Italian car rental through AutoEurope
 

Hi,<BR>I'm considering using AutoEurope for car rental in Italy ( Bologna ) next August and their rates seem very good. Question Nbr 1 - are they reliable and any feed back from users? Question 2 - Do they have their own desk at the airport or do they act as intermediaries? If they do act as intermediaries when do you find out which rental company they use?<BR>Thanks<BR>MP

AutoEurope is a broker for various rental car companies. To my knowledge, they don't have a desk at the airport in Bologna. You will find out which car rental company is providing the car when you make and confirm your reservations. Then you just go to that company's facility or desk when you arrive.

We used AutoEurope last month and it was fine. They had a desk in the Milan airport under the name Europecar.

For Maria---I believe you will find that Europcar is a car rental company that happens to be the one that AutoEurope arranged for you. Europcar is like an Avis or Hertz. AutoEurope does not own its own cars and is not really a car rental company---it is a broker that provides access to discounted rentals by actual rental car companies.

Wayne is right in his above posts. One of the only negatives I've ever heard about AutoEurope is that because it is a &quot;consolidator&quot; or &quot;intermediary&quot; that some people feel they'd rather deal directly with a &quot;known&quot; agency. If you have ever rented from Hertz or Avis in Europe and had any kind of problem then you probably know that when you get home and call a US Hertz or Avis you will get nothing but a run-around. They will tell you that they have nothing to do with the European branches. <BR><BR>I would definitely go with AutoEurope! They are usually the best in terms of rate and service, and generally handle any problem you might encounter with great efficiency.

Thanks to all so far. It's certainly making me feel more comfertable to use them.

Used them in Italy in 2000. Picked up the rental at an Avis in Florence and dropped it off in Sorrento. No problems at all.

Just used AutoEurope in Sicily and Calabria in October--it was our second time using them in the past 3 yrs and we've had no problems at all. In fact, their contract, which include all insurances with no deductible is the best in the industry.<BR>In Sicily we picked up the car through the Avis desk.

We too used AutoEurope last spring in Italy. Picked our car up at Europecar near Termini and dropped it in Venice (Piazzale Roma).<BR><BR>I would suggest taking all insurance offered (some is mandatory in Italy). We incurred some scratches on the passenger side of the car and it was covered--no deductibles to pay, etc.

We have used AutoEurope the last 4 times that we have travelled to Italy. We have never had a single problem or mishap, and the car class that was requested, along with the rate were exactly as quoted. We have rented in Florence each time.