Italy car rental experiences
 

What car rental company have you had good and/or bad experience in renting in Italy? Thanks in advance for any information.

I've rented through both Europcar and Auto Europe and have had no problems at all. The cars were as represented and I had no mechanical problems.

Hi ky,

www.autoeurope.com
http://www.novarentacar.com/
https://www.kemwel.com/bookingengine/car.cfm

have been often recommended here.

((I))

This summer I used: rentalcargroup.com and found them to offer the best price. The rental was smooth and uneventful.

They appear to be a booking agent. You actually rent from one of the agencies whose name you'll recognize, but the price is better.

If I rent a car in Italy this June I'll probably go with them. My preliminary look seems to show them to be the best price again.

Italy rentals are all about insurance. Just be careful you compare wisely.

I booked with AutoEurope and did my homework on the web, finding a lower price elsewhere, which AutoEurope beat, as promised. However, their "free" cell phone rental is no bargain. Cheaper to go with mobal.com instead, and in the end you own the phone.

Artsfan:
Pray tell, what is the name of the car rental agency whose price was lower than AutoEurope? I, and probably everyone else on this board would love to know!
Carol L

Yes. Basically artsfan, you've just said to us "I know how to get a lower rate from AutoEurope, but I'm not telling you how to do it." Please tell.

When we rented in Germany in October, we rented through gemut.com. The rental was through AutoEurope, but less expensive. Gemut rents in Italy also, so phone Andrew for a quote. Also check with your airline, which may have an agreement with a rental agency at an attractive rate.

Thanks, Betsy. I believe we did rent through Gemut two summers ago, but I had forgotten about that. Will check it out again...
Carol L

Thanks everybody. Very helpful information! Now I'll charge into my research of car rental companies you've recommended.

I checked the prices at http://www.novarentacar.com/

They were about 100E less than www.autoeurope.com because they did not charge airport fees and a few other things.

AutoEurope underbid them.

((I))

Quick question: Is it necessary to actually book (then cancel) with another company before asking AutoEurope to match the rate? Or is it possible to simply inform AE about the lower offer from another company?

I just showed AutoEurope the lower rate email or website page with quote, and they beat it. Also, I always seem to get a bigger car when going through AutoEurope.

I stick with them because in Italy, I worry about the insurance coverage, and I know with AutoEurope everything is included. I've had lower rates quoted from Nova, but when I asked about the insurance, they gave me another figure to add to the original quote.

insurance is the annswer her to lower rates so do your investigating wisely as already suggested.
there is a tendency to make you responsible for broken windsheilds, underside of car, flat tires, roof, etc.( even when you pay full coverage!!!) unless you go with a company that will offer you a ZERO RESPONSIBILITY policy.

very few do. so ask THAT QUESTION. even wwwhen i asked if it was full coverage, i was told YES... but then asked if it was zero responsibility, and i was told.. "OH, NO" and was shown the fine print.. ...
we ended up with europe car.. after cancelling another company at airport.

we rented from Hertz b4 we went and had no probs

Lucky you, eroz. Many have mentioned that if you DO have a problem and you've rented from Hertz or Avis, you'll have no luck with them when you get home. They immediately tell you that the European rentals are separate and have you try to straighten things out by calling back and forth to an office in Europe.
One reason I like AutoEurope. Even though the car might come from one of those firms, a US contact takes care of any problems.

"Italy rentals are all about insurance. Just be careful you compare wisely."

We always rent in France but somehow France seems so easy-going.

Italy = fast drivers, narrow streets, general lawlessness and disrespect for
cherished Britannic-Canadian values.

So now you've got me nervous re Italy and renting a car in March 2005. What should I be asking for...or about???

Be sure to check the rental companies' International site, not just the US one. There can be dramatic price differences.

Hi T,

>What should I be asking for...or about?

Is this your first time to Italy? Road signs and "rules of the road" can be a mite confusing.

What's your itinerary?

tuscanlifeedit--How long ago did you check with Nova on insurance? Nova does now include full insurance coverage.

Wow, I'm checking prices for a two week rental, pick up Florence airport, drop off Pisa airport, midsize manual and the best quote I got was $1,108.00 (all inclusive) from Avis. This is crazy. We've had 2 week rentals in Europe for less than half that cost. Does this sound normal for Italy? That's $79.00 a day!!!

What was the quote from Andy at gemut.com?

Ira: the nervousness was (and is) about the implied pitfalls of car-rental in Italy esp. non-coverage or other rip-offs.

The itinerary -- or itinery, to adopt the prevalent spelling on Fodors -- is very simple:

Get from Rome to Montepulciano, park briefly, then drive around for a week in steadily expanding spiral from that base to Tuscan/Umbrian sites of ever-increasing splendor and charm. Then back to Fiumicino (and off to Prague).

Suggestions for must-sees from a base in Montepulciano?

I lived for a few months in Perugia after living in Florence but that was -- gasp -- 1974. Haven't been to Tuscany since 1977! I still picture Tuscans as reed-thin people in platform shoes and flared trousers....who cannot pronounce the letter "c" except as "h".

Hi ted,

Italy now requires CDW for car rental. You will probably want the Super CDW - none to very little deductible - at about $8 pd extra.

Your credit card insurance won't be applicable in italy.

((I))

My Visa card company said it would cover Italy. So, what about getting the CDW with a deductible? Some of the rental companies offer that, and it's less. Also, some of the companies give you the 2nd driver for free. Auto Europe charges. Has anybody heard of cheap-car-rental.com?

Hi SH,

>My Visa card company said it would cover Italy.<

Do you mean that they will insure you if you decline the CDW and TLW insurance?

Get that in writing.

((I))

We just got back from Italy. Rented from Avis/Auto Europe. The bad news: went through FOUR cars! #1 had a broken heater, #2 had engine trouble, #3 was too small, #4 was just right.
The good news: there was an Avis office wherever we went, and if they didn't have a replacement, the town 30 minutes down the road did.

Hi, just wanted to weigh in with a recent experience. We have 12 leaving for Florence in 2 weeks, and I've rented 2 vehicles. I priced them with both Autoeurope and Nova, and after tweaking the slight differences in make of vehicle and deductibles, Nova was almost $800 cheaper, apples to apples. AutoEurope did match the price, and I will use them, since I've used them before, they have a convenient location and I've had good experiences with them 3 times before. BUT I will never again negotiate with them without a competitive bid, as I was pretty surprised they could meet the price with that great a difference - what a margin of profit they must work with! (whether or not i rent with them again, but maybe I should buy stock!)They were also a little snarky in the negotiation process, but i'm spending other people's money here, so I put up with the attitude for the sake of the savings. Just an FYI.