have it.
