Another Good AutoEurope Experience
 

We rented a car for 2 weeks in France from AutoEurope. We arranged with Europcar, the provider, in La Rochelle to keep the car for an extra day. Of course we knew we'd pay for that. We returned the car with 3/4 of a tank of gas, and of course knew we'd pay for the other 1/4.

When we received the bill, those charges were accurately listed. But there was another mysterious charge for 39.70 euros, so I called AutoEurope. They said they'd look into it, contact Europcar in La Rochelle, and let me know what they found out, and that it might take up to two weeks. Having not heard back from them in 2 weeks, I emailed them yesterday and got back a reply with an apology, saying that they had been tracking down Europcar but hadn't had a response yet. Today I got another email saying that they had been unable to get a satisfactory response from Europcar so they would pay the 39.70 euros back to us themselves.

I've always liked this company.

St. Cirq, I really hope you are advertising for AutoEurope because if you are someone here is going to take away your lunch money.

I had a similar experience, but eventually called the local Europcar franchise in Pérogueux which reimbursed me once the misunderstanding was straightened out, and then I got money back from Autoeurope (or Kemwel) as well for my troubles.

oops..should be you are NOT advertising..yeah, I like them too..great service every time.

I concur---they have bailed me out 3 times after the local yahoo got too frisky.

Dukey, I've been writing good things about AutoEurope on this board for years. And since so many folks just pop up to complain, I thought I'd put in a good word, again, for them. I have no affiliation with them whatsoever (except I've probably bankrolled a bunch of expensive vacations for their CEO over the last 30 years)!

This is not the place for positive posts by frequent posters lauding companies they've dealt with. This board is ONLY for use by cranky patrons who have heretofore not posted and who use this space to gripe about the service/price/quality of what they received.

Sorry, BigRuss:) I'll try to contain myself when I have a positive experience in the future.

Did I mention I love AutoEurope?

Our car broke down on the Route de Napolean.
AutoEurope, had the car brought back to a garage and sent a taxi to take us to our hotel. The next day they phoned for us to pick up another car in nice (again, they sent a taxi)

Wow !!!

What a company they must be.

I've always liked AutoEurope too.

always good to highlight a company as responsible as this - all too often it ends with the customer getting stuck.

I will recommend AutoEurope to others in light of above comments.

Thanks for posting.

I agree. I've always been pleased with the service from AutoEurope.

It's refreshing to read a positive post rather than those "beware" and "never frequent" horrors.

Autoeurope generally provides good service. I just received a phone call to tell me that the local provider has changed its hours at the Limoges airport and that I will need to use the drop box.

Is AutoEurope the only good car rental company in Europe - what about others that also do good stuff - or is it only AutoEurope?

curious

AutoEurope isn't in Europe.

I've used AutoEurope for rentals in the US and South Africa. I rarely bother to look at other consolidators because their prices are always the cheapest.

AutoEurope isn't in Europe.>

I thought you posted some Munich address recently on another thread where you said most people rent from Auto Europe rather than Hertz - I thought by that you meant they do have a presence in Europe?

We just used them in Sicily with a positive experience also.

>>AutoEurope isn't in Europe.<< . . . and it isn't a 'rental company'

AutoEurope also isn't a rental company.

It is a marketing concept/ consolidator. They don't own just sell slots (very well).

I always seem receive the best deal thought them for rentals around the world. The also some now also seem to have lots of good zero excess deals with I love.

Did I mention I also love AE.

Aren't they based in Portland, Maine?

Possible, but highly unlikely I would have posted anything at all about Munich since it's been 30 years since I've been there.

AutoEurope is in Portland, Maine.

People confuse it often with Europcar,IME.

<i>or is it only AutoEurope?</i>

www.Kemwel.com is the sister company which I often post instead of Autoeurope because of the potential confusion with rentals companies that have similar names, including its European equivalents, e.g. http://www.autoeurope.fr/, which I have never found to offer as good deals as the U.S. based company.

Others mention Sixt and Gemut, but I have had no luck with them. I have had better pricing with http://www.economycarrentals.com/ in Sicily, Turkey and Poland, but not in France and not when doing one-way rentals.

>>I thought you posted some Munich address recently on another thread where you said most people rent from Auto Europe rather than Hertz -<<

If one uses AutoEurope, the car would be from from Hertz, or maybe Avis, or maybe National, or maybe Europcar, or from any number of other companies.

I'm another highly satisfied AutoEurope customer. We've been renting in Europe through AE since the early 1990s and have found they offer not only the best prices, but also the best customer service. I always find their telephone people friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

Many people who post here could give you examples of AE's strong points. I had the same experience as StCirq where AE refunded immediately some charges Avis in the UK charged to our CC when we returned the car. If you live in the US, it's nice to have these issues dealt with by a helpful person at a toll-free number rather than having to try to clear things up with someone in Europe.

At the end of another rental, when we returned a car in Perpignan, there was a problem with the agent wanting to charge a very big drop charge on the spot. Because we had a toll-free number for AE that is answered 24/7, the agent agreed to call and the problem was solved.

Another time we found a better rate through Hertz, and AE lowered the rate for our rental.

So it's not just price, but before,during and after rental service that keeps us with AE and now, also, Kemwel.

AutoEurope rules, Fodor's at least.