Pauline, I don't mean to take anything away from you or this site, but after checking rental prices for our trip in Nov, I was shocked by the prices that AutoEurope is charging. We have used them several times before and have always been pleased, but this latest quote caused me to do some shopping, and I was referred to europebycar.com by a friend of a friend...and their quote was $100 cheaper! Altho they do have a website, you must fill out and submit a form, or call the 800 number to get an actual quote, so this does take a bit more work, and I will have to wait until the paperwork arrives to make sure that the coverage is as promised. If anyone has experience with this company, please let me know. In Italy, we were told we will go to the Italybycar counter, and were assured that we will be able to drop the car off at 4:30 AM and still get to the terminal to catch our 6:30 AM flight. Any input greatly appreciated!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 4891 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 29 June 2001
You always get a better rate from AutoEurope once you have filled out the form and they send you the official quote - the one they send as an Adobe Acrobat attachment. Also, if you tell AutoEurope your cheaper quote, I have heard they will match it.
I am all for getting the cheapest price! I will have a look at them now - but last time I looked, they were not as flexible if you need to cut your trip short.
I lived in Italy for a year (1999). I leased a car for six months from Europebycar and was totally satisfied with the lease and their service. They had an office here in Los Angeles that I dealt with, as well as the people over the phone. I was also going to rent another car for another six months, but cancelled the reservations after I had paid a deposit. They promptly refunded my deposit, with no questions asked.
Posts: 73 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 25 April 2002
Auto Europe will match any confirmed rate from another company. Get the rate and a confirmation number, call Auto Europe back, and they will in a few days match it it the rental is in all other ways apples to apples.
Also...BIG consideration here: Auto Europe has a ZERO DEDUCTIBLE for any collision damage on their rentals in Italy, while others can be from $ 500-1500 and more. I learned this the hard way personally, with just a scratch on a rental from Hertz. Ask Europebycar what its deductible is for sure. And please post back here...I'll be interested in knowing what you learn.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
Another caution: be sure to ask Europebycar what all is included, and make sure those are the same inclusions with Auto Europe. VAT, Unlimited mileage, theft/fire/collision damage waiver, any airport surcharge, etc. If there will be a second driver, ask what that daily charge is and if there is a 'cap' on it.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
A year or so ago, I returned an AutoEurope car in Terni that had received a bump causing a considerable ding. I was required to sign a statement vaguely admitting fault but never heard another thing from AutoEurope.
Posts: 465 | Location: hilton head island, SC | Registered: 16 July 2001
Yes, I will post once I receive the confirmation in the mail. Art made the reservation, so I am not 100% sure about the zero deductible, full coverage, etc. Altho I know that AutoEurope says they will match any price, it seems sort of mean, and not rally fair to switch to them if the coverage is the same...after all, they had their chance, didn't they?I will update this further once I have made all the comparisons. Part of the initial problem was that all the offices EXCEPT for the airport are closed on Fri and Sat, Nov 1 & 2 for the holyday/holiday! At first I thought I would avoid the airport surcharge by taking a train to another pickup point, but then found out that the airport was my only option until Monday, so that's when I started to do some comparisons!
Posts: 4891 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 29 June 2001
Steve and I rented a VW station wagon on our past trip through Umbria and Tuscany. It had only 17kms on it and was nice and shiny when we picked it up in. Thank heavens we rented through AutoEurope and their zero deductible policy.
When we returned it 2 weeks later we gave it back with pieces of Montepulciano on it. We made a wrong turn onto a very narrow street and the only way out was to go into reverse. In order to get the right angle we had to go back and forth and back and forth and.....! We side-swiped quite heavily BOTH sides of the car, all 4 doors. To make matters worse when we were finally able to straighten out we got to close to the concrete stanchions that block the front of churches and proceeded to remove the chrome on the right rear wheel well. This was after Steve asked me if we cleared it. I said, "Absolutely"!
When we returned the car in Rome the people at the car place asked us what the other guy looked like! All we had to pay was $25.00 for paper work.
Posts: 312 | Location: Irvington, New York | Registered: 28 July 2001
Why is it very easy to believe you could do this to a car in Italy? I think we have been very close to doing this same thing. Remember Pauline's neurotic driving rule - never drive in through the city walls!! Or if you do, have zero deductible!!
