Auto Europe
 

I am looking to rent a car with Auto Europe. I have been using the US site and someone said that if I use the UK site I will get a better rate. I checked it out and that is true. Wehn I called Auto Europe they said when I go to get the car and am not a UK citizen I will not be able to get the car. Does anyone know if that is correct???

If Autoeurope says that's the case, I imagine it's true. (FYI, U.S. rental companies offer reduced rates to European visitors.) Passports are required when you pick up the car; so there's no way to get around the policy.

You could also try Sixt, a major European rental agency.

That's the first time this has been reported. I'd call AE and ask for a supervisor. Check their other site at kemwel.com

I'm no particular fan of AE but this doesn't sound right - I'd call and ask for a supervisor too

I booked my parents car last year (they are CDN) using the British site and there was no problem. I had to call and make a change and autoeurope advised that the cost different had to do with different levels of insurance etc. They had no problems.

My concern would be if there is a problem who and under which consumer laws jurisdiction would you be under. For example, I filed a complaint against AutoEurope (HQ Seattle, WA) with an American-based consumer agency. It was resolved, but I wonder if the agency had been based in the UK how responsive would they had been.

Europcar has better rates and is associated with all the exact same rental car facilities, locations and cars in Europe. Do compare.

http://www.europcar.com/

As is carrentals.com economycarrentals.com novacarhire.com and direct to the rental agency, sixt.com that was previously mentioned. Our latest car rental in Greece for June, was using carrentals.com and we ended up with Budget. No up front charge. Pay at the counter.

I have never found better rates for a one-way rental than Kemwel or Autoeurope <b>if</b> the "basic" rate is available, with the CDW carried by my credit card (available to residents of the U.S.).

The AutoEurope UK site specifically ask for your "home country", and redirects you if it is not United Kingdom. I imagine that the company tailors prices and terms to what it thinks are the needs of particular markets. I live in the U.K. and am always offered an inclusive price, while I have the impression that U.S. customers get taxes and additional charges separated out.

Of course, your "home country" need not be your country of birth or relate to your passport. I imagine it would certainly determine the national law applicable to the contract. You cannot use the U.K. site to book a car in Spain and then expect American law to apply.

We do not get taxes separated out on the U.S. site with the exception of pick-up fees at RR stations and airports, the road tax and the pollution tax if it applies. My point is that inclusive is much more expensive than the "basic" rate available to U.S. residents, at least that is the case on the French site.

As always thanks much. I ended up getting a much better rate with SIXT. Auto Europe said they would match but they were still higher and the had the wrong drop off/pickup location when I received the quote. So, I thought, forget it and stick with SIXT.

SIXT is fine for the most part, but offer only limited pickup and drop off points in Spain.

www.sixt.com/car-rental/spain/

You will not get a consistent rate. They change daily and by the hour.

Try it.

My father has just returned from a 2 month round the world trip. He had to book around 12 seperate car hires and seemed to think that the most expensive time to receive quotes was Sunday afternoon.

Cheapest was 11am on Monday.

It appears to be simply due to the demand models that the agents use to price products. ie few people book car hire on Monday morning.

I tried it and agree with him.

Used AE many times - never had a problem.