zoecat - wow, that's an amazing deal you've got there!

Typical scenario above---good work Zoecat.

I always check AutoEurope, but consistently find that www.economycarrentals.com beats them. Better terms, better prices. I have used them many, many times in the past several years and have never been disappointed.

Everytime I rent, (every other week now) I try 5 sites:
AutoEurope
Hertz (USA Resident)
Hertz (France Resident)
Avis (USA Resident)
Avis (France Resident)

Everytime almost without exception, the best rate is with another company than the week before. Most of the time the France sites have a better rate, but sometimes limit to 500km per trip. Most US sites have unlimited mileage. This week, AVis was cheaper by 1/2, go figure??

Avis tried to charge me for GPS rental, when the car had GPS builtin, and the DVD in the glove box.

I always thought autoeurope was a broker, and years back they used to give me Avis cars, but now I am getting cars with their name plastered on stickers on the car, so how can they be brokering cars, unless they are renting fleets at a time.

Also how many people pay for the insurance, if their credit card covers them. I sometimes do, when I have a "feeling" something might happen (ie: Italy), but in reality I may be paying for nothing???

AE is a broker. Can't comment about stickers, because I've never had an AE car with one on it.

I almost never pay the extra for insurance. I always pay for the car with my AMEX and I've never had any issues with getting a refund.

In Italy, the extra insurance is mandatory - you have no choice.

I've had 4 Auto Europe rentals thus far in Spain for '08 (2 with Avis and 2 with Europecar) and have never been given a car with sticker. I have another Auto Europe rental coming up in Nov. Have never seen those stickers!

I too always decline the insurance since I'm covered with my AMEX card.

The stickers were on almost every car in the lot, on the rear windshield

Europcar has started putting Europcar stickers on their cars in France again, after 10 years or so of anonymity. The other rental companies have not followed.

I certainly cannot imagine why anybody would see an "AutoEurope" sticker on a car.

Kerouac,
Again I stand corrected- It definately was not AutoEurope, but was EUROPCAR as you mentioned. I have therefore never used autoeurope. But as you stated my car did have the sticker.

What is the difference between Europcar and AutoEurope? Is Autoeurope a broker, whereas Europcar is a rental agency? Anyway, when I did get a quote from Autoeurope, they were more than anyone else, that is why I went with the others.

Thank you for clearing up my mistake. This long trip is finally affecting my memory!

ttt