I knocked a rear view mirror off a car once trying to drive it through a very narrow street in Sorrento while a helpful Italian gentleman was assuring me that I have plenty of room. Another time, an Italian friend of mine was driving my rental car through the congested streets of Arezzo on Antique Market weekend. She sideswiped a low wall to avoid a parked car. Then she turned to me and said with a big unconcerned grin, "ooops".
You'll notice that virtually every car in Italy has "dings" on it if it's more than a few months old...can't be avoided. I too have scraped up brand new rentals (or had them scraped by others) and definitely recommend the 0 deductible
Posts: 215 | Location: Spokane | Registered: 10 June 2002
I too have been car rental shopping and it can be quite confusing, especially with the insurance and deductible. I have previously rented from AutoEurope and did not know about Europe by Car. I just received a quote from each for a compact car with air and manual transmission, with zero deductible collision damage waiver, theft protection, VAT tax and road tax. AutoEurope's rate was $394.87 for 1 week and Europe by Car's rate was $384.00. My husband is in a Hertz Gold plan through American Express, so I also received their quote and it was $407.00. However, American Express is offering double reward points for using Hertz for all rentals through October so I will probably use Hertz this time.
Posts: 1456 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
Well it seems as though we may have been mislead, or not fully informed. Art made this reservation, and not knowing that AutoEurope has a zero deductible, didn't ask the Europebycar people...when I called to ask, I was told that our quote was with a $400 deductible, but that we could add the zero deductible at the airport when we pick up the car for about $4 per day. I don't really believe this is an accurate quote, but will wait for the paperwork to see what the specifics are. Not sure I want that $400 cloud hanging over my head, esp when we know we will be driving thru every small town in Umbria!
Posts: 4891 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 29 June 2001
To add further to the confusion...We rented from Europcar, Paid on Amex well in advance. Well, before we left we changed the pickup date and return date twice, very easily done. While in Europe we decided to change the return date, there is a toll free number that puts you through to their office (In Maine?) No problem to change the return date! With full coverage when you return the car you do not have to worry about noting any damage, fortunately aside from a few stone chips we did not have any damage. (On a brand new Opel Zafira diesel, excellent mileage, easy to drive)Quite often when you return the car there is no one about to check it in, you just leave it! Kind of un nerving the first time you do it, but after about 6 rentals we have not had any problems :cool Why are so many people having so much damage? You need practice, drive in NYC for 40 years first.
Daniel and Priscilla in Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 634 | Location: South Florida | Registered: 25 July 2001
AutoEurope is based in Maine. Believe it or not, the AutoEurope sales rep took me out to coffee in Santa Fe recently. She was looking thru her list of agents and thought I was a travel agent! She promised maps - so I met her - but all I got was a rather lame map. Still, she bought me coffee and told me a bit about the company. Apparently only AutoEurope offers no deductible in Italy because they cover the cost themselves. I know that we have a deductible on this trip because we are renting in Switzerland - they do not offer no deductible there.
Barb, what I have found out over the years and have done several times is to negotiate between Europebycar and Auto Europe. I first talk with Auto-Europe and then call Europebycar whose price is always lower. Then I call back Auto-Europe and, everytime, Auto-Europe then has not only matched but beat the price--significantly. Last time they even offered me a better car. So, the suggetion I have is to do some dealing. I have been amazed by how much they are willing to shave. Europebycar offers good lease arrangements but last year AutoEurope was willing to beat that on a regular rental (including the costs that come with rentals that don't come with leases.)
I had quotes from both. The number of variations between the coverage by AutoEurope and Europebycar is sufficient to make one dizzy even if one knows how to read the T&Cs. The AutoEurope coverage is substantially better and it is well worth the few Euros of difference, if there is a difference at all.
Personal experience with AutoEurope. When I looked them up for the first time prior to a trip to Spain I found on the web a couple of negative comments from previous customers. Nothing dramatic but sufficient to raise a ? in my mind. I sent the company an e-mail. There ensued a prompt and lively exchange with AutoEurope senior management (at least by their titles) who took all the pains to assure me that I shouldn't worry about their service and that I should contact them on return if there is any real or perceived problem and I will receive full satisfaction.
