Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Italy car rental experiences

Search

Italy car rental experiences

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 09:21 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Italy car rental experiences

What car rental company have you had good and/or bad experience in renting in Italy? Thanks in advance for any information.
kywood1955 is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 10:08 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've rented through both Europcar and Auto Europe and have had no problems at all. The cars were as represented and I had no mechanical problems.
buongiorno is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 10:15 AM
  #3  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi ky,

www.autoeurope.com
http://www.novarentacar.com/
https://www.kemwel.com/bookingengine/car.cfm

have been often recommended here.

ira is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 01:38 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This summer I used: rentalcargroup.com and found them to offer the best price. The rental was smooth and uneventful.

They appear to be a booking agent. You actually rent from one of the agencies whose name you'll recognize, but the price is better.

If I rent a car in Italy this June I'll probably go with them. My preliminary look seems to show them to be the best price again.
altajoe is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 02:26 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Italy rentals are all about insurance. Just be careful you compare wisely.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 03:12 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I booked with AutoEurope and did my homework on the web, finding a lower price elsewhere, which AutoEurope beat, as promised. However, their "free" cell phone rental is no bargain. Cheaper to go with mobal.com instead, and in the end you own the phone.
artsfan is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 04:11 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Artsfan:
Pray tell, what is the name of the car rental agency whose price was lower than AutoEurope? I, and probably everyone else on this board would love to know!
Carol L
carolll is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 04:48 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes. Basically artsfan, you've just said to us "I know how to get a lower rate from AutoEurope, but I'm not telling you how to do it." Please tell.
Patrick is offline  
Old Jan 27th, 2005, 07:11 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When we rented in Germany in October, we rented through gemut.com. The rental was through AutoEurope, but less expensive. Gemut rents in Italy also, so phone Andrew for a quote. Also check with your airline, which may have an agreement with a rental agency at an attractive rate.
Betsy is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 06:15 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, Betsy. I believe we did rent through Gemut two summers ago, but I had forgotten about that. Will check it out again...
Carol L
carolll is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 07:57 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everybody. Very helpful information! Now I'll charge into my research of car rental companies you've recommended.
kywood1955 is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 08:05 AM
  #12  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I checked the prices at http://www.novarentacar.com/

They were about 100E less than www.autoeurope.com because they did not charge airport fees and a few other things.

AutoEurope underbid them.

ira is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 09:00 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Quick question: Is it necessary to actually book (then cancel) with another company before asking AutoEurope to match the rate? Or is it possible to simply inform AE about the lower offer from another company?
Betsy is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 09:47 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,748
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just showed AutoEurope the lower rate email or website page with quote, and they beat it. Also, I always seem to get a bigger car when going through AutoEurope.

I stick with them because in Italy, I worry about the insurance coverage, and I know with AutoEurope everything is included. I've had lower rates quoted from Nova, but when I asked about the insurance, they gave me another figure to add to the original quote.
tuscanlifeedit is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 10:24 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
insurance is the annswer her to lower rates so do your investigating wisely as already suggested.
there is a tendency to make you responsible for broken windsheilds, underside of car, flat tires, roof, etc.( even when you pay full coverage!!!) unless you go with a company that will offer you a ZERO RESPONSIBILITY policy.

very few do. so ask THAT QUESTION. even wwwhen i asked if it was full coverage, i was told YES... but then asked if it was zero responsibility, and i was told.. "OH, NO" and was shown the fine print.. ...
we ended up with europe car.. after cancelling another company at airport.
lincasanova is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 01:26 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
we rented from Hertz b4 we went and had no probs
eroz is offline  
Old Jan 28th, 2005, 01:36 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lucky you, eroz. Many have mentioned that if you DO have a problem and you've rented from Hertz or Avis, you'll have no luck with them when you get home. They immediately tell you that the European rentals are separate and have you try to straighten things out by calling back and forth to an office in Europe.
One reason I like AutoEurope. Even though the car might come from one of those firms, a US contact takes care of any problems.
Patrick is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2005, 05:24 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Italy rentals are all about insurance. Just be careful you compare wisely."

We always rent in France but somehow France seems so easy-going.

Italy = fast drivers, narrow streets, general lawlessness and disrespect for
cherished Britannic-Canadian values.

So now you've got me nervous re Italy and renting a car in March 2005. What should I be asking for...or about???


tedgale is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 08:17 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Be sure to check the rental companies' International site, not just the US one. There can be dramatic price differences.
absame is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 09:27 AM
  #20  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi T,

>What should I be asking for...or about?

Is this your first time to Italy? Road signs and "rules of the road" can be a mite confusing.

What's your itinerary?
ira is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -