EU car hire - so much pain...
Discussion
So, I need to hire a car for our family holiday next week in Majorca, and have spent the last 3+ days attempting to work out where to hire a car from.. They all seem a complete rip off, money grabbing scamming idiots at every level.
After some googling find a company that appear ok, then the reviews (from a few days ago) suggest they just take the micky on every level..
How do you get thru this pain, my issue is I have the wife+kids and need it to just work and be painless, I appear to be getting more stressed over this than anything I do at work (which involves sort out massive projects etc. )
Anyone got any advice, suggestion on who to use...
It just seems its a system build against us, which happens, but not sure how to best work against it.... help.
After some googling find a company that appear ok, then the reviews (from a few days ago) suggest they just take the micky on every level..
How do you get thru this pain, my issue is I have the wife+kids and need it to just work and be painless, I appear to be getting more stressed over this than anything I do at work (which involves sort out massive projects etc. )
Anyone got any advice, suggestion on who to use...
It just seems its a system build against us, which happens, but not sure how to best work against it.... help.
Use one of the big boys, Europcar, Sixt etc. Get one of those third party excess insurance policies.
They will still try to screw you at the desk, and put a hold on your credit card for the excess amount, but you get the car you wanted, and a full to full hire, with some certainty about the charges, and an English speaking complaints line.
They will still try to screw you at the desk, and put a hold on your credit card for the excess amount, but you get the car you wanted, and a full to full hire, with some certainty about the charges, and an English speaking complaints line.
They are all as bad as each other really so just pick one, book it and hope for the best.
You've left it late to get a good deal though.
We picked up ours last week. Booked through zest rental but the company is click-rent. Shuttle bus out of Alicante and although it took a little while to get the paperwork sorted (it always does) it was pain free really.
We're in a Citroen berlingo for 2 weeks btw. £125. The problem is it's too damn hot to be arsed actually going anywhere in it!
You've left it late to get a good deal though.
We picked up ours last week. Booked through zest rental but the company is click-rent. Shuttle bus out of Alicante and although it took a little while to get the paperwork sorted (it always does) it was pain free really.
We're in a Citroen berlingo for 2 weeks btw. £125. The problem is it's too damn hot to be arsed actually going anywhere in it!
Thanks, it just seem like total carnage, and yes.. left it a bit late, but every chance I get to look at it, I end up down a rabbit hole..
I think I will just get a private bus to the hotel, and hire a car if and when needed like last time (which was totally painless).
@Dave, I assume you are still there now.. ?
I think I will just get a private bus to the hotel, and hire a car if and when needed like last time (which was totally painless).
@Dave, I assume you are still there now.. ?
Inspect the car with a fine toothcomb when you get it and make sure everything is noted. Then at the end of the rental take photos, take photos, take photos, and video when you return the car. Take a photo of the booking in sheet if possible. And if they make something up whilst you are still there, take the car back out and crash it into their other cars on the lot... 
The scaremongering about videos and photos is tosh ... I hire cars most weeks for work, (fly drive deals) and it's always with Avis or Enterprise and occasionally Hertz and their tolerance for damage and quality of vehicles is pretty 2nd to none!
Use a small local rental company at your peril, but the big players are fair and reasonable, but charge a little premium for this (some times)
Use a small local rental company at your peril, but the big players are fair and reasonable, but charge a little premium for this (some times)
Through personal experience I am aware that hire car companies charge you for neccessary mechanical repairs when the car is brought back.
We had booked a 8 Seater car, at least 2000cc, the descrition was Transit, Zafira or similar, when we picked the car up it was an oldish 1.5 renault, 5 seater, (there were 6 of us, all adults) that was the last car they had. The clutch was starting to slip when we picked the it up and so we only used it gently during the first few days.
We took it back after 4 days and asked for something else because the clutch had almost gone, they gave us 2 clios which we accepted, took them back 4 days later, no issues.
When we got home we found our credit card had been charged with 800 euros for a new clutch on the original car.
The hire car company said that this was what we had signed up for, mechanical repairs were our responsibility just as much as bodywork and they wouldnt accept that the clutch was bad when we collected the car. they also said that if we had damaged the tyres due to overloading or punctures then they would also have charged us.
