WHY IT RATES: Anything that gives insights into the peculiarities into travel is a benefit to the industry. – Rich Thomaselli, TravelPulse Senior Editor

Results of a new survey conducted by Auto Europe, one of the car rental industry’s first aggregators, reveal that over 40 percent of North Americans planning to visit Europe in the next 12 months do so as part of an annual trip.

These results were gathered to learn more about the travel preferences of North Americans. The survey revealed that these travelers will most likely be accompanied by a family member in a group of two or three.

The survey also provided insights into how European travelers select their destination. As illustrated in the graph, in over 50% of instances, travel destinations were selected because the traveler had “been there before.”

READ MORE: The Best Road Trips Through Spain

Of those planning to rent a car while abroad, 57 percent stated that they typically book their car rental reservation two-plus months in advance and do so because they want the best price and “want to feel relaxed leading up to their trip.”

“We were not surprised to hear that so many of our customers are frequent travelers to Europe,” said Imad Khalidi, Auto Europe’s President & CEO. “Our expertise in the European market helps ensure our clients have a smooth rental experience, and we go to great lengths to ensure that we have the types of vehicles they are looking for even in peak travel months.”

Read the full summary of survey results here.

To find the best rate on a car rental for your next trip abroad or to learn more about renting a car in Europe visit www.autoeurope.com.

SOURCE: Auto Europe press release