okoshi2002

Hello- has anybody experience renting from this company ? Their web site is very easy to use, and rates seem fair for one week in Tuscany . I tried AutoEurope- they never responded to my question.

Budman

We just came back from Italy and rented from autoeurope. Give 'em a call. They claim to beat anyone price. 1-800-223-5555.

Ask for a diesel car. Diesel is about $1.00 a gallon cheaper than regular gas (after you do all the conversions) plus the cars get better mileage.

ira

Hi OK,

I think that Autoeurope often works through EuropCar.

Was it AutoEurope US or UK that you queried?

What was the question?

Underhill

We've used Europcar directly and through AutoEurope--worked just fine both times.

AnselmAdorne

We've had two rentals with Europcar, both made through the AutoEurope website. There were no problems whatsoever and, when I returned and didn't understand something on the final bill, I called AutoEurope and very quickly received a clear explanation for the charge.

Anselm

mari5

AutoEurope is a car rental brokerage company....they use several suppliers and get you the best deal in a particular country....Sometimes it is EuropCar, or Hertz, or Avis, etc....Their phone representatives in Portland, Maine seem to be quite knowledgeable and friendly....AND they have 24 hr.customer service. This number can be called free from Europe IF there is any misunderstanding when arriving...such as trying to charge a much higher fee than your reservation states.
One use to pay a percentage in United STates and then the remainder when arriving in Europe...seemed a little confusing sometimes. Now they will let you PREPAY completely first and have the paid voucher in hand when arriving in Europe. We prefer it that way!(at least they will do this on SOME rentals).
You can always call the companies individually on your own and compare prices....
On a couple of occasions AutoEurope at the pickup site tried to scare us into extra insurance, and what would happen with theft, accident etc.....but just say "NO, THANKS" and they will accept that. All in all it is a good "brokerage company".

okoshi2002

Hello Ira-

My question to AutoEurope was what the one way fee would be.

Also through Europcar I can get an exact quote including one way fee and pick up available on Sat in La Spezia, whereas AutoEurope will not allow Sat pick up in La Spezia, at least not on the web site. I have not called that '800' number.

cigalechanta

We have been using Europcar for years.
Would not change. Like bud, we use the diesel in our rented Clio.

Judyrem

Ho Okosh we used Europecar through AutoEurope twice...in Italy and UK, and we had no problems. We only payed 219GBP for 14 day rental...nobody could touch that!!! In the UK, our Kia Optimo(darling little car IMO) was brand new and had a CD player and AIR Condtioning!!!! Roomy front seats..tiny back seats but enough for DH and me.

ira

Hi OK,

There are no additional charges for one way.

As to LaSpezia on Sat - you'll have to call.

ira

PS,

That should be as long as you pick up and drop off in Italy.

tomboy

Just back from France. Had a satisfactory rental from EuropeCar. When I got my original confirmation, I e-mailed back to request a diesel. They responded they couldn't promise one. When I picked up the car, it was diesel. Fuel worked out to be $4.75/U.S. gallon. Would have been 15% more for regular gas, and 30% less mileage per gallon with gas car. I'm happy.

mr_compass

Europcar was the company that we had on our first Germany trip. We rented through AutoEurope. (AE is the rental agency, they then use a car rental co to supply the car)Europcar gave us exactly what we wanted, 4 door with a sunroof. The later two trips, Avis supplied the car and our requests were not fully realized. Of course it could have been dumb luck, I would certainly use EuropCar again.

Traveler863

Okoshi,
Autoeurope is very good, I've used them on numerous occasions...and are good with returning email, not sure why they haven't responded. Recommend you call, perhaps it didn't go through.
Also check with Hertz, beleive it or not last time I was in Italy I got the best rate through them.
Be very careful when comparing car rental rates, some may be quoting basic rental rate while others may be including tax and mandatory insurance.

walkinaround

europcar - only problem that i had was that they charged me for returning the car to a different location (when this was not the case) from where it was rented. i discovered this when i got my statement upon returning home. i called to complain and they refunded the charge with no hassle (except that i had to pay the difference in the credit card's foreign exchange buy/sell rate so their error cost me about £10 i think...oh well). i would not hesitate to use them again, however.

sybilny

We rented through Europ Car and got nice cars but were billed one year later from Auto Europe, who'd turned over a bogus amount to a collection agency. It took me many, many e-mails to finally have Auto Europe admit the bill was a mistake, but there's a column in this month's "Conde Nast Traveler" saying others got bills from them after returning the car so be careful. Make sure everything is spelled out and you bring your paperwork with you. I'd been alerted to do that and was lucky about that since when I went to pick up the car, Auro Europe in Rome insisted they wouldn't rent to a minor, but my paperwork showed that had been stipulated in advance so they relented.

Underhill

Europecar is one of the various rental agencies used by autoeurope. We've rented from them quite a few times and been very happy.

Michael

Autoeurope might not be able to give you a Saturday delivery because they may be using a rental agency other than Europecar in La Spezia and that agency might not have Saturday hours. This is what I discovered when I specified various pick-up locations in Porto and return locations in Lisbon; some were open and some were not, and they represented different rental agencies.

ira

RE the OP's problem with La Spezia:

From the AE web site
> La Spezia City Office
Viale San Bartolomeo 515
Hours:
* OPEN Mondays-Saturdays 09:00 am-12:30<

From the Europcar website:
>Address :
LA SPEZIA
VIALE SAN BARTOLOMEO 515
19126 LA SPEZIA
ITALY

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

mrpotatohead

The only observation I would make is that Autoeurope are very popular with British people as well and because they tend to use only Europcar it can mean that there is sometimes a wait to get your car. Flew to Perpignan last year and the line for the Europcar desk was enormous. It took us over an a hour and a half to reach the front and all that while there was no-one waiting to be served at the Hertz, Avis, etc desks. At the end of this week we are flying to Nice with some friends and they have booked through Autoeurope and been told to collect the car from Europcar. We have booked with Avis direct - so we shall see who gets their car first!