Is Europcar ok if I have no other choice?
 

It is pretty easy to google Europcar and get lots of bad reviews. However, I might be in a situation where it would save me $200 to use them on a 5 day rental. Any opinions?
Someone said I should go ahead but take very thorough pictures of the car. Thanks for your advice.

If you rent through AutoEurope and get a EuropCar rental, AE will take care of any problems you might have. And it could be cheaper.

What StCirq said. And I will add that I've never had a problem with a Eurpocar rental, any more/less than with Avis or other in France - but I *always* book through AutoEurope.

Used EuropCar last Sep for 5 days in southern Spain. Check out and back in was a breeze. No problems.

I always book with Kemwel.com which is AE's sister company.

All my rentals have been with Europcar. Once they charged my cc with a $900 damage fee after I got home. I contacted Kemwel who contacted Europcar. The charge was reversed.

Another time, I rented with Europcar upon leaving Venice. They gave me a car that looked like it came from Rent a Wreck. They didn't note the damage on the agreement so I went back into the office where my 'agent' was on the phone and just ignored me. When I finally got one second of his attention, he just waved me off. I finally got to speak with the other agent in the office and explained the amount of damage to the car. He came out, took a look, and said he'd note it on the agreement and in the computer system. I had no issues when dropping the car at the end of the rental period.

All other experiences with Europcar have been positive.

I join with the rest in recommending that you book your car through either AutoEurope of Kemwel. By going through a broker, you are assuring yourself of a worry-free experience in the event an issue should arise. We rented our cars through the above brokers and every time (but once) picked up a car at Europcar. Never had any problems. On the contrary, we had approximately $500 refunded for a replacement of a flat tire in Scotland. We did not notice that the original contract included a handwritten note that the front-left tire was partially torn. Once we discovered that the flat was essentially not our fault, AutoEurope obtained a refund for us.

I had some problems with Europecar, and the provincial locations are often concessions not tied to Europecar itself. Kemwel could not resolve the problem because they could not get the documentation from the provincial office. I eventually called and everything was resolved in my favor; in fact I got more out of it than anticipated. I attribute these problems to a mis-communication.

I only rent through a broker if the rental is less expensive. I've rented countless times with Europcar in lots of European countries mostly direct rental with EP. EP are one of the major rental companies, I would not avoid them because of bad reviews.

Take pictures of the car before you take it. Saves the headaches of trying to say "you didn't do it"!!! Have never had any trouble rent from Eurocar or Kemwell in France, Ireland, Portugal,or Spain. Only problem was apparently you can't take rentals on ferries..Check this out as I can;'t remember which country it wss.

I consider Europcar to be the best rental car company operating in France.

Have rented thru Europcar both directly and thru AutoEurope and Kemwel various times and never had a problem with any. Make certain you have any and all (especially exterior) "damage" documented before you drive away and if you can afford it, at least consider renting with insurance either through an all-inclusive with the broker, or directly. If using your credit card to cover insurance make sure you know if that CC insurance is primary or secondary after your own auto insurance. You can also pay additional for a reduction of deductible since "all-inclusive" insurance rates obtained through a broker do not always cover the substantial deductible you may be liable for if there is any damage.

This rental would be through AutoEurope, so I will go ahead with it. Thanks for your responses!

I live in Europe and never book through a consolidator.
Europcar along with Sixt are in my opinion the best car hire companies in the market here in Europe (in the US, for what it's worth I prefer Hertz).
Europcar often has the best rates and pretty attractive cars - normally beating the incumbents Hertz and Avis on price as well as quality.
Unless Sixt (once in a while only) offers the better deal, Europcar generally is my no. 1 choice on countless rentals during a year.

hsv, I completely agree that Europcar and Sixt are the best car rental companies in Europe. For some reason, in the US, we can book Europcar rentals cheaper through Kemwel and AutoEurope vs. booking directly with Europcar.

I have a few complaints about Europcar, two of them worth mentioning:
- After hours pick-up fee … in case your flight arrives on weekends, or after regular business hours, you'll be charged a "Pick-up station after hours charge", ranging between € 25.00 and € 45.00 (somewhat arbitrary, but think it depends on location)
- Customer service when dealing with traffic fines … totally my fault to have run a yellow light (note: yellow, not red), but a fine for € 56.00 cost me in the end € 105.00, due to an additional € 24.00 administration charge from Europcar, and a € 25.00 international money transfer fee from my bank. Europcar's administration fee was billed to my credit card, which they had when I rented the car, but they refused to bill the fine also from my credit card, because "we are not allowed to do that." Again, I don’t fault Europcar for my violation, but overall due to their policies cost me an extra € 24.00 due to their administration charge + € 45.00 due to their "Pick-up station after hours charge", and partially for the € 25.00 international money transfer fee due to them not allowing to pay it with my credit card. An unnecessary extra of € 94.00.
With this in mind will not use Europcar's service ever again.

We also book through AutoEurope but have had EuropeCar through them many times. I honk they a re now part of National.

Since you're digging up an old post, you might want an expiation: "For some reason, in the US, we can book Europcar rentals cheaper through Kemwel and AutoEurope vs. booking directly with Europcar."

It all has to do with the contracts AE has with each office of Europcar. No two are alike even between AE and Kemwel. Cars are different, rates are different, one-way rentals, etc., etc., etc.

<i>but a fine for € 56.00 cost me in the end € 105.00, due to an additional € 24.00 administration charge from Europcar, and a € 25.00 international money transfer fee from my bank.</i>

And you don't think that American rental agencies do the same thing? Toll for crossing the GG Bridge in San Francisco in a rental car without prior registration or payment: $18. Normal cost is $6.

Just came back from France and Ireland where I rented cars from Europcar. No problems with either company.

The 25€ fee for supplying your information to the National Police is charged by every car rental company in France. This is not unique to Europcar.

Similarly with the late pickup charge. Many companies won't stay open past normal hours at all. Europcar at least made an effort to accommodate you.