We had booked a 8 Seater car, at least 2000cc, the descrition was Transit, Zafira or similar, when we picked the car up it was an oldish 1.5 renault, 5 seater, (there were 6 of us, all adults) that was the last car they had. The clutch was starting to slip when we picked the it up and so we only used it gently during the first few days.
We took it back after 4 days and asked for something else because the clutch had almost gone, they gave us 2 clios which we accepted, took them back 4 days later, no issues.
When we got home we found our credit card had been charged with 800 euros for a new clutch on the original car.
The hire car company said that this was what we had signed up for, mechanical repairs were our responsibility just as much as bodywork and they wouldnt accept that the clutch was bad when we collected the car. they also said that if we had damaged the tyres due to overloading or punctures then they would also have charged us.
alorotom said:
The scaremongering about videos and photos is tosh ... I hire cars most weeks for work, (fly drive deals) and it's always with Avis or Enterprise and occasionally Hertz and their tolerance for damage and quality of vehicles is pretty 2nd to none!
Use a small local rental company at your peril, but the big players are fair and reasonable, but charge a little premium for this (some times)
You can choose one of the big guys but then find you're dealing with a franchisee or an agency. That even happens with Hertz in the US at smaller locations.Use a small local rental company at your peril, but the big players are fair and reasonable, but charge a little premium for this (some times)
Ari said:
DON'T use Goldcar.
But yes, I've used Hertz etc at the airport. Prebook for a better rate.
Also, depends on the size of your family and amount of luggage, but a Fiat 500 Cabrio thing makes a great cheap fun car for Mallorca.
Goldcar have a shocking reputation online but I've used them dozens of times and have never had a problem. I always assume every car rental firm is out to shaft me, as long as you're sensible you won't have a problem.But yes, I've used Hertz etc at the airport. Prebook for a better rate.
Also, depends on the size of your family and amount of luggage, but a Fiat 500 Cabrio thing makes a great cheap fun car for Mallorca.
Sheepshanks said:
alorotom said:
The scaremongering about videos and photos is tosh ... I hire cars most weeks for work, (fly drive deals) and it's always with Avis or Enterprise and occasionally Hertz and their tolerance for damage and quality of vehicles is pretty 2nd to none!
Use a small local rental company at your peril, but the big players are fair and reasonable, but charge a little premium for this (some times)
You can choose one of the big guys but then find you're dealing with a franchisee or an agency. That even happens with Hertz in the US at smaller locations.Use a small local rental company at your peril, but the big players are fair and reasonable, but charge a little premium for this (some times)
I've now racked up 5,000 reward points, but using them is an issue as anywhere holidayish, seems to be a franchisee and does not accept the bloody things.
Still I'm meant to get a free upgrade and get to spend only 20 seconds at the desk (at some locations straight to the car).
Grumpy old git said:
Ari said:
DON'T use Goldcar.
But yes, I've used Hertz etc at the airport. Prebook for a better rate.
Also, depends on the size of your family and amount of luggage, but a Fiat 500 Cabrio thing makes a great cheap fun car for Mallorca.
Goldcar have a shocking reputation online but I've used them dozens of times and have never had a problem. I always assume every car rental firm is out to shaft me, as long as you're sensible you won't have a problem.But yes, I've used Hertz etc at the airport. Prebook for a better rate.
Also, depends on the size of your family and amount of luggage, but a Fiat 500 Cabrio thing makes a great cheap fun car for Mallorca.
surveyor said:
Very sore point. I use Hertz a lot for work - mainly at Dublin and Amsterdam. Never had an issue - (although I always take the insurance).
I've now racked up 5,000 reward points, but using them is an issue as anywhere holidayish, seems to be a franchisee and does not accept the bloody things.
Still I'm meant to get a free upgrade and get to spend only 20 seconds at the desk (at some locations straight to the car).
I have used Hertz for my last few rentals at Alicante, never had an issue with them, but they are expensive and trying to use your reward points is nigh on impossible. This year I am using Thrifty, next to Hertz in the arrivals hall but nearly £100 cheaper for the same car.I've now racked up 5,000 reward points, but using them is an issue as anywhere holidayish, seems to be a franchisee and does not accept the bloody things.
