I know there have been many threads on car rentals abroad but I can't locate the ones I'm looking for. (I have also posted this thread in the Lounge)..

I'm trying to help friends with an auto rental in Sicily for one month beginning in mid June. Prices are outrageous.

I recall some posts in the past where people said using Auto Europe Great Britain or Italy, rather than the US site, yields much lower rates. And I also recall comparing those prices to the AE-US prices and they were cheaper.

So, can anyone tell me the mechanics -- do you have to give a European address, or can you just call the US site and request the prices from the European sites? TIA for any help.

We rented from economycarrentsl.com when we were in Sicily because the price was much lower than AutoEurope's and it is with no excess, i.e. deductible. AE US would not match the price. You might want to read my trip report; just click on my name to find it.

I've found it easiest to call AutoEurope and talk with someone. Ask any question you want because if you don't ask, you'll never know what they'll do.

I do know that prices for Italy are always higher (compared, say, to France or Spain) ...and mid June is peak season. In Italy they automatically add insurance, for one thing.

For that length of time, they might do better looking at a lease buy-back program (if available in Sicily).
http://www.autoeurope.com/buyback_home.cfm

A lease-buy back program will have a hefty delivery and drop-off fee, and I think that the nearest pick-up (and drop-off?) is Rome. I doubt that it will meet the price and convenience of any potential rental.

As I recall, the last time we rented from AutoEurope, I used the Canadian site (and pricing). I went to the Canadian and UK websites (by googling "AutopEurope Canada"), and used the phone numbers on those sites.

I booked a car through Economy Car Rentals for Sicily. They were much less expensive than AutoEurope. I also found that the rates beginning on a week day were less than on a week end.

These are the threads you may be looking for: I just rented again, using the AE Italian site for pricing and doing the actual rental through AE US site:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...c-question.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-resident.cfm

Hi P,

You don't need to have a special code to use an alternate AE site.

However, sometimes they insist that you have to take the CDW, which means that your CC won't cover you for accidents.

Also, it depends on whether the Euro is rising or falling with respect to the Dollar at the time you make your reservation.

Have you also tried www.kemwel.com?

Last week I was checking rates for Spain in Oct and found that they were a little cheaper than AE US, FR, SP and Portugal.

To answer your initial question, you find the car at the price you like on one of the foreign sites, and you then call AE on their 800 number and ask them to match the price. If they do not agree at once, ask to speak with a supervisor or phone back and talk to another agent.

Always ask them which is the lest expensive rental that they can offer you....sometimes they will not tell you this when you first phone for pricing...you have to ask," is there another agency that has a better price?" Sicily by Car often beats the EuropCar prices, in my experience. I am talking about the prices when you rent through AE.

Thanks, everyone.
We checked all the sites and found the best price and best vehicle on the UK AutoEurope site. They need automatic and seating for 5.

The US site did not have the same car and a similar one was about $400 more. We called but the guy said he couldn't do anything, so my friend just booked on the UK site.

For some reason I seemed to recall that if you gave a US address on the UK site, you were redirected to the US site. I thought that's what happened a few years ago to me. Maybe I didn't recall correctly, or maybe it has changed, but it was very easy
this time to use the US address.

Glad it worked out well for you. The charge for the rental will probably be in GBP, but no matter....

I just received the statement today and was quite pleased with the price for a week-long automatic rental in Italy. The initial charge is in euro.

For next time: Remember that these brokers have access to many more cars than those that show on their websites.

Thanks, ekscrunchy.

Maybe you'll get a Mercedes. The two times I rented an automatic in Italy that's what I got. I don't care much about cars usually but they sure were a pleasure to drive.

Why would you want to rent with Sicily by car though? Accident waiting to happen!

The rental is not for me. It's for friends and they have driven in Sicily in the past with no problems.

They will also be in small towns visiting friends and family for part of the time and not driving in the cities.

Alfa Romeo makes automatics as I got one once in Provence renting from Europcar. It was a nice car, it was that kind of automatic where you have to shift yourself, but there is no clutch to fool with.