Now I am mad. I rented a car in Munich in Sept. and there were extra charges at the end. I still don't have that one resolved. I just rented a car in Munich in December. About 1 km from the airport on the return day we had a flat tire. The guidance system warned us about it about 5 minutes before it blew. We stopped immediately and we called the police and they changed the tire for us. I reported the flat when I returned the car about 1/2 hour after the "incident." Now I have a statement that I owe them 255€ for the repair. There is a photo on the back of the notification, which shows a wheel and tire. How much can a tire replacement or repair cost in Germany? The car had about 11,000 km on it already. Anyone out there with ideas of what I should do? Obviously I will protest the credit card charge when it comes, but any other ideas?

Was the statement really no more specific than "repairs"? No itemization at all? No other text, no attached letter of explanation?

I think the first thing to do is to contact Avis and request a written explanation so that you understand what their position is. I mean, we have no idea how your contract read, what the tire was worth, what the police might customarily charge for such a service, if anything.

It sounds as though it was underinflated or perforated from the get-go. You might ask whether there was any record of a tire pressure check immediately prior to your acceptance of the car - it would certainly be Avis' responsibility to at least make sure their cars are roadworthy upon delivery.

There are so, so many variables when it comes to renting a car - anywhere, but especially abroad; the rental companies are out there to make a buck, and some of the less reputable people in the business know they have tourists by the, well, by the reproductive organs. I hope your case encourages casual tourists who might not really need a car to seriously consider public transportation options before signing a rental contract.

Frankly I don't see why you have to pay anything for a flat tire. It's their car and their tire they should pay for it. It's not like you had an accident - or were negligent (ie, continuing to drive with no oil) - it simply died. I would contact Avis US and just tell them to remove the charge. If thye don'tr dispute it with your charge company.

The next thing you know they'll want us to pay for oil changes, new brakes, etc.

Russ, the tire blew on the RETURN so a tire pressure check at rental would mean nothing. Note also that the car's system warned of the problem 5 minutes before it happened.

"The rental companies are out there to make a buck." Aren't they supposed to make a profit?

KarenK, why would you continue to drive 5 more minutes after being warned? Particularly with something as dangerous as low tire pressure. You may have ruined the wheel as well as the tire and wheels can be very expensive. Why didn't you call Avis if you were only 6 tenths of a mile away instead of calling the police?

When the light went on, my friend got out and looked at the tire and it looked normal. She watched out of the side mirror and saw nothing unusual. We tried to call Avis but no answer. My friend in Munich gave me the emergency road number - 110 - and the police came. We gave them 15 euros after they changed the tire.
BTW, there had been an oil light that went on earlier in the week. When we stopped and turned the car off the light never came on again. For 2 days we couldn't clean the windshield - the cleaner wouldn't come out. We stopped at a Renault dealer and he said I should leave the car overnight. The windshield wipers also turned themselves on at will - so we reasonably (I think) presumed it was another one of the electronic glitches. I told the guy when I returned the car about all the little problems...he dismissed them, saying it was a French car and to be expected!