Advantages to Using AutoEurope vs Hertz or Avis in Europe?
Mar 30th, 2005, 01:29 PM
#21
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"So, for $19.99, I have third party ins, $7500 pp medical expense, accidental death and dismemberment, $2500 pp personal property ins, zero deductible collision damage and zero deductible theft."
You do have to sign up for this service and the 19.95 is automatically charged to your card anytime a car rental charge is made. Amex began offering this last year after they announced they would no longer be your primary carrier in favor of your auto policy. It doesn't cover Italy or Ireland though.
You do have to sign up for this service and the 19.95 is automatically charged to your card anytime a car rental charge is made. Amex began offering this last year after they announced they would no longer be your primary carrier in favor of your auto policy. It doesn't cover Italy or Ireland though.
Mar 30th, 2005, 02:26 PM
#22
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Thanks, Patrick.
Now I know what to expect if this ever happens to us.
Looks like Avis charged you $6,000 on your Visa, and Visa reimbursed you with a check. If this was a FF Visa, all you need is eight more accidents like this one & you have earned a free trip to Europe!!!
Stu Dudley
Now I know what to expect if this ever happens to us.
Looks like Avis charged you $6,000 on your Visa, and Visa reimbursed you with a check. If this was a FF Visa, all you need is eight more accidents like this one & you have earned a free trip to Europe!!!
Stu Dudley
Mar 30th, 2005, 02:59 PM
#24
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Maybe you are amused at me, Patrick, but I don't think it's really that difficult and is easier for me than dealing with phone calls. Also, I may be trying various cities or dropoffs and don't want to call up Autoeurope all the time I get a different idea.
My detailed directions were just so one could understand what I meant. In practice, I find it pretty simple if I'm comparing prices between Avis/Hertz/Europcar and Autoeurope anyway, I can immediately sort of recognize which address is which company. Most of the cities I've searched have only 1-2 companies listed because they were small cities, so it was easy for me.
Anyway, it was just a suggestion that I've found useful myself for when doing research or just to not have to make phone calls. I kind of hate talking on the phone, though--I know others don't. Anyone who prefers to call them can just disregard that.
My detailed directions were just so one could understand what I meant. In practice, I find it pretty simple if I'm comparing prices between Avis/Hertz/Europcar and Autoeurope anyway, I can immediately sort of recognize which address is which company. Most of the cities I've searched have only 1-2 companies listed because they were small cities, so it was easy for me.
Anyway, it was just a suggestion that I've found useful myself for when doing research or just to not have to make phone calls. I kind of hate talking on the phone, though--I know others don't. Anyone who prefers to call them can just disregard that.
Mar 30th, 2005, 03:07 PM
#25
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OK, fair enough. I'm not much for phone talking either. But I've spent a couple of hours comparing the various pick up points and running through the websites to compare prices. But in the long run when I called and immediately got a representative, he could tell me immediately which place was which company and which one would be cheaper because they didn't charge a drop off fee, extra driver fee, or whatever else.
Maybe it's just me, but I've learned if I can get ALL the information I want in 5 minutes, I'd rather do that then spend an hour or more trying to do it myself, and still not being sure if I found all the possibilities.
By the way, I DO hope you get over your dislike of phone calls when you actually book. I have never failed to get a better price when I called to book a rental after I had completely researched the exact same itinerary and car on the website.
Maybe it's just me, but I've learned if I can get ALL the information I want in 5 minutes, I'd rather do that then spend an hour or more trying to do it myself, and still not being sure if I found all the possibilities.
By the way, I DO hope you get over your dislike of phone calls when you actually book. I have never failed to get a better price when I called to book a rental after I had completely researched the exact same itinerary and car on the website.
Mar 30th, 2005, 03:59 PM
#26
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>>By the way, I DO hope you get over your dislike of phone calls when you actually book<<
I've rented over 30 cars from AutoEurope, and I too always call after I've done some minimal research. I've never booked on-line. I always ask about any special "deals" they have going & any AAA or similar discounts. I also make sure that I get a diesel & it's specified on the voucher.
Stu Dudley
I've rented over 30 cars from AutoEurope, and I too always call after I've done some minimal research. I've never booked on-line. I always ask about any special "deals" they have going & any AAA or similar discounts. I also make sure that I get a diesel & it's specified on the voucher.
Stu Dudley
Mar 30th, 2005, 04:22 PM
#27
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AutoEurope does have fairly good prices, and very good 24 hr. customer service from Europe, (or in U.S.). They are brokers and try to find the best deal within a certain area. Having said that.....:
We always try to PREPAY in total for the car and sometimes AutoEurope asks for part now and part when picked up. Hertz has always let us prepay totally and it's nice to walk up to the desk in Europe with the paid VOUCHER in hand. (sometimes there is a little road tax or airport tax, sometimes not). When the price "owed" is on the computer overseas I think they can STILL charge you what they want
>_
We've had a little trouble occasionally with HErtz, but they have a wonderful customer service department and it has always been rectified easily upon our return home.
