Orvieto Car Drop Off..we hope.
 

My wife and I have changed our plans once again (and probably not the last time either). We are thinking about flying into Venice for a few nights, then taking the train to Florence where we will spend a few nights as well. Then we were going to pick up a rental car and drive to Sienna and stay for 5 or so nights. We wanted to then drive to Orvieto and spend a night and drop the car off. After that we would take a train to Rome for a couple nights and fly back to the US.

We are having trouble finding a car rental company that would allow us to drop our car off in Orvieto or Chiusi (sp?). The only one we have found for Orvieto is Hertz, however we are only able to drive automatics and it does not seem as if they have any for when we are looking. We are looking for May of next year. If they cannot guarantee an automatic given 9 months advance, I am assuming they will not have one closer to our travel date.

Driving back to Florence to drop of the car, and then taking another train to Orvieto is an option, though it seems silly to back track if avoidable. Any suggestions anyone?

We have dropped a car from Avis in Orvieto. But that was four years ago.

Maybe too many people have been doing this, and there is a glut of cars there?

I must be missing something. Are you being told that a car rental outfit in FLORENCE can't guarantee an automatic? First off, I've never dealt with a car rental agency anywhere in Europe that can absolutely guarantee an automatic (I don't drive automatics, but I do read the fine print on the agreements), but surely your chances of getting one in Florence are decent, as it's a fairly large place. And assuming you get one in Florence, what does Orvieto not guaranteeing automatics have to do with anything - you're just dropping the car off; what does it matter whether you're dropping off an automatic or a manual?

http://www.economycarrentals.com/ allows you to specify an automatic and has one-way rentals from Florence to Orvieto--I tried it by using next month as a rental date.

StCirq

The searches are leaving me with messages saying that I cannot drop a car off in Orvieto, unless I go through Hertz which does not have any automatics to offer when picking up in Florence AND dropping off in Orvieto. Other companies offer automatic for pickup in Florence, however they will not let me drop the car off in Orvieto.

Well, I've never heard of anything like that before (and have done a load of Italian car rentals). I use AutoEurope (call them and speak to a rep instead of relying on the website to answer all your questions). Good luck.

I read a good amount of bad reviews for autoeurope, so I am trying to avoid them. Though they did have what I needed.

Well, that's interesting. They're by far the favorite car rental outfit of folks here on Fodors. I've rented from them more than 100 times and have never had a single problem. Their customer service is exemplary, IME.

We always use AutoEurope and have never had a bad experience. We have rented in Florence and dropped the car in Orvieto twice in the past 5 years. Not sure what bad things you have heard but many on this forum use AutoEurope.

I read the reviews here:

www.reviewcentre.com/reviews76712.html

Which now appears to be a different website. Are those reviews for a different website?

Those are reviews of the UK AutoEurope. Try this:

http://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.autoeurope.com

We've used AutoEurope for years and never had a bad experience with them. Most recent experience was renting a car for 21 days last Fall, picking it up in Orvieto an returning it in Milan. When you drop off a car in Orvieto, you will be within walking distance of the train station. It is a piece of cake. While we don't rent automatics in Europe, I don't know why you shouldn't be able to do so through AutoEurope. Sometimes you will end up with a car from Hertz or Avis, or more likely EuropeCar. But they make it easy for you to get what you need.

While I'm not in the same league as StCirq, I have done at least 20 European rentals through AutoEurope and Kemwel.

Here's why I like to arrange car rental through AutoEurope (US):

- Helpful, knowledgeable people in Portland, ME at 1-800-223-5555 who will gladly answer all my questions

- Very clear information as to what is covered by prepayment to AE and what will need to be paid locally when picking up the car

- Guaranteed best rate (I used this once successfully)

- Reasonable cancellation policy

- Toll-free telephone number 24/7 from most places in Europe

- Great support from AE if any problem or misunderstanding with local provider in Europe

(The last two points were important when we disputed additional charges. In one case (Avis in England), a charge to our credit card was refunded immediately. In the other (Europcar in France), a call by the agent to the AE toll-free number resolved the problem on the spot. For me, this service is worth a great deal.)

Now Kemwel is owned by AE, and my most recent rental was arranged with them.

I'm sure someone has had some kind of negative experience with AE, but I'll stick with them based on years of positive experience.

Call them---you are just too far out. Do not try it online--it is tricky---call 1800-223-5555

It also could have to do with the time of day you enter in the return information. If you have entered a time when the office is closed (after lunch, for instance) they may show that service is not available, but not tell you why.

Doesn't sound like you really need a car given the places you are going.

There are some bad reviews out there on Auto Europa, which many people confuse with Auto Europe. As other have mentioned, Auto Europe has great service as does there sister company, Kemwel. I usually find better prices with Kemwel. Be sure to look at the deductibles offered when making your choices.

<<It also could have to do with the time of day you enter in the return information. If you have entered a time when the office is closed (after lunch, for instance) they may show that service is not available, but not tell you why.>>

Many rental offices close between noonish and 4ish, and then re-open until 8ish. Be sure to enter the time of drop off during a time the office will be open.

You should be able to find an automatic in Florence that you can drop in Orvieto. The Florence Airport will have the best selection.

Thanks everyone, i feel very foolish for my mistake.

Star-We want to drive around Tuscany and Umbria so that is why we want a car.

Don't feel foolish. Most of the time, if we have an answer it's because we've made the same mistake - at least for me that's the case. Have a great trip!