I booked a car rental for 7 days through Auto Europe and was happy with my price.

I decided to change my pick up and drop off locations. Reading through old posts I came across a recommendation from Ira on Kemwell.com

I went to Kemwell's website and their price was $134 cheaper than Auto Europe for the same exact booking!! In fact, they had a zero deductible compared to Auto Europe's $450 ded.

I called Auto Europe (Kemwell's sister company) to see if they would match this price. They could not, but since they are sister companies they were kind enough to transfer my booking to Kemwell for the same price as on the website for me ($256.23 USD). This included the extra airport charges and all insurances with unlimited mileage. I saved $134!!

Thought I would share my good fortune with others. I haven't actually used them yet, my rental is for November, but they assured me same rules apply as with Auto Europe. They would take care of any problems if they should arise.

Gina

Hi G,

Good for you.

The booking through Kemwell (or www.gemut.com) gets you the same service as through AutoEurope.

On our recent visit, the VW Golf that we had booked turned into a Renault Laguna. (Very nice)

Kemwel and AutoEurope are sister companies.

if you talk to their representatives they will very freely tell you that sometimes the prices for the same type of vehicle at the same location will vary considerably between the two companies.

Sorry you didn't find out about this much sooner.

I had the same experience with Kemwell in France last year.

In fact, whichever one you call, they will check prices in both systems.

Good for you! We have used both companies and been well-satisfied. We are using Kemwel this fall for Italy, because, like you, it was a lot less.

Sister companies...that explains why the web sites are so similar.

We have been using (and posting about) kemwel for years now and have always had amazing experiences... and we just returned yesterday from 4 weeks where we rented a week in spain and a week in italy... love them even more. we have found that, though you pay ahead, they are great about switching around dates or cities. the pickup is always through europcar. what i don't understand is why they can give such better rates than europcar, when they are virtually the same???

this was the first year that we used kemwel's room booking for a few hotels as well. we got the best rate ever at the ambasciatori in milan (right next to duomo) and better rates than we could find elsewhere at the other two. it's spotty, though. they tend toward the higher-end places, it seems, and only really beat out the prices on some of the hotels. again-- when we had to add a day to a hotel reservation we had already paid for-- and that was gone from their site (showing no rooms available at the hotel's own web site) kemwel was able to help us-- and with a wonderfully helpful attitude!

I also wonder about the reasons they can give rates that are so much better than the local agency. And why are their rates often better than Autoeurope if the companies are related?

Autoeurope often rents through Avis...not sure if same is true of Kemwell..

We rent 4-5 times a year in Europe from either Kemwell or Auto Europe, whichever gives us the best price-we don't care. Our rental now is from Kemwell, through Avis, and we booked a compact, an Open Astra, but received an upgrade to a Laguna. We saved $125 by going with Kemwell rather than sister Auto Europe. But our next rental, in 2 weeks, will be from Auto Europe and with Europcar. And for our second rental, Auto Europe came in a grand $3 dollars cheaper.

I have rented from Auto Europe and Kemwell and often it is with Europcar for both.

Thanks to this post I just saved $268 switching from Autoeurope to Kemwell. THANK YOU!!!
Details pick up automatic golf at CDG on 9/19 and return to Brive rail station on 10/1.
Autoeurope $780
Kemwell $516
Only difference is autoeureope car was Golf automatic with 4 doors
Kemwell is Golf automatic with 2 doors. We are 2 people traveling so it does not matter. Thanks again.

I just checked prices on both sites, and there's barely a $30 difference for a 8-day rental in December.

dac -- Congratulations on your savings!! That's why I posted because I saved $134 for 7 day rental myself. I had to share the good news. I checked the website a few days later and the price with Kemwell, if booked now, had gone up a few dollars more than when I booked a week before. Still would have been a signficant savings though.

Gina M

Just booked a car in the Dordogne for 17 days through AutoEurope today - $157.00 cheaper than Kemwel. Go figure. But the AutoEurope people were really nice about checking whether it would be cheaper through Kemwel.

I think it's still a bit of a bargain for a B-class car at $625.00 for 20 days. It'll be diesel, too, so I'll save some on gas - and I'm not planning to put a huge number of miles on it it.

This guy is topping OLD OLD threads to beat this horse to death further. No agency guarantees a particular car. Ridiculous.

ToursInc,

Rather than posting hysterical sounding alarms without giving a shred of useful information either stop dredging up old posts or give a lucid explanation of your complaint.

ToursInc - You're not guaranteed a particular car; what you get is a car in the same class, or sometimes a free upgrade. Don't be such a whining baby.

I can't believe you could not cancel the reservation as Kemwell/AutoEurope reservations (and vouchers) can be cancelled, without penalty, up until the pickup time. And if you only had a reservation then you did not put any money up front so there could not possibly be a penalty for cancelling.

I've had many years of good service from AutoEurope/Kemwell and will continue to use this agency.

A couple of things-

It's Kemwel, not Kemwell.

Kemwel does have a cancellation policy whenever I book through them. Per their site-

"A cancellation fee equal to 3 days rental charge will apply if reservation is cancelled within 3 days of pick up and there will be no refunds in the event of cancellation after the scheduled date and time of pick up."

Auto Europe seems to have a cancellation fee also. Per their site-

"Why Book With Auto Europe
Best Price Guarantee
3 Steps to a Booking
Toll Free Number
24/7 Customer Service
No Cancellation Fees*
No Credit Card Fees
Car Rental - Since 1954
* 3 day notice required"

I have used both companies many times and find that I get better rates from AE when renting in France, and Kemwel has better rates in Italy. Both offer excellent customer service.

Gretchen is right- No agency guarantees a particular car.

what i have found is that, regardless of country, if you call kemwell with your rate, they will check it out and then will beat that rate. i wouldn't go by what their web site quotes... call them and let them beat the best rate you find.