What is Autoeurope?
Mar 7th, 2003, 07:04 PM
#2
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It's at www.autoeurope.com and it's a car rental broker. They but car rental contracts in bulk and offer them at a discount to you. Very good company.
Worthwhile to checkout these competitors, which operate in similar fashion. They'aren't as big a market share, either one, I think.
www.its-cars-hotels.com
or
www.kemwel.com
Best wishes,
Rex
[email protected]
Worthwhile to checkout these competitors, which operate in similar fashion. They'aren't as big a market share, either one, I think.
www.its-cars-hotels.com
or
www.kemwel.com
Best wishes,
Rex
[email protected]
Mar 7th, 2003, 07:33 PM
#4
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The only thing I can add is that of experience with Autoeurope rentals.
I have taken its offer three times because it was the best rate. Sometimes the offer is with Avis; sometimes with another company. The only time I thought Avis was a poor choice was last year. In Austria I got socked with a huge fee for a second driver. When the Austrian tourist and car rental taxes were tacked on as well, the price was quite high for a compact car.
Whether it is Avis or Kemwell or fly by night, you cannot be too careful in checking everything. If you don't have more than one price, then of course there is no way to know if AutoEurope is a good deal or not.
The quoted up front charge may or may not be the total price, particularly if you want an extra driver.
I personally think it unwise to have the set up so that only one person can legally drive the vehicle. If something happens, I suppose you could beg for foregiveness afterwards. Or you could call and authorize the second person in case of emergency.
I have taken its offer three times because it was the best rate. Sometimes the offer is with Avis; sometimes with another company. The only time I thought Avis was a poor choice was last year. In Austria I got socked with a huge fee for a second driver. When the Austrian tourist and car rental taxes were tacked on as well, the price was quite high for a compact car.
Whether it is Avis or Kemwell or fly by night, you cannot be too careful in checking everything. If you don't have more than one price, then of course there is no way to know if AutoEurope is a good deal or not.
The quoted up front charge may or may not be the total price, particularly if you want an extra driver.
I personally think it unwise to have the set up so that only one person can legally drive the vehicle. If something happens, I suppose you could beg for foregiveness afterwards. Or you could call and authorize the second person in case of emergency.
Mar 7th, 2003, 08:34 PM
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Hi
As you've read Autoeurope is a wholesaler. We've used them for years without any major problems except in Austria, where we got a manual instead of the automatic we requested. Check that out before to reconfirm what type of transmission. We call others but always return to Autoeurope. In each country they use different rental cos. They are the only ones we've come across that let us drive into eastern europe, usually through europecar. Really good prices.
As you've read Autoeurope is a wholesaler. We've used them for years without any major problems except in Austria, where we got a manual instead of the automatic we requested. Check that out before to reconfirm what type of transmission. We call others but always return to Autoeurope. In each country they use different rental cos. They are the only ones we've come across that let us drive into eastern europe, usually through europecar. Really good prices.
Mar 8th, 2003, 07:01 AM
#6
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koop,
I've arranged 3 Spain and France car rentals with AutoEurope in the past yr. and will have 3 more in the upcoming months. Their agents are pleasant to work with and the company very reliable in my experience.
We have been given both Avis and Europcar vehicles, the latest being Europcar. In my recent conversations with the AutoEurope reps, they've told me that their number 1 provider (at least in Spain and France) is now Europcar, but they will give customers an Avis car upon request. I've also learned that Kemwel and AutoEurope are now sister companies, both having been bought 2 years ago by Air Tours and are both now part of the MyTravel group.
We always shop around and call AutoEurope last. In most instances (for an "apples to apples" rental) AutoEurope will match or even slightly beat their competitors' rates.
I've arranged 3 Spain and France car rentals with AutoEurope in the past yr. and will have 3 more in the upcoming months. Their agents are pleasant to work with and the company very reliable in my experience.
We have been given both Avis and Europcar vehicles, the latest being Europcar. In my recent conversations with the AutoEurope reps, they've told me that their number 1 provider (at least in Spain and France) is now Europcar, but they will give customers an Avis car upon request. I've also learned that Kemwel and AutoEurope are now sister companies, both having been bought 2 years ago by Air Tours and are both now part of the MyTravel group.
We always shop around and call AutoEurope last. In most instances (for an "apples to apples" rental) AutoEurope will match or even slightly beat their competitors' rates.
Mar 8th, 2003, 07:39 AM
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I'll add my 2 cents. I just got a quote from Autoeurope for a Peugeot lease that was lower than from Peugeot itself in spite of the two intermediaries involved (Autoeurope and Budget). However, this was with a unadvertised discount that would not necessarily hold much longer. So price comparisons are in order.
Mar 8th, 2003, 08:33 AM
#8
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I used AutoEurope last fall to rent a car in Caen, Normandy, France. They were the cheapest rate I could find. The car was rented from EuropCar and everything was great. I'd use AutoEurope again in a heartbeat.
Andrew
Andrew
Mar 8th, 2003, 08:48 AM
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For Ireland, I got a quote from ARGUS car rental for 216 euros for six days in July with different pick-up and drop-off. The same car and same time span from EUROCAR was for 547.41 euros. I'll check out this autoeurope. Thanks.
Mar 8th, 2003, 10:12 AM
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One thing you have to compare is the insurance. If you see all the insurances that AutoEurope covers and ask Avis and Hertz, etc. to put them in the price, you'll find that AutoEurope is far less expensive. You may have to purchase some insurances in some countries, but in Italy, for example, you don't have to purchase anything else.
Mar 8th, 2003, 10:55 AM
#12
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They also have a subsidiary called Destination Europe that is an airfare consolidator (reachable on same website). Some of us on this Board recently bought some very inexpensive international tickets (US to Europe).
Mar 8th, 2003, 12:27 PM
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We always use AutoEurope--have done it 2 times in England-- and both times got great cars!! and the price cannot be beat....
and they were the only car service to be able to guarentee a Mercedes for us on a previous trip...as we needed lots of trunk space ( which even that car did not end up having)....
Both times, even tho we booked with AUTOEUROPE, we had the pick up at Avis and one other European Car rental company (whose name escapes me) as AutoEurope Contracts out...
Definitely take their CDW.
and they were the only car service to be able to guarentee a Mercedes for us on a previous trip...as we needed lots of trunk space ( which even that car did not end up having)....
Both times, even tho we booked with AUTOEUROPE, we had the pick up at Avis and one other European Car rental company (whose name escapes me) as AutoEurope Contracts out...
Definitely take their CDW.
Mar 8th, 2003, 01:02 PM
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Gino, Autoeurope has no agencies as far as I know. I would have leased the car through them and pick it up in the city specified at the Budget agency. I assume that neither of them is working pro bono. I eventually decided that Renault's lease price was a better deal for me even if slightly more expensive at the front end.
Mar 8th, 2003, 02:43 PM
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Gino: AutoEurope is just a broker, a middleman for auto rental. They make the reservation for you, then you find out who the actual rental agency is (in a sense like Priceline or Hotwire, except there is no bidding). In my case it was EuropCar. Could be Budget or a number of other rental agencies.
Andrew
Andrew
