DKA

My wife and I just got back from two weeks in France. For the trip we rented a car from Europcar at the Toulouse airport. This was the fourth time we've used Europcar, booked through AutoEurope, since 2001. The first time we picked the car up at the Valance train station, the second at the station in Rennes. We have been completely satisfied with all three rentals.

Just before we left I looked for some Fodor's Forum advice on getting out of Toulouse to drive north. In the process I saw some bad reviews here of the Toulouse operation, which I can't find now. One complained of long lines and slow service. They kind of made me question my trust in Europcar.

It turned out I needn't have worried. We used the Europcar office inside the airport terminal to get things set up. The man we worked with put us completely at ease, took us through the signup process and answered our questions. We went over to the little parking lot office to get the car and things went smoothly there, too. The agent's English was a little less than solid (but, as usual, better than our French) but we'd covered everything already in the terminal office.

Returning the car couldn't have been easier. There was a line of people in the parking lot office, some picking up a car, some dropping one off. But there were three staff people and the wait wasn't long. There was even a rack full of magazines "just in case you have to wait."

Oh, getting out of town was no big deal and the rental car return is nearly the first thing you see coming into the airport. Signage is very clear.

If we ever rent a car in Europe again, it'll be with AutoEurope and Europcar.

gailscout

We recently rented with Europcar for the 1st time. We wanted to be in Cahors by 4 pm from Paris. We learned that the smaller the town you are renting the car from, the smaller the car you can get. So we decided to rent in Limoges and drive down - still could only get a small car but it all worked out. We put the back seat flat and all the suitcases for the 3 of us fit.

Easy to return the car in Marseille - and their customer service on-line is very good as well. We were glad we got the smaller car as we were driving through the Lot and Provence.

ANUJ

Glad to hear, have also generally been satisfied with Europcar across my car rentals in Europe, including France. Ironically, I will be renting in Toulouse next month (at the Matabiau station, though).

kerouac

I have never understood the posts that scream "Avoid Europcar (or Hertz or Avis or Sixt or any of the others) at all cost!" The posts always turn out to be a rant about one or perhaps two employees in ONE agency somewhere (usually the middle of nowhere), but the poster condemns every single agency and perhaps 10,000 employees.

StCirq

Just be aware that Europcar is not always a choice through AutoEurope. It depends where you pick up the car. I've never had any problems with either AutoEurope or Europcar, but when using AutoEurope have occasionally not had the Europcar choice.

kerouac

In fact I am about to reserve a rental through AutoEurope in July and will select Budget/Avis for a week long rental because they are proposing a rate that is only half as much as Europcar, where I reputedly have a permanent discount. I already noticed last year the Europcar seems to do some price gouging in July.

Gordon_R

Have picked up hire cars from Europcar at Toulouse airport maybe 50 - 60 times (business related). Its fine. Never had an major issue, although I've sometimes experienced a longish wait to collect your car which can be an annoyance, and many of the cars have superficial damage recorded on the report (though totally normal IME in southern Europe).

WoinParis

I love cars with light damage.
They look like mine and therefore I feel more confortable.