Still I'm meant to get a free upgrade and get to spend only 20 seconds at the desk (at some locations straight to the car).
They, like Hertz, have excellent on line ratings compared to all the others at Alicante so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Easy to book online or in my case through Ryanair for a bit of a discount.
Hertz are good. Europcar also ok.
Do not use Sixt or Avis. Seriously, don't. Esp if in Spain.
After issues in the past I now a) photograph the car from all angles before I drive off b) ensure the car is 100% and I mean 100% to the brim when I bring it back along with a photo of the fuel gauge and petrol receipt c) clean every last bit of litter, parking tickets, sweet wrappers before return and d) always sign everything Vi Coactus.
Do not use Sixt or Avis. Seriously, don't. Esp if in Spain.
After issues in the past I now a) photograph the car from all angles before I drive off b) ensure the car is 100% and I mean 100% to the brim when I bring it back along with a photo of the fuel gauge and petrol receipt c) clean every last bit of litter, parking tickets, sweet wrappers before return and d) always sign everything Vi Coactus.
randlemarcus said:
Use one of the big boys, Europcar, Sixt etc. Get one of those third party excess insurance policies.
They will still try to screw you at the desk, and put a hold on your credit card for the excess amount, but you get the car you wanted, and a full to full hire, with some certainty about the charges, and an English speaking complaints line.
Agree with this.They will still try to screw you at the desk, and put a hold on your credit card for the excess amount, but you get the car you wanted, and a full to full hire, with some certainty about the charges, and an English speaking complaints line.
Hired through Avis at Madrid airport and it was hassle free. Although we did get stung on the insurance excess waiver charge, but we know for next time to get a 3rd party policy instead. However, for a once a year (at most) trip I'm happy to pay a bit more to avoid the stress.
We were in Lanzarote in February, and used a firm called Cicar, which also operates in the Balearics, we had a Fiat Tipo, which I was a tad dubious about, as in my mind's eye I saw a Tipo as mid-size, maybe like a Fiat Bravo, or Honda Accord.
There were five of us, my wife and I, her brother and his wife, and my father-in-law, and we fitted in comfortably, even though my brother-in-law is like a Telly-Tubby.
Can't remember the price, but I remember that it was reasonable.
On arrival at Arrecife I presented my print out of the hire paperwork, I was given the keys, and told what bay the car was in, maybe 100 metres across the street.
There were minuscule marks on the bodywork, very minuscule, but I photographed them all.
On returning the car, they weren't interested in checking it out, and six months later I've had no contact from them, so it must have been okay.
One thing was that it was a six speed manual, and I have to have a gun to my head before I'll ponce about shifting gears, so although I drove it to our rented villa, I sat in the back after that, and her indoors had to do the driving.
She wasn't overjoyed at having just one glass of wine when we went out, while I was chugging vodka and tonics like it was going out of fashion.
There were five of us, my wife and I, her brother and his wife, and my father-in-law, and we fitted in comfortably, even though my brother-in-law is like a Telly-Tubby.
Can't remember the price, but I remember that it was reasonable.
On arrival at Arrecife I presented my print out of the hire paperwork, I was given the keys, and told what bay the car was in, maybe 100 metres across the street.
There were minuscule marks on the bodywork, very minuscule, but I photographed them all.
On returning the car, they weren't interested in checking it out, and six months later I've had no contact from them, so it must have been okay.
One thing was that it was a six speed manual, and I have to have a gun to my head before I'll ponce about shifting gears, so although I drove it to our rented villa, I sat in the back after that, and her indoors had to do the driving.
She wasn't overjoyed at having just one glass of wine when we went out, while I was chugging vodka and tonics like it was going out of fashion.
I'm in Majorca now and used Dollar - it's off site so a 5 minute free mini bus ride to the pick up, brand new site with great facilities and staff. Got a Renault Captur for 2 weeks for £240 with full to full fuel so no extra charges. Car is brand new (all the cars looked very new) and was very painless.
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