NTS, I rented from them. Since the initial contract, I had to make a number of changes (including the drop off on a Saturday in Venice-Thank you, again, Shannon!) and I found them always on top of things. I even got a rebate just because I ventured and asked whether they had any deals since I contracted with them.
Doru
Posts: 5894 | Location: Toronto | Registered: 26 May 2002
One of my biggest concerns other than the price, is the dropping off part. We will be dropping the car at FCO at 4AM, and I am still concerned about that. I know they have a drop box for the keys, but will we be able to get from wherever the drop point is to the airplane, will we be able to carry our luggage? I hope to receive the paperwork from Europebycar today or Monday, so I will compare carefully, call around, and let you know!
Posts: 4891 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 29 June 2001
Things may be different now, but a few years ago I dropped off my wife and all the luggage at the terminal and then returned the car. There was no public transport--at that ugly hour, anyway, so I walked back to the terminal, which wasn't horribly far away, as I remember.
My big concern was dropping the keys through the slot and leaving the car parked on the street. I held my breath for a month, waiting to see if my Mastercard would carry a charge for replacing a nearly-new Fiat after it had been stolen.
Posts: 215 | Location: Spokane | Registered: 10 June 2002
Well, now I have a question...is Europcar the same as Europe by Car? They also have an office in main...actually the place I have called is Kemwel, and agent for Europcar (1 800-678-0678). I actually have a deal I reserved July 15 for a mid-size car for $48. a day on a month's rental. I have been assured if I do not need it the whole month (which it looks like I won't) I can call them and get a refund and still only pay the $48. a day. They seemed to be pretty liberal with the discounts, too. This is with sales tax, unlimited mileage, and zero deductible. The only hitch is now I must pay the full month up front and wait for the refund to keep the good quote from July as it seems prices have gone up. But I got their assurances it is no problem and a common occurence to return it early and get a refund, so it seems like the way to go...e vero?
Anyway, any feedback on Kemwel or Europcar appreciated.
>>One of my biggest concerns other than the price, is the dropping off part. We will be dropping the car at FCO at 4AM, and I am still concerned about that. I know they have a drop box for the keys, but will we be able to get from wherever the drop point is to the airplane, will we be able to carry our luggage? >>
The major car rental companies are all located in the garage building at FCO/Rome airport. It's a lengthy walk, but it is a walk. If you have wheeled luggage, you'll be fine. Otherwise, I'd drop off your spouse with the baggage at the terminal, then go park and meet up.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
Europe by Car and Europcar are different companies.
But first: Auto Europe is what is in Camden, Maine, as far as the head office. It is a broker, not a car rental company itself: Auto Europe owns no vehicles, in other words. It contracts with car rental companies such as AVIS, Europcar, Hertz, to provide rentals to customers like you and me. When you ask for a quote, the Auto Europe agent will give you the least expensive negotiated rate it has for your pick up location; but will probably also have contracts with another company or two in your location as well. In Italy it will give you an all-inclusive rate since so much of the insurance is mandatory there; in other countries where the insurance is not mandatory, it can give you a rate with or without the insurance (and the Value Added Tax) included.
Kemwel is a fine company; it is British-owned.
One final comment on this topic: there is 'price' and there is 'value,' and they are not always the same. I like dealing with a company that I know keeps its vehicles well-maintained, that is easy to reach to make a change in return date or time, and that I know will be fair and RELIABLE. That to me is value.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
If you are booking EuropeCar from England (where I know you are now Betsy) you might do better with AutoEurope (use our clickthru at the top of the page). I was booking a car from England once and the rates from EuropeCar and AutoEurope (which is a broker for EuropeCar) were the same, except there was no deductible from AutoEurope.
Well, I have done more research and have decided to just rent with Auto Europe in the spirit of supporting the Slow Trav site. I can still get a mid-size car, a few models down from the Alfa Romeo 156 I was quoted $48. a day for...but a Fiat Punto mid-size for $49. a day. And now I can just go ahead and book for the days I will need without paying the whole thing up front and going through the request for a refund. So, with all the research, I would still recommend Auto Europe.
Topic Closed
I think we have been very close to doing this same thing. Remember Pauline's neurotic driving rule - never drive in through the city walls!! Or if you do, have zero deductible!!
