Rental Cars
 

Looking for feedback on reliability of Europcar & Sixth Car rental companies. Recently had multiple bad experiences with a US base company. Looking to try a European company with good customer service, many locations and competitive rates. Thanks

I have used both of these companies with good results. I rent two or three cars a year from Europcar. As long as you are familiar with the overall requirements, you should have few problems. I usually rent through the broker Autoeurope:

www.autoeurope.com

I would readily use Europcar in most countries, including France. The only problem I had with Europcar in France was in Nice, when the guys in the garage kept my rental documents instead of handing them back before I drove off, and I didn't realize it till out of town. A few days later thousands of dollars were charged to my credit card at a French online photo gear store. (That is not a reflection on the company itself, though, just maybe a rogue individual.)

Europcar in Portugal is another story - - I know multiple people who got socked for scratches upon return - - like on the undercarriage, hubcap - - whatever they could invent. One trip four separate renters all got hit for charges for things other companies would never blink an eye at. (What renter ever checks the undercarriage for scratches before they drive off?)

Autoeurope or its sister company www.kemwel.com usually offer the best prices if you are willing to have your credit card carry the CDW. In addition, they offer the security of an American company--at lest they have an office in the States--which can look over any billing disputes and help you if they feel that your complaint is justified.

I've had two instances of such complaints. The broker could not help me with the first one, although it was resolved when I called the local rental agency in France--but that requires fluency in the language. The second one involved fuel charges that were levied because my car broke down and was hauled away and therefore I could not fill it up before returning the car. I got a break on the cost of refueling.

Last year I rented from Europcar both in France and Spain. My experience was very good except for one thing. It was extremely difficult to find their drop off location at the Sant rail station in Barcelona. We went round in circles and eventually located it on the roof of the building. They charged me an extra day and a full tank of gas because I was just a few minutes late and I suppose used a little extra gas although I filled the tank nearby before hand.
I have rented cars all over the world and I make it a routine habit to take digital pictures of all sides of the vehicle when I return it to help protect myself from incidents of false damage claims although I have never had to test that defense, thank God. I hope this helps.

I've rented from Europcar in France 3 times, every time was fine. I rented in Marseille twice (once in town, once at airport) and once in Montpellier. Every time I got exactly what I had reserved, on time, and the staff was really nice in a couple places (for example, I returned once in Avignon and for some reason I had trouble finding the return place right at the station, so I returned it to one that was several blocks away. I can't recall what my documents said, I think it was a little confusing at the train station. Anyway, they took care of everything and personally drove me over to the TGV station so I wouldn't have to take the bus. I never had any trouble with the gas issue upon return, I always fill up a few miles away, of course, you kind of have to, but it registers full.

I have rented through both Autoeurope and Kemwel, but always end up with Europcar. Europcar has tons of locations in France, that's for sure, which is why I usually end up with them.

>I have rented through both Autoeurope and Kemwel, but always end up with Europcar. <

So do I, because they both almost always book through Europcar at much lower rates.

((I))

We've used Europcar via AutoEurope/Kemwel and had no problems. Sixt is also good, and I'm a big fan of their actual inspection of a car upon return, with a signature on the rental form.

I first check www.billigermietwagen.de which is a meta-search of car discounters, and Autoeurope is one of the companies it includes in the search. I make sure to check the fine print for any limitations on country of residence eligibility for using those rates, which can be really good (then also researching online satisfaction with any wholesaler offering a really good rate). BM.de actually searches Autoeurope.de - - and that German Autoeurope site can yield different results than the American Autoeurope.com site.

I nearly always rent through Europcar, which is also the provider in France for anybody with an Alamo, National or Interrent reservation.