In comparing prices....AutoEurope hasn't come close to Hertz, but perhaps that was just our situation. We HAVE used AutoEurope in the past and it worked out fine...(although once we had to really stand firm on rejecting the CDW, ...From then on we have a letter to show from MasterCArd that we are covered.)
We always try to PREPAY in total for the car and sometimes AutoEurope asks for part now and part when picked up. Hertz has always let us prepay totally and it's nice to walk up to the desk in Europe with the paid VOUCHER in hand. (sometimes there is a little road tax or airport tax, sometimes not). When the price "owed" is on the computer overseas I think they can STILL charge you what they want
>_We've had a little trouble occasionally with HErtz, but they have a wonderful customer service department and it has always been rectified easily upon our return home.
In comparing prices....AutoEurope hasn't come close to Hertz, but perhaps that was just our situation. We HAVE used AutoEurope in the past and it worked out fine...(although once we had to really stand firm on rejecting the CDW, ...From then on we have a letter to show from MasterCArd that we are covered.)
Mar 30th, 2005, 04:37 PM
#28
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I've rented from Avis for my last 4 trips to France, and have been very happy with the process and cars. Their price was less (booking on the website)than AutoEurope quoted me, so I just went with them. But,as I said, nothing ever went wrong (accidents!), so I'm not sure how easy they would be to deal with then, as opposed to AutoEurope.
Since I own stock in Cendant, who owns Avis, I tend to want to give them my business!
Ira, I didn't know about the AMEX $19.99 deal for car rental insurance. I must look into that - sounds well worth it, especially if there would be less of a hassle factor. I never buy the CDW, but let my credit card cover it. However, I have been buying travel insurance ever since I got on Medicare, since they don't cover you abroad, and those policies seem to also cover car rentals. Can one have TOO much insurance??
Since I own stock in Cendant, who owns Avis, I tend to want to give them my business!
Ira, I didn't know about the AMEX $19.99 deal for car rental insurance. I must look into that - sounds well worth it, especially if there would be less of a hassle factor. I never buy the CDW, but let my credit card cover it. However, I have been buying travel insurance ever since I got on Medicare, since they don't cover you abroad, and those policies seem to also cover car rentals. Can one have TOO much insurance??
Mar 30th, 2005, 04:41 PM
#29
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>>sometimes AutoEurope asks for part now and part when picked up<<
Last week I reserved a car through AutoEurope for my fall trip to France, and I paid the total cost in advance. That way I will not pay the 3% currency conversion fee and no surprises when I turn the car in. Before card companies started to charge the currency conversion fees (or before I was aware that they did), I paid half now and half later - but never when I picked the car up - only when I dropped it off.
AutoEurope has never tried to press the CDW on me - in fact, just the opposite - they assume I have it covered on my Gold card.
Stu Dudley
Last week I reserved a car through AutoEurope for my fall trip to France, and I paid the total cost in advance. That way I will not pay the 3% currency conversion fee and no surprises when I turn the car in. Before card companies started to charge the currency conversion fees (or before I was aware that they did), I paid half now and half later - but never when I picked the car up - only when I dropped it off.
AutoEurope has never tried to press the CDW on me - in fact, just the opposite - they assume I have it covered on my Gold card.
Stu Dudley
Mar 30th, 2005, 05:18 PM
#31
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"Can one have TOO much insurance??"
Well, since most types of insurance will only cover you if you aren't covered by someone else, my answer to your question would be yes. Why pay for two or three policies if only one will pay off?
Well, since most types of insurance will only cover you if you aren't covered by someone else, my answer to your question would be yes. Why pay for two or three policies if only one will pay off?
Mar 31st, 2005, 07:38 AM
#32
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ira,
Thank you for the info on the Amex $19.95 car ins coverage. Now, I have had a Platinum Amex for quite a while, and read everything that they send in detail re: changes to my account or their policies. I have not seen anything such as you describe, no change to my coverage overseas, and no offer of reasonable insurance. Period.
Is this in re: to the Amex Platinum
Card?
Thank you for the info on the Amex $19.95 car ins coverage. Now, I have had a Platinum Amex for quite a while, and read everything that they send in detail re: changes to my account or their policies. I have not seen anything such as you describe, no change to my coverage overseas, and no offer of reasonable insurance. Period.
Is this in re: to the Amex Platinum
Card?
Apr 2nd, 2005, 05:08 PM
#34
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Try www.carrentals.co.uk. I've used them 2x in Portugal and have had good success. This next trip in May to IT show Carrental @ $120 for 2 days vs. Auto Europe @ $190. BIG diff!...ALWAYS take the insurance.
Apr 3rd, 2005, 05:32 AM
#35
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I've reserved a car for next month for Italy through AutoEurope. Their price was less than I got quoted by Hertz or Avis. Also, it seems that all the car rentals in Italy now require that you purchase the CDW & theft insurance (I never did before because we use Diners Club) and AutoEurope's insurance does not have a deductible, while AutoEurope tells me the others do. So if something happens, it appears we'll be better off renting through AutoEurope. And, as another poster noted, we pay in advance with US dollars and avoid the currency conversion hassle and fees.
