Car Rental Companies - AutoEurope
 

Hi

I’m renting a car from Europecar for 19 days in Italy this summer. I would like to hear anybody’s mishap and how they were handled.
For example if your car broke down or you got a flat or if your car was stolen. How soon did you get help and was a car available right away. How long did you have to wait. Basically I’m preparing myself what to expect if something were to happen!

Regards

Tcmazz

Cigalechanta had a breakdown, but I don't know what the rental company was.

Hi tc,

Many good reports about the customer service from AutoEurope.

Flat tires are not included in the insurance, but they will probably get you a tow truck.

In France, I just changed my flat myself and had it taken care of at a tire place.

((I))

Have always had a good experience with AutoEurope. We did have a tire blowout, and while they did not cover the cost of the new tire (nor did our own personal automobile insurance or our credit card, which eliminated puncture coverge a few months prior), they (or the agency with whom Aut Europe subcontracted) did send a tow truck to our rescue promptly. And this ocurred at 9 p.m. on a dark, back country road-hard to find us , but they did come to our rescue!

There is a good poster to this board who totalled a car in the UK and his credit card covered the accident in full. Be sure to call your credit card company and find out how much coverage you have. If you are covered 100% by our credit card, make sure you turn down ALL coverage offered by the rental agency in order to use your credit card coverage.

I believe in Italy you are generally at the mercy of the rental agencies and have to use their insurance. If not make sure your credit card covers insurance in Italy and as PM says decline all coverage.

We have changed several tires and never been offered a tow truck (although they've never been late at night or in a deserted spot). The rental companies did cover the cost of the tires for us on both occasions and it sucked up some vacation time. We've also dented and smacked our share of rentals but have always been taken care of either by the credit card companies or the rental agencies (in Italy).

In Italy we usually splurge for the full, (or extra) coverage since the village streets are narrow and the walls are stone.

Italy requires that you get the CDW. You will also have to pay extra to get zero deductible.

((I))

This wasn't a mishap but thought it would be helpful. We recently rented a car from Europecar at CDG and were sent out to the car with the key, with noone accompanying us. The paperwork indicated there was no damage to the car but we walked around it carefully and found 2 large scrapes on the front bumper. The back of the car was dirty and we didn't notice a slight scratch on the rear bumper because of the dirt. I immediately went back inside and reported the damage which was noted on the paper work and initialed by the clerk.

When we turned the car in 10 days later, a "non-English speaking" man inspected the car, rubbed the dirt away and found the scratch we did not know about. It was some wrangle to get out of this, especially with the language problem, although they finally agreed we didn't do it.

# 1 - We would never rent again without having a rep come out with us to the car to inspect it.

# 2 - We should have taken pictures of the car from all angles when we picked it up.

# 3 - I'm resentful that we were sent out to the car with paperwork that indicated "no damage" when that clearly wasn't true.