DebitNM

I am trying to set up a rental for November. Last time we rented, we went through Kemwel and there was the ability to select a diesel car. There is no longer that option online so I contacted them by email and was told I could only include a "request" for a diesel and IF there was one on the lot at the time of pickup, we might be able to get it. Pretty iffy, to me. As it would need to be both a diesel and in the same car class.

I see that Europcar does have one class of diesel car that you can select. Are there any other rental companies that you know of that we can pick a diesel car and be fairly sure we will get it?

We want to pick up in Manosque, but would go to Aix if need be.

Thanks~

Dukey1

Have you also tried using the Autoeurope site? Even though they are a sister company to Kemwel there have been times when their offerings for the exact same place have differed.

kerouac

More than 70% of the cars in France are diesel, and that is what the rental companies will usually give you even when you did not ask for it. I know that at Europcar where I get nearly all of my cars, all of the cars above category A are diesel. This week I had reserved a Fiat 500 as usual and ended up with a diesel Clio with GPS for my usual 29€/day.

Sarastro

You can be fairly sure of getting a diesel no matter where you book but no company will guarantee anything other than the class of car for which you have paid. However, you should submit a diesel preference with your reservation.

The only way of which I know to specifically obtain preferences when renting is to not rent at all but to lease, which is more expensive.

Hopefully you do not need a car with an automatic transmission because that will be much more difficult to obtain than will one using diesel fuel.

DebitNM

I did try Autoeurope as well. Same results.

No automatic is not needed, manual is okay with us.

Although we will be in Europe for 3 months, we only need a car for a week. We will have use of a car for several weeks and other weeks we won't need one.

Thanks~

Odin

If you check the Avis website, you will see that medium sized cars from your pickup point are diesel. So if you book this vendor/size through Autoeurope or Kemwell, it is likely to be a diesel. BUT there are no guarantees that you will receive this car size or fuel type since very often I get something larger than I asked for. I would only use this info as a guide.

I cannot remember the last time I was given a petrol car in France when renting.

Dukey1

I would second Odin's reply. I suspect trying to get a NON-diesel car might be the real challenge.

kerouac

Absolutely. For my short rentals of small cars, I always choose a non-diesel model (because I like Smarts and Aygos and Fiat 500s and Twingos), but I am almost always given a diesel car anyway.

DebitNM

OK, we will go with the smallest and request a diesel and see what shakes out.

Again, many thanks~

grandmere

I am in Languedoc now & requested an automatic transmission diesel thru Autoeurope; got a hybrid automatic, but not diesel. It's using little fuel, tho, so we're happy with it.

cybertraveler

We have rented cars in France and always get diesel, just by default. Same in Italy. You'll probably end up with one. It sounds like a great trip--enjoy!