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Having just been fleeced by Avis (£130 for very minor damage to a plastic hub cap on a fiat panda which I didn’t cause but failed to notice at pick up...) - it seems this is how these business work - does anyone have any recommendations for any of the car hire companies who aren’t so shoddy?
Only ever use the big ones Hertz/Europcar/Thrifty/Budget always good service, exactly what you pay for and no hassle. I do generally give the car a good look over before I leave.
I use CarDelMar
They are a broker, so you actually rent from one of the big companies. However, you can get a full insurance/no excess package with them much cheaper. Basically, bring it back with keys and not on fire and you won't be charged. There is a filter to apply that when searching on their website.
I paid £100 for a small car for a week in Madeira with £0 excess
I rented a car from avid for a day this week here in Tenerife. Was a polo, decent spec.cost less than renting a bike for a day. They had an iPad in the reception, ordered the car after breakfast and was with us in an hour and a half dropped off at the hotel. Brilliant service.
Thanks. Wonder how much it depends on the place you hire from? Saw another person being similarly fleeced by Europcar (this was Verona). Emails to Avis are going unanswered however, so suggests problem may be wider than depot...
Just get an annual excess insurance policy
Was it in Italy? Seems to be far more common there. We got fleeced in Turin, luckily as they didn't answer any emails the bank took our word and cancelled the charges. Just go for the cheapest and get excess insurance online
see Questor for an insurance policy to cover your excess, then stop worrying.
Europcar (UK) and Hertz (Canada) have been ok recently, Enterprise ripped me off.
They are all pretty poor tbf. I rent cars three or four times a month. The big companies are less bad than the little ones. Avoid like the plague anyone small in popular tourist places as absolutely everyone will be trying it on: Malaga in particular is the worst for this, with unwanted prepaid fuel and excess insurance for the excess insurance sneaked into the deal. Every member of staff will be on commission.
I photograph every car I pick up and if I’ve time, drop off. This is often a pita, especially in the underground dungeons they leave them in.
Buy your own insurance through Holidayextras or similar. Likewise, take your own satnav, child seats (airlines HAVE to carry these FOC in Europe) and iPhone / mini phono leads for music. Avis and Hertz in particular were charging stupid amounts for daily Sirius XM subscriptions the last time i hired in the US.
Always, always overestimate the pickup and dropofff times. Many now operate a 20 Minute pickup window outside of which there’ll happily cancel your deal and insist you rebook direct with them at turn-up-on-the-day rates! If your flight is delayed call them as soon as you know!
Monitor your credit card bill like a hawk and use chargeback if you have to. Charges can often come in months later. visa and MasterCard know very well that most of them are scum and will readily work against them on your behalf. They (your CC company) can also revoke pre-auth if you’re worried.
God I sound jaded.
Agreed, they are all cheats and thieves. We got shafted by Budget at Palma; they added all kinds of stuff including a £65 fee for holiday advice, which I am contesting via some European conciliation service.
Next time I won't be so dozy; I will question every damned thing on the hire contract.
This summer Europcar were investigated by Trading Standards in the UK over their dodgy ripoff practises, and there was/is talk of the fraud squad getting involved too.
I guess it put the wind up them because 2 months later i rented from them in Inverness and they were as good as gold. So if you're in the UK they might be safe to use for the forseeable.... 😀
in my experience its always better to go to the small local companies, and i wouldnt touch the big boys with a bargepole. that method has never let me down yet, always been cheaper and better service with the local firms.
just do the tripadvisor searches, or ask on the TA forum where youre going, its almost certainly been discussed on there and youll get a good feel of who to go with.
Malaga in particular is the worst for this, with unwanted prepaid fuel and excess insurance for the excess insurance sneaked into the deal.
weirdly enough i thought of malaga as soon as this came up as that was one of our best experiences. went on the TA forum, got the names of two or three recommended, went with malagacar.com and couldnt have gone better. cheapest price, no scanning the car for scratches, just drive it in, get it ticked off the list, catch plane.
Thanks folks. This is all very useful for future. Know I’ve been conned and irritated that didn’t check the wheel trims- needed a torch in the dungeon hot_fiat describes and was tired too...
The whole thing felt like a set up- lied to about the amount, everything contracted in Italian (despite being booked in the uk), told I just needed to state I didn’t cause the damage and wouldn’t be charged (was in fact signing to say I accept the damage). No replies to emails. Will dispute it via the credit card company but not holding out much hope.
Currently hiring from europcar out of Geneva airport. I do this occasionally through easyjet. However this time I was told that the deposit needed covering by a credit card, not a debit card. This is a recent change of T&C at europcar car Switzerland due apparently to a load of cars being nicked by Italians. Counter clerk let me off this time but something to bear in mind in the future as I won't get a credit card.
Have used gold car for the past few trips to spain.
Cost is quite high managed to get a car/ van (kango shaped) over christmas for a decent price with unlimited mileage. I also take lots of photos. But both times car has been nearly brand new.
I think you have to factor how people behave to car hire staff and car, saw an elderly couple dump all the rubish out of the car and just pile it on the floor of the car park. Another time a bloke was giving a staff member loads of hassel about damage on the car at pick, not just going back to the desk and informing them and asking for another car but proper ranting and making himself look like a dick.
I haven't had many, but I've always booked through Expedia rather than direct; prices seem lower and they add extras into the package. On the one occasion I had trouble, being charged for fuel when I took it back full, I told Expedia and they sorted it with the hire company. Maybe there's a catch I haven't spotted!
I'm still crossing my fingers that I returned hire car to the right people in Bonifacio on Friday, all seemed very dodgy & zero paperwork received or signed 😯
Just returned my europcar at Geneva airport and asked around at the other hire desks. Apparently all require credit cards for deposit now except Avis. Worth remembering.
Excess insurance doesn't work when your scammed for minor fair wear and tear issues. Lost €250 though goldcar on a tiniest mark on the bonnet of a very tired Yaris in Tenerife.
excess insurance wouldn